I guess it’s “happenstance”. The two theaters were not connected in any way. But when you think about it—were there any other two movie theaters ANYWHERE, that were so close together?
We always pictured those huge metal comedy/tragedy masks coming loose and konking some unlucky partons on the head! I wonder if someone was smart enough to nab them when the theater was gutted?
Another GREAT Whitman double bill from 1973, that I was dropped off at by my parents (thank you, Mom & Dad!). Even though I missed out on the day my brother & his friends got to go see “The Neptune Factor” at the Whitman that same year, (LOL!), I got to see this: View link
I was from East Northport—graduated from Northport High in 1980. I have no clue why I took a job in Huntington (with no car!). I hated Pergaments, but I loved working in that area; especially with Korvettes, Cooky’s Steak Pub and the Whitman theater , which actually seemed “very 1960’s” in the 70’s! The Walt Whitman mall was very cool back then (it SUCKS NOW as it’s geared towards affluent women with nothing to do but shop all day and carry around those little glittery gift bags with colored tissue paper wafting out of the tops. Also, the SPEED BUMPS they put in are MURDER if you have a small older car that’s not a Hummer). So it goes; money rules—and who would have thought the “future” would have turned out like this? I’m glad I was born in such a uniqiue and un-calculated era as the 1960’s/1970’s.
Oh my gosh: this 1970 double bill was at the Commack RKO and the Commack Drive In…AT THE SAME TIME! Is this the first time this has happened? View link
Pre-“Go Ape” ,July 1973 ad from Commack. I saw this bill at the Whitman when I was in 5th grade, but my dedication to the Commack D.I. designates it to this page: View link
Oh my gosh! This double bill was at the Commack Drive In AND the Commack RKO Twin…at the same time!! Do any of my Cinema Treaures experts know if this happened more than once in the lifetime of BOTH theaters?? View link
The micro-film at certain public libraries are a goldmine They keep Newsday on file from day one…some of my best ads are from there. (Unfortunate however, no Daily News or New York Post—which would have the most smokin' movie ads!) The machines are linked with Xerox machines, so anything you want, just drop in a dime and it prints out! I do collect newspapers, but DAMN, “human nature” sucks! The only newspapers that people actually saved were the following: World War 2 (various dates), Kennedy Shot in 1963, the other Kennedy shot in 1968, Man on the Moon in 1969, Nixon resigns in 1974, Bicentennial in 1976, Elvis dies in 1977, John Lennon dies in 1980… Therefore, nothing happened in 1964,1965,1966,1967,1970,1971,1972,1973,1975,etc.????????????
A GREAT double bill from Commack circa 1971! Two classic “bad” movies that most of us only know from WPIX’s channel 11 Chiller Theater on TV. View link
Finders Keepers/Losers Weepers: stuff I had found on the grounds of the Commack Drive In after the vacancy of the 1985 season. For about a year or two after closing, documents and paperwork were strewn all over, as well as plastic pick-up reels from the projection booth and paper supplies from the snack bar. Here are two more interesting historical bits: View link View link
anyone know when it closed and what was the last movie to play ?
I guess it’s “happenstance”. The two theaters were not connected in any way. But when you think about it—were there any other two movie theaters ANYWHERE, that were so close together?
LOL! Great story! I think there should be a movie made about the whole “adult cinema” world…a retro-1970’s thing. would be HILARIOUS.
“Dawn of the Dead” was filmed at the Monroeville Mall …does anyone know if “Dawn…” played at this Drive In ??
We always pictured those huge metal comedy/tragedy masks coming loose and konking some unlucky partons on the head! I wonder if someone was smart enough to nab them when the theater was gutted?
Another GREAT Whitman double bill from 1973, that I was dropped off at by my parents (thank you, Mom & Dad!). Even though I missed out on the day my brother & his friends got to go see “The Neptune Factor” at the Whitman that same year, (LOL!), I got to see this:
View link
Another ODD but fun Whitman double bill!:
View link
I was from East Northport—graduated from Northport High in 1980. I have no clue why I took a job in Huntington (with no car!). I hated Pergaments, but I loved working in that area; especially with Korvettes, Cooky’s Steak Pub and the Whitman theater , which actually seemed “very 1960’s” in the 70’s! The Walt Whitman mall was very cool back then (it SUCKS NOW as it’s geared towards affluent women with nothing to do but shop all day and carry around those little glittery gift bags with colored tissue paper wafting out of the tops. Also, the SPEED BUMPS they put in are MURDER if you have a small older car that’s not a Hummer). So it goes; money rules—and who would have thought the “future” would have turned out like this? I’m glad I was born in such a uniqiue and un-calculated era as the 1960’s/1970’s.
Oh my gosh: this 1970 double bill was at the Commack RKO and the Commack Drive In…AT THE SAME TIME! Is this the first time this has happened?
View link
Jean: were you involved with the Dawn of the Dead promotion above? Looks like FUN! Did the van go to OTHER UA theaters in the area?
“DAWN OF THE DEAD” promotion at Meadowbrook!1979!
View link
a GREAT route 110 Drive In ad..(sorry the print is so small!)1972:
View link
Oops…mistake above..I was trying to upload a 110 Ad..
View link
Another disjointed triple play,(circa 1975?) courtesy of the Commack Drive In Theater!
View link
Pre-“Go Ape” ,July 1973 ad from Commack. I saw this bill at the Whitman when I was in 5th grade, but my dedication to the Commack D.I. designates it to this page:
View link
Oh my gosh! This double bill was at the Commack Drive In AND the Commack RKO Twin…at the same time!! Do any of my Cinema Treaures experts know if this happened more than once in the lifetime of BOTH theaters??
View link
The micro-film at certain public libraries are a goldmine They keep Newsday on file from day one…some of my best ads are from there. (Unfortunate however, no Daily News or New York Post—which would have the most smokin' movie ads!) The machines are linked with Xerox machines, so anything you want, just drop in a dime and it prints out! I do collect newspapers, but DAMN, “human nature” sucks! The only newspapers that people actually saved were the following: World War 2 (various dates), Kennedy Shot in 1963, the other Kennedy shot in 1968, Man on the Moon in 1969, Nixon resigns in 1974, Bicentennial in 1976, Elvis dies in 1977, John Lennon dies in 1980… Therefore, nothing happened in 1964,1965,1966,1967,1970,1971,1972,1973,1975,etc.????????????
Another “classic” thriller I saw, at the Commack RKO:
View link
The best time I ever had at the Commack RKO TWIN :
View link
Going by the ads I have collected—the triple bills stopped in 1976. Another classic incongruous Commack triple bill circa 1975:
View link
A GREAT double bill from Commack circa 1971! Two classic “bad” movies that most of us only know from WPIX’s channel 11 Chiller Theater on TV.
View link
OK, forget “Cobra”, “Grease” and “Cold Turkey”: here is the true guts of the Commack (and other) drive in theaters! :
View link
Finders Keepers/Losers Weepers: stuff I had found on the grounds of the Commack Drive In after the vacancy of the 1985 season. For about a year or two after closing, documents and paperwork were strewn all over, as well as plastic pick-up reels from the projection booth and paper supplies from the snack bar. Here are two more interesting historical bits:
View link
View link
COMMACK DRIVE IN AD for GREASE; depending on your age, this is either awesome or not…
View link