Amen to you, too, my friend. What you say about theaters themselves is not without merit. I have noticed people conduct themselves with more consideration and grace in a theater like The Paris or the IFC Center than in any typical multiplex “amusement park”.
What I’ll never ever be able to understand is why, in any type of theater, would a person pay the skyrocketing ticket and food prices only to spend more of their time talking and playing with their cell phone?
Am I completely unreasonable to consider this behavior UNINTELLIGENT???
If I ever met you, I would shake your hand proudly and maybe even throw in a hug to boot! You have just thoroughly described why I choose to call myself “Love movies – hate going”.
I’m 40 years old, but just old enough to still remember the days of single-screen neighborhood playhouses, double features and sometimes even a cartoon before the movie. Today, because of the reasons you described, going to the movies has become a stressful chore instead of fun. If I do choose to go now, I’m incredibly picky about what I see, the day of the week and the time I see it.
The final straw came for me last summer when I went to see MIAMI VICE in Hampton Bays. My first mistake was going to see it on a Saturday night of opening weekend instead of waiting at least a week. Most people are usually smart enough to know not to talk on their cell phones during the movie or they’ll get their asses kicked! BUT WHERE DID PEOPLE GET THE IDEA THAT IT’S OKAY TO PLAY WITH THEIR PHONES DURING A MOVIE (MAINLY THE SCROLL FEATURE) AND GENERATE THAT DISTRACTING BRIGHT LIGHT FOR OTHERS TO SEE??? Well, would you believe that on that night, I had an entire family of people in the row in front of me doing that??? I almost started a fight with them.
DVDs are definately taking over. I fear by the time my infant son becomes a father, movie theaters of all kinds will become extinct.
In the late ‘90’s, I had the opportunity to see revivals of THE EXORCIST (with on-stage appearances by William Friedkin and Ellen Burstyn), JAWS (with on-stage appearance by Peter Benchley) and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (with on-stage appearance by Karen Lynn Gorney). Must be the biggest movie screen in New York City!
I wish I could go back in time to 1933 when KING KONG first premiered at RCMH!
I only went to the Quad Cinema once, in 1991, to see the documentary HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILM MAKER’S APOCOLYPSE. Man, I though the screens at the Angelika were small! This was thumbnail!
Before moving to Great Neck in 1979, we lived in Floral Park for two years. I remember my dad driving us to this theater to see the 1978 re-issue of STAR WARS. That was the first movie I saw there.
I grew up in Great Neck from 1979 to 1993. Two of the biggest openings that I can remember at this theater were FLASH GORDON (1980) and SUPERMAN II (1981). Man, every kid in my junior high school must have been there for Saturday matinee’s. Even though FG sucked, those were great memories of being at the local movie theater at the right time.
The last movie I saw there was DEATHTRAP before it closed in 1982.
I lived on East 86th Street between Madison and Park Avenue from 1994 to 2003 and went to a lot of movies at this theater. The last movie I saw there was STAR WARS: EPISODE II – ATTACK OF THE CLONES before it closed and became a Duane Reade pharmacy. At least I went out with a bang!
I have two very special memories involving The Paris theatre. The first was in 1996 when an old friend and I spend Saturday night seeing HAMLET. This was a four-hour film and we smuggled in a backpack with a bottle of wine, two glasses and snacks. A very fun evening and a great film.
The second was December 5, 1998 – my wife and I were on our first date. We went to see LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL after a wonderful dinner. Somewhere, we still have the original ticket stubs. On December 5, 2008, we have a date to revisit the same restaurant and see whatever film is playing at The Paris. I hope it’s still open then.
Other films I’ve seen there include a revival of Fellini’s 8 ½, LE DIVORCE and THE GOOD GERMAN.
This was one of the largest movie screens in Manhattan! Truly a shame that they closed it down!
I think the only new release I ever saw there was the remake of KING KONG in 1976. I saw several revivals there, including THE GODFATHER, APOCOLYPSE NOW REDUX and 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.
I’ve been to the Nokia Theatre only once last summer, to see the four original members of the rock band ASIA. They were also the first concert I ever saw back in 1983.
I lived in North Shore Towers as a kid from 1977 to 1979. Imagine what a thrill it was to have a movie theater right downstairs at the lower level. Back then, the theater was NOT open to the public and it showed mostly second-run films. My parents didn’t let us go all that often, but these are the movies I remember seeing there:
ROCKY
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (my very first R-rated movie, by the way)
THE GOODBYE GIRL
THE ONE AND ONLY
FASTBREAK
GREASE
I live in Great Neck now. One of these days, I’ll have to make the effort to go see a movie there and relive that theater.
I’ve lived in the Hamptons every summer for nearly 30 years, but I’ve never seen a movie here. I’ve seen it, though. An adorable little “mom and pop” movie theater that shows first-run movies. I’m glad it hasn’t closed down.
I am honored to be the first one to offer comment on the one theater I can honestly call my favorite movie theater of all time.
The only history I can offer is that this theater opened sometime in the 1930’s, was owned by United Artists and closed just after Labor Day weekend in 1996. The last movie it showed was THE FAN. A woman affectionately known as “Movie Mary” worked there most of her adult life until the last movie performance. It remained closed for about a year until reopening as a Performing Arts Center. Today, it still shows foreign and independent films, but only in between live
performances.
One need only watch the movies THE MAJESTIC or SUMMER OF ‘42 to get an idea of what it was like to grow up every summer in a seaside community like Westhampton Beach with this local theater in town. During my time, it played some of the best (ROCKY, STAR WARS, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, TERMINATOR 2) and some of the worst (HALLOWEEN III, BATMAN FOREVER) movies ever. I particularly remember enjoying films with a beach or seaside theme to it at that theater, like ORCA: THE KILLER WHALE and JAWS 2. Movies like this seemed only fitting in a beach town.
The theater was (and still is, I guess) old fashioned and classic in every way; from its protruding marquee, it’s art-deco lobby, concession counter and its balcony. When it shut down in 1996, a big part of my childhood and history went along with it.
I grew up in Great Neck, a short bike ride away when I was a kid. I saw 9 TO 5 there with my parents and begged them to take me to see STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE sometime before.
I remember sneaking off to this theater one Saturday afternoon in early 1983 when I was 15 years-old to see SPRING BREAK, one of the many teen sex comedies of the time.
The last movies I can recall playing there before closing was a double feature of FLASHDANCE and STAYING ALIVE.
I grew up in Great Neck, a short bike ride away when I was a kid. I saw 9 TO 5 there with my parents and begged them to take me to see STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE sometime before.
I remember sneaking off to this theater one Saturday afternoon in early 1983 when I was 15 years-old to see SPRING BREAK, one of the many teen sex comedies of the time.
The last movies I can recall playing there before closing was a double feature of FLASHDANCE and STAYING ALIVE.
Chelydra, I remember Scarlett’s. I was a semi-regular there in the late ‘80’s before eventually switching to Marikesh on Main Street. That building (Scarlett’s) is now Westhampton Steakhouse. I still have yet to go there.
I’m going to turn 40 this May 7th. I never actually started to feel my age until Hollywood recently started remaking movies from the 1970’s! Is this the only thing cinema culture has left to communicate to our society? Do movies have anything left to teach us? Is there any value left in cinema arts? Will today’s youth ever learn to appreciate the classics like CASABLANCA, CITIZEN KANE or even the original 1933 KING KONG without it being a required viewing in film school?
Well, check this out. I took a vow for 2007, and it was NOT to see any sequels or franchise film for at least one year, and give my time and money only to art and independent films! Now granted, having a toddler limits how much I can get out to the movies anyway, but guess what, I’m a happier movie goer just the same! So far, for 2007, these are the films I’ve paid full ticket price and dealt with an irritating movie audience to see:
INLAND EMPRE (David Lynch’s last movie)
THE GOOD GERMAN
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
THE QUEEN
THE NAMESAKE
So, for this summer, unless I’m dragged by my wife, I am boycotting SPIDERMAN 3, SHREK THE THIRD, PIRATES 3, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD and any other Hollywood blockbuster that’s been done befoe or has a roman numeral at the end of the title.
This theater was classic; in it’s history, it’s small intimate marquee & interior setting and it’s fantastic double-bills! I remember seeing A CLOCKWORK ORANGE & BLADE RUNNER and KING KONG & CITIZEN KANE, just as examples . In 1990, I suggested a double feature of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and STAR WARS. Several months later, there they were and I was one of the first ones on line!
Why, oh why, doesn’t somebody bring back the double features??? It would be a mild step in justifying movie ticket prices as high as $11.00!
I never had the opportunity to go to this drive-in. It closed down before I ever got my driver’s license. However, I can still remember the remake of KING KONG playing there in early 1977 and begging, begging, begging my parents to drive us to Bridehampton to see it again. You see, at age 9, this was my favorite movie, until STAR WARS came around and changed everything!
Hello. I’m a brand new member. This is the first movie theater I’m speaking about.
I’ve been a seasonal resident of Westhampton Beach since 1977. The first time I ever saw this theater, ROCKY was playing, fresh off of it’s Oscar victory for best picture of 1976. I remember the theater went twin in 1984, playing THE WOMAN IN RED and OXFORD BLUES.
This theater continues to represent the last of the intimate movie house experience that I can get anymore, as it has become obvious that amusement park-style multiplexes have taken over our culture like a disease.
Those who know this theater well will also know of the “Smoking Upstairs” painting that hung on the wall for years depicting the
theater in an abandoned setting, with the movie titles “Night of the Living Dead” and “State Of Siege” on the marquee. In fact, it was this painting that first got me interested in seeing this classic 1968 original “Dead” film. Today, it’s one of my favorite horror films of all time. That painting is no longer on the wall, but I surely hope it wasn’t destroyed. There was another painting they had which depicted Paul Newman playing pool in a classic scene from “The Hustler."
This coming weekend (5/4/07), the Hampton Arts will show SPIDERMAN 3 on both screens. I have no intentention of seeing this movie, but to my knowledge, this is the first time this theater has dedicated both screens to a movie.
I’m glad this theater continues to remain open. I hope it never closes.
Richard W. Haine,
Amen to you, too, my friend. What you say about theaters themselves is not without merit. I have noticed people conduct themselves with more consideration and grace in a theater like The Paris or the IFC Center than in any typical multiplex “amusement park”.
What I’ll never ever be able to understand is why, in any type of theater, would a person pay the skyrocketing ticket and food prices only to spend more of their time talking and playing with their cell phone?
Am I completely unreasonable to consider this behavior UNINTELLIGENT???
DennisZ,
If I ever met you, I would shake your hand proudly and maybe even throw in a hug to boot! You have just thoroughly described why I choose to call myself “Love movies – hate going”.
I’m 40 years old, but just old enough to still remember the days of single-screen neighborhood playhouses, double features and sometimes even a cartoon before the movie. Today, because of the reasons you described, going to the movies has become a stressful chore instead of fun. If I do choose to go now, I’m incredibly picky about what I see, the day of the week and the time I see it.
The final straw came for me last summer when I went to see MIAMI VICE in Hampton Bays. My first mistake was going to see it on a Saturday night of opening weekend instead of waiting at least a week. Most people are usually smart enough to know not to talk on their cell phones during the movie or they’ll get their asses kicked! BUT WHERE DID PEOPLE GET THE IDEA THAT IT’S OKAY TO PLAY WITH THEIR PHONES DURING A MOVIE (MAINLY THE SCROLL FEATURE) AND GENERATE THAT DISTRACTING BRIGHT LIGHT FOR OTHERS TO SEE??? Well, would you believe that on that night, I had an entire family of people in the row in front of me doing that??? I almost started a fight with them.
DVDs are definately taking over. I fear by the time my infant son becomes a father, movie theaters of all kinds will become extinct.
So, now you know. I love movies, I hate going.
In the late ‘90’s, I had the opportunity to see revivals of THE EXORCIST (with on-stage appearances by William Friedkin and Ellen Burstyn), JAWS (with on-stage appearance by Peter Benchley) and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (with on-stage appearance by Karen Lynn Gorney). Must be the biggest movie screen in New York City!
I wish I could go back in time to 1933 when KING KONG first premiered at RCMH!
I only went to the Quad Cinema once, in 1991, to see the documentary HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILM MAKER’S APOCOLYPSE. Man, I though the screens at the Angelika were small! This was thumbnail!
Before moving to Great Neck in 1979, we lived in Floral Park for two years. I remember my dad driving us to this theater to see the 1978 re-issue of STAR WARS. That was the first movie I saw there.
I grew up in Great Neck from 1979 to 1993. Two of the biggest openings that I can remember at this theater were FLASH GORDON (1980) and SUPERMAN II (1981). Man, every kid in my junior high school must have been there for Saturday matinee’s. Even though FG sucked, those were great memories of being at the local movie theater at the right time.
The last movie I saw there was DEATHTRAP before it closed in 1982.
I lived on East 86th Street between Madison and Park Avenue from 1994 to 2003 and went to a lot of movies at this theater. The last movie I saw there was STAR WARS: EPISODE II – ATTACK OF THE CLONES before it closed and became a Duane Reade pharmacy. At least I went out with a bang!
I have two very special memories involving The Paris theatre. The first was in 1996 when an old friend and I spend Saturday night seeing HAMLET. This was a four-hour film and we smuggled in a backpack with a bottle of wine, two glasses and snacks. A very fun evening and a great film.
The second was December 5, 1998 – my wife and I were on our first date. We went to see LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL after a wonderful dinner. Somewhere, we still have the original ticket stubs. On December 5, 2008, we have a date to revisit the same restaurant and see whatever film is playing at The Paris. I hope it’s still open then.
Other films I’ve seen there include a revival of Fellini’s 8 ½, LE DIVORCE and THE GOOD GERMAN.
This was one of the largest movie screens in Manhattan! Truly a shame that they closed it down!
I think the only new release I ever saw there was the remake of KING KONG in 1976. I saw several revivals there, including THE GODFATHER, APOCOLYPSE NOW REDUX and 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.
I’ve been to the Nokia Theatre only once last summer, to see the four original members of the rock band ASIA. They were also the first concert I ever saw back in 1983.
I lived in North Shore Towers as a kid from 1977 to 1979. Imagine what a thrill it was to have a movie theater right downstairs at the lower level. Back then, the theater was NOT open to the public and it showed mostly second-run films. My parents didn’t let us go all that often, but these are the movies I remember seeing there:
I live in Great Neck now. One of these days, I’ll have to make the effort to go see a movie there and relive that theater.
I’ve lived in the Hamptons every summer for nearly 30 years, but I’ve never seen a movie here. I’ve seen it, though. An adorable little “mom and pop” movie theater that shows first-run movies. I’m glad it hasn’t closed down.
I think I remember walking by this twin theater in the Summer of 1996 and saw that it was showing Indian films. Is my memory correct?
I am honored to be the first one to offer comment on the one theater I can honestly call my favorite movie theater of all time.
The only history I can offer is that this theater opened sometime in the 1930’s, was owned by United Artists and closed just after Labor Day weekend in 1996. The last movie it showed was THE FAN. A woman affectionately known as “Movie Mary” worked there most of her adult life until the last movie performance. It remained closed for about a year until reopening as a Performing Arts Center. Today, it still shows foreign and independent films, but only in between live
performances.
One need only watch the movies THE MAJESTIC or SUMMER OF ‘42 to get an idea of what it was like to grow up every summer in a seaside community like Westhampton Beach with this local theater in town. During my time, it played some of the best (ROCKY, STAR WARS, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, TERMINATOR 2) and some of the worst (HALLOWEEN III, BATMAN FOREVER) movies ever. I particularly remember enjoying films with a beach or seaside theme to it at that theater, like ORCA: THE KILLER WHALE and JAWS 2. Movies like this seemed only fitting in a beach town.
The theater was (and still is, I guess) old fashioned and classic in every way; from its protruding marquee, it’s art-deco lobby, concession counter and its balcony. When it shut down in 1996, a big part of my childhood and history went along with it.
I grew up in Great Neck, not too far away. The only movie I ever saw at this theater was STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME in 1986.
I grew up in Great Neck, a short bike ride away when I was a kid. I saw 9 TO 5 there with my parents and begged them to take me to see STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE sometime before.
I remember sneaking off to this theater one Saturday afternoon in early 1983 when I was 15 years-old to see SPRING BREAK, one of the many teen sex comedies of the time.
The last movies I can recall playing there before closing was a double feature of FLASHDANCE and STAYING ALIVE.
I grew up in Great Neck, a short bike ride away when I was a kid. I saw 9 TO 5 there with my parents and begged them to take me to see STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE sometime before.
I remember sneaking off to this theater one Saturday afternoon in early 1983 when I was 15 years-old to see SPRING BREAK, one of the many teen sex comedies of the time.
The last movies I can recall playing there before closing was a double feature of FLASHDANCE and STAYING ALIVE.
Chelydra, I remember Scarlett’s. I was a semi-regular there in the late ‘80’s before eventually switching to Marikesh on Main Street. That building (Scarlett’s) is now Westhampton Steakhouse. I still have yet to go there.
I’m going to turn 40 this May 7th. I never actually started to feel my age until Hollywood recently started remaking movies from the 1970’s! Is this the only thing cinema culture has left to communicate to our society? Do movies have anything left to teach us? Is there any value left in cinema arts? Will today’s youth ever learn to appreciate the classics like CASABLANCA, CITIZEN KANE or even the original 1933 KING KONG without it being a required viewing in film school?
Well, check this out. I took a vow for 2007, and it was NOT to see any sequels or franchise film for at least one year, and give my time and money only to art and independent films! Now granted, having a toddler limits how much I can get out to the movies anyway, but guess what, I’m a happier movie goer just the same! So far, for 2007, these are the films I’ve paid full ticket price and dealt with an irritating movie audience to see:
So, for this summer, unless I’m dragged by my wife, I am boycotting SPIDERMAN 3, SHREK THE THIRD, PIRATES 3, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD and any other Hollywood blockbuster that’s been done befoe or has a roman numeral at the end of the title.
Thanks for listening to me vent for a while.
This theater was classic; in it’s history, it’s small intimate marquee & interior setting and it’s fantastic double-bills! I remember seeing A CLOCKWORK ORANGE & BLADE RUNNER and KING KONG & CITIZEN KANE, just as examples . In 1990, I suggested a double feature of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and STAR WARS. Several months later, there they were and I was one of the first ones on line!
Why, oh why, doesn’t somebody bring back the double features??? It would be a mild step in justifying movie ticket prices as high as $11.00!
I never had the opportunity to go to this drive-in. It closed down before I ever got my driver’s license. However, I can still remember the remake of KING KONG playing there in early 1977 and begging, begging, begging my parents to drive us to Bridehampton to see it again. You see, at age 9, this was my favorite movie, until STAR WARS came around and changed everything!
Hello. I’m a brand new member. This is the first movie theater I’m speaking about.
I’ve been a seasonal resident of Westhampton Beach since 1977. The first time I ever saw this theater, ROCKY was playing, fresh off of it’s Oscar victory for best picture of 1976. I remember the theater went twin in 1984, playing THE WOMAN IN RED and OXFORD BLUES.
This theater continues to represent the last of the intimate movie house experience that I can get anymore, as it has become obvious that amusement park-style multiplexes have taken over our culture like a disease.
Those who know this theater well will also know of the “Smoking Upstairs” painting that hung on the wall for years depicting the
theater in an abandoned setting, with the movie titles “Night of the Living Dead” and “State Of Siege” on the marquee. In fact, it was this painting that first got me interested in seeing this classic 1968 original “Dead” film. Today, it’s one of my favorite horror films of all time. That painting is no longer on the wall, but I surely hope it wasn’t destroyed. There was another painting they had which depicted Paul Newman playing pool in a classic scene from “The Hustler."
This coming weekend (5/4/07), the Hampton Arts will show SPIDERMAN 3 on both screens. I have no intentention of seeing this movie, but to my knowledge, this is the first time this theater has dedicated both screens to a movie.
I’m glad this theater continues to remain open. I hope it never closes.