Early in 1968, just around the same time as the Bushwick And Prospect in Brooklyn and the Strand, Far Rockaway in Queens ceased to operate. I know the closing features of most Brooklyn Theatres and I will post this theatre’s “swan” songs in a few days.
The theatre building has been sold to Surf Side 3 Boats (now located opposite Chateau La Mer. Windows will replace the entire Wellwood Avenue brick side of the building for the viewing of the boats. This means that the asbestoes walls have to be demolished and therefore throughout the building as well. The corner entrance and marquee will be retained as well as other “theatre” elements, the loge of five rows will probably provide the offices overlooking the sales floor “as I am told”. All the seats have been removed and the floor is being tested for “weight of boats” (It was a level theatre floor to start with, no rake whatsoever. The last four rows were raised slightly. No work is going on now. The purchase price is not known since occured December 1, 2004.
I saw this theatre last week, work is going on inside. The dome ceiling is intact as well as other features. I wonder if the original facade is under the “Redstone” N/A re-facing of the building. This may be completed by the time Theatre Historical Society visits Worcester theatres in June 2005.
Unfortunately, they have started to gut the interior of the building on Monday, Nov. 29, 2004. So far, seats and other parts of the theatre, restrooms etc. I am sickened by this and discussing it makes it no better. They started the work WITHOUT permits as the Village of Lindenhurst has no idea ? ? ? of what’s going on. The building does have asbestos and I believe the proper permits have not been obtained. So far in three days, 3 dumpsters of waste has been removed. Goodbye Lindenhurst Theatre.
The borders might have changed but as a theatre, in its' entire run as a film house the Grand View was always listed as a Brooklyn house in reference and newspaper advertising. I know some of you from the area might dispute this but “that’s the fact”. I don’t think this place was in operation after the so called borders changed.
As a former employee of this theatre (1969-1974), I have several of the one sheets of movies that played there. While I was there, the Binn’s Driving School was near the left side and a real estate office on the right. I’ll never forget the theatre name in neon pink above a opaque glass covered marquee (flourescent backlit) with a “baby blue” border around the entire marquee. The pink neon name reflected off the copper-stoned building at night giving it it’s neighborhood charm. The “blue noen” was removed in 1971. How I miss this place and yet it will live on within me forever. Remember the Bickford’s on the same street closer to Nostrand Avenue.
This multiplex didn’t open in the summer, it opened on Dec. 9th or so with “Star Trek” on a couple of screens and auditoriums opened through Christmas Day ‘79. At the theatre’s grand opening, only three auditoriums were finished and ready for “Star Trek”. I should know, I was one of the six managerial staff members. It opened as a “Redstone Theatre” which it is still today, the same management now “National Amusements”. Redstone operated the Drive-In as well. The original “sixplex” sat 700 in each auditorium for a total of 4,200 seats. It was at its’ opening two or three years “the highest grossing multiplex in the country”. I left the next year and the film “Stir Crazy” put the place on the map and this is when the fights started. We had a large staff and everyone got along. The pay was as it was in theatre management, “very low” but Redstone was then notoriously “CHEAP”.
The only damage is the graffiti on the exterior walls in the parking lot. There was a little water damage which can easily be repaired. Any damage to the interior now boarded up was done by the owner’s staff, who the last time in the building (for exterior maintenance to the overgrown grass) were seen “graffiting” the outside white marble facade with black spray cans. The Boat dealership which is unknown at the time states the building will remain as is and fixed up for the transformation. Since this theatre doesn’t have a severe rake to the floor, only the seats will be removed for the boats and the loge will be converted into the sales space overlooking the main floor. All the theatre elements will remain outside. I’m assuming the theatre can be put back together again at a later date should that arise. Now the question is, now that the building will not be a theatre, will the extra parcel of land for the extra parking the theatre needed in 1964 revert back to residential use. It is stipulated that this must happen and only the Village Board of Lindenhurst must uphold this covenant to the building. If not, it can result in a lawsuit by the residents around the theatre that don’t want the boat dealership there. There is a lawsuit now pending on the Werner’s Bowling Alley, closed since September, for the same reason. The second question is “Is the building being sold or being leased to the Boat dealership?” I certainly hope the boat dealership does its' homework in regards the theatre before they “buy” or “lease” the property.
This theatre was operated by the Brandt Circuit when it first opened and was still showing “XXX” in 1984 or so when a former manager colleague of mine was managing the place when I stopped in to see him. P.S. Didn’t watch the “X” stuff, no interest in it. Now a drugstore, what else?
As far as I know, there is no photo showing both theatres side by side in 1948 at the Sayville Library or the Sayville historical Society. The picture would have been interesting, the old next to the new.
The Sayville Theatre is the second theatre to bear the name. The original was next door in the theatre’s parking lot that opened in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s. It was antiquated by the late 1940’s and a newer theatre was built along side the old one about 1947 or 1948. Once the newer building was finished and open, the older building next door was demolished for the parking lot. The Sayville Playhouse on Candee Avenue was demolished for the nursing home on that parcel of land. Marlon Brando appeared at the Sayville Playhouse in his early days on stage and had an apartment within the theatre which he was reluctant to give up since it was within his means (affordable). He had to be evicted at a later day.
This theatre had several names prior to the Comet. It was known as the United States when it opened in the early 1920’s and then as the New Gates in 1928 (U.S. Gates) even though Loew’s had the name on their building. It had closed for awhile when the Loew’s Gates opened in 1924/5. It was renamed the Comet in the mid to late 1930’s. The building has been demolished but the Amusu and Tompkins Theatres are still standing.
This theatre opened in 1968 with “For Love Of Ivy” under the then National General Theatres banner, later Mann. The theatre was totally demolished this year, nothing remains except the pylon marquee if that hasn’t been removed as yet. Blockbuster gave up on this one since the one housed in the former Brookhaven Theatre on Rt. 112 does better business. The theatre closed after 15 years of operation and right before the opening of the Brookhaven Multiplex which rang the death nell for the Fox and Brookhaven Theatres then under the RKO-Century Circuit. The Brookhaven was still a reduced price theatre and profitable theatre at its' closing.
When “The Jungle Book” opened Christmas 1967 at the Granada it became the theatre’s longest running booking. It played a then unheard of 7 weeks. The co-feature was “Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar”. The only other theatre in the borough playing the duo was Century’s Marine. The grosses lead Walt Disney to book both “The Happiest Millionaire” (3 Weeks) in Feb. and “Blackbeard’s Ghost” in March, both of which I saw here and hooked me on moviegoing weekly at the age of 11. The Granada also played “Mary Poppins” (3 or 4 weeks) on first run with the Brooklyn Fox in 1965 prior to the Oscars. After it won Oscars that following year, “Mary Poppins” returned in 1966 and played at the Loew’s Kings and then at the Century’s Rialto for a couple of runs during its' reissues.
Prudential/United Artists at first, then by a booker from United Artists in its' last years as an independent running Disney product which was this theatre’s bread and butter. The manager of this theatre under UA ran this house very weel and was well liked by all. This house closed in the early eighties.
If that is the case, why weren’t they listed in the Queens listings of the movie advertisements. For history’s sake they are Brooklyn locations regardless of post offices, boundaries and etc. The RKO MADISON, BROOKLYN.
The Grove and Luxor are future incarnations of the Wilson Theatre which had three names. The Woodrow and Tip Top were early film houses that were out of business by the early 1940’s.
The Tompkins and Amusu are on the same block (Gates Avenue)diagonally from each other near Tompkins Avenue. (Neither building sits on a corner.) The Ideal at 151 Knickerbocker Avenue was a silent film house in a three story building. It is next door to a two story warehouse (same address) Between the first and second floor, there is some Hebrew inscription in the facade brickwork from its' use as a Yeshiva (I think) after its' silent movie days came to an end in 1928. Its' hard to believe a small space served as a nickelodeon.
So what you are telling me is that RKO didn’t know where the Madison was located and listed the Madison in Brooklyn for it’s entire run as a theatre. The RKO Madison was never listed in the Queens directory of any movie ads, RKO display ads or the Motion Picture Daily Yearbook. If this is the case then this theatre should not be LISTED in the Brooklyn area of this site. The same goes for the Ridgewood and the Parthenon. As far as I am concerned all these theatres are Brooklyn houses no matter what borders you have for the neighborhoods which really doesn’t mean much to anyone but you guys who are “obsessed” to where they are located.
Early in 1968, just around the same time as the Bushwick And Prospect in Brooklyn and the Strand, Far Rockaway in Queens ceased to operate. I know the closing features of most Brooklyn Theatres and I will post this theatre’s “swan” songs in a few days.
The theatre building has been sold to Surf Side 3 Boats (now located opposite Chateau La Mer. Windows will replace the entire Wellwood Avenue brick side of the building for the viewing of the boats. This means that the asbestoes walls have to be demolished and therefore throughout the building as well. The corner entrance and marquee will be retained as well as other “theatre” elements, the loge of five rows will probably provide the offices overlooking the sales floor “as I am told”. All the seats have been removed and the floor is being tested for “weight of boats” (It was a level theatre floor to start with, no rake whatsoever. The last four rows were raised slightly. No work is going on now. The purchase price is not known since occured December 1, 2004.
I saw this theatre last week, work is going on inside. The dome ceiling is intact as well as other features. I wonder if the original facade is under the “Redstone” N/A re-facing of the building. This may be completed by the time Theatre Historical Society visits Worcester theatres in June 2005.
My e-mail is
Unfortunately, they have started to gut the interior of the building on Monday, Nov. 29, 2004. So far, seats and other parts of the theatre, restrooms etc. I am sickened by this and discussing it makes it no better. They started the work WITHOUT permits as the Village of Lindenhurst has no idea ? ? ? of what’s going on. The building does have asbestos and I believe the proper permits have not been obtained. So far in three days, 3 dumpsters of waste has been removed. Goodbye Lindenhurst Theatre.
The borders might have changed but as a theatre, in its' entire run as a film house the Grand View was always listed as a Brooklyn house in reference and newspaper advertising. I know some of you from the area might dispute this but “that’s the fact”. I don’t think this place was in operation after the so called borders changed.
As a former employee of this theatre (1969-1974), I have several of the one sheets of movies that played there. While I was there, the Binn’s Driving School was near the left side and a real estate office on the right. I’ll never forget the theatre name in neon pink above a opaque glass covered marquee (flourescent backlit) with a “baby blue” border around the entire marquee. The pink neon name reflected off the copper-stoned building at night giving it it’s neighborhood charm. The “blue noen” was removed in 1971. How I miss this place and yet it will live on within me forever. Remember the Bickford’s on the same street closer to Nostrand Avenue.
This multiplex didn’t open in the summer, it opened on Dec. 9th or so with “Star Trek” on a couple of screens and auditoriums opened through Christmas Day ‘79. At the theatre’s grand opening, only three auditoriums were finished and ready for “Star Trek”. I should know, I was one of the six managerial staff members. It opened as a “Redstone Theatre” which it is still today, the same management now “National Amusements”. Redstone operated the Drive-In as well. The original “sixplex” sat 700 in each auditorium for a total of 4,200 seats. It was at its’ opening two or three years “the highest grossing multiplex in the country”. I left the next year and the film “Stir Crazy” put the place on the map and this is when the fights started. We had a large staff and everyone got along. The pay was as it was in theatre management, “very low” but Redstone was then notoriously “CHEAP”.
The Massapequa D.I. was on the other side of Sunrise where Toy R Us and other stores are now.
P.S. The Werner’s Bowling Alley is diagonally across from the theatre on the southwest corner, the theatre on the northeast corner.
The only damage is the graffiti on the exterior walls in the parking lot. There was a little water damage which can easily be repaired. Any damage to the interior now boarded up was done by the owner’s staff, who the last time in the building (for exterior maintenance to the overgrown grass) were seen “graffiting” the outside white marble facade with black spray cans. The Boat dealership which is unknown at the time states the building will remain as is and fixed up for the transformation. Since this theatre doesn’t have a severe rake to the floor, only the seats will be removed for the boats and the loge will be converted into the sales space overlooking the main floor. All the theatre elements will remain outside. I’m assuming the theatre can be put back together again at a later date should that arise. Now the question is, now that the building will not be a theatre, will the extra parcel of land for the extra parking the theatre needed in 1964 revert back to residential use. It is stipulated that this must happen and only the Village Board of Lindenhurst must uphold this covenant to the building. If not, it can result in a lawsuit by the residents around the theatre that don’t want the boat dealership there. There is a lawsuit now pending on the Werner’s Bowling Alley, closed since September, for the same reason. The second question is “Is the building being sold or being leased to the Boat dealership?” I certainly hope the boat dealership does its' homework in regards the theatre before they “buy” or “lease” the property.
This theatre was operated by the Brandt Circuit when it first opened and was still showing “XXX” in 1984 or so when a former manager colleague of mine was managing the place when I stopped in to see him. P.S. Didn’t watch the “X” stuff, no interest in it. Now a drugstore, what else?
After RKO had it, Skouras took it over and closed it soon afterwards. If it was a bank and now stores is there anything left of the facade.
As far as I know, there is no photo showing both theatres side by side in 1948 at the Sayville Library or the Sayville historical Society. The picture would have been interesting, the old next to the new.
The Sayville Theatre is the second theatre to bear the name. The original was next door in the theatre’s parking lot that opened in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s. It was antiquated by the late 1940’s and a newer theatre was built along side the old one about 1947 or 1948. Once the newer building was finished and open, the older building next door was demolished for the parking lot. The Sayville Playhouse on Candee Avenue was demolished for the nursing home on that parcel of land. Marlon Brando appeared at the Sayville Playhouse in his early days on stage and had an apartment within the theatre which he was reluctant to give up since it was within his means (affordable). He had to be evicted at a later day.
P.S. on the Flatbush Glenwood, it opened as the Antoinette Theatre in the early 1920’s and then renamed the Glenwood.
The Amusu and Tompkins Theatres are on Gates Avenue. One I didn’t locate was the Princess at 404 Gates Avenue.
This theatre had several names prior to the Comet. It was known as the United States when it opened in the early 1920’s and then as the New Gates in 1928 (U.S. Gates) even though Loew’s had the name on their building. It had closed for awhile when the Loew’s Gates opened in 1924/5. It was renamed the Comet in the mid to late 1930’s. The building has been demolished but the Amusu and Tompkins Theatres are still standing.
This theatre opened in 1968 with “For Love Of Ivy” under the then National General Theatres banner, later Mann. The theatre was totally demolished this year, nothing remains except the pylon marquee if that hasn’t been removed as yet. Blockbuster gave up on this one since the one housed in the former Brookhaven Theatre on Rt. 112 does better business. The theatre closed after 15 years of operation and right before the opening of the Brookhaven Multiplex which rang the death nell for the Fox and Brookhaven Theatres then under the RKO-Century Circuit. The Brookhaven was still a reduced price theatre and profitable theatre at its' closing.
When “The Jungle Book” opened Christmas 1967 at the Granada it became the theatre’s longest running booking. It played a then unheard of 7 weeks. The co-feature was “Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar”. The only other theatre in the borough playing the duo was Century’s Marine. The grosses lead Walt Disney to book both “The Happiest Millionaire” (3 Weeks) in Feb. and “Blackbeard’s Ghost” in March, both of which I saw here and hooked me on moviegoing weekly at the age of 11. The Granada also played “Mary Poppins” (3 or 4 weeks) on first run with the Brooklyn Fox in 1965 prior to the Oscars. After it won Oscars that following year, “Mary Poppins” returned in 1966 and played at the Loew’s Kings and then at the Century’s Rialto for a couple of runs during its' reissues.
Prudential/United Artists at first, then by a booker from United Artists in its' last years as an independent running Disney product which was this theatre’s bread and butter. The manager of this theatre under UA ran this house very weel and was well liked by all. This house closed in the early eighties.
If that is the case, why weren’t they listed in the Queens listings of the movie advertisements. For history’s sake they are Brooklyn locations regardless of post offices, boundaries and etc. The RKO MADISON, BROOKLYN.
The Grove and Luxor are future incarnations of the Wilson Theatre which had three names. The Woodrow and Tip Top were early film houses that were out of business by the early 1940’s.
The Tompkins and Amusu are on the same block (Gates Avenue)diagonally from each other near Tompkins Avenue. (Neither building sits on a corner.) The Ideal at 151 Knickerbocker Avenue was a silent film house in a three story building. It is next door to a two story warehouse (same address) Between the first and second floor, there is some Hebrew inscription in the facade brickwork from its' use as a Yeshiva (I think) after its' silent movie days came to an end in 1928. Its' hard to believe a small space served as a nickelodeon.
So what you are telling me is that RKO didn’t know where the Madison was located and listed the Madison in Brooklyn for it’s entire run as a theatre. The RKO Madison was never listed in the Queens directory of any movie ads, RKO display ads or the Motion Picture Daily Yearbook. If this is the case then this theatre should not be LISTED in the Brooklyn area of this site. The same goes for the Ridgewood and the Parthenon. As far as I am concerned all these theatres are Brooklyn houses no matter what borders you have for the neighborhoods which really doesn’t mean much to anyone but you guys who are “obsessed” to where they are located.