Grove Theatre
80 W. Merrick Road,
Freeport,
NY
11520
80 W. Merrick Road,
Freeport,
NY
11520
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Seating in the theatre consisted of orchestra, lodge,and balcony. There was a smoking section in one of the upper levels. Most nights there were 3-4 ushers on duty, 1 candy girl, 1 ticket taker, and 1 box office person.Busy nights of course needed more staff
More memories of The Grove.When I was little the facade of the theatre was different,this new one was a product of late 60s early 70s. The marquees were on either side of the building,under the top level of the fire escapes-you could see them as you drove down Merrick Rd-. To change the letters on the marquees was hell, involving a ladder , a bit nerve racking and being very high up, just under the top level of the fire escapes. Before I worked there a friend of mine did and let me come in to see The Boys in the Band, and Midnight Cowboy. I also remember cable TV was just starting, and as the studios were upset by this all theatres had the phrase Save Free TV lettered on their marquees. Of course we know how that turned out. Then there were collections for Will Rogers, and for the Variety Club
worked as an usher here from 1972-73. When I started it was still rather classy. We had the Poseidon Adventure for a long run, and for Lady Sings the Blues we had the theatre all decorated up w/production stills and the soundtrack playing in the theatre before the show began, and outside non-stop. This was all the staffs idea, Century,and Paramount never said a word. Shortly after the town of Freeport started having problems, and fewer people were coming to this theatre and its sister The Freeport.The bookings got rather dismal, Swinging Stewardesses, Night of the Lepus, Blacula,Hell up in Harlem, Cotton Comes to Harlem. Every so often a prime film was still booked. But I left to go to college and when I came back the theatre was no more.
Possibly not this particular theatre, but the following information relates to its close proximity:
December 1, 1917 issue of the Real Estate Record and Guide
1916 – Theater and apartment located at Merrick Road and Grove Street, Freeport, NY, designed by architect C. Howard Crane.
Information provided by Hugh Goodman
Unfortunately, the link used by Lost Memory no longer seems to be in operation but the postcard image and the 1925 construction site can be seen on Long Island Memories.According to that site the theatre was under construction for several years and only opened in 1928.
Grove Street was renamed in honor of local resident and well known bandleader Guy Lombardo some years ago.
1968
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