Westbury Drive-In

No, you’re right lmaint, we had a capacity of 1189 cars, give or take.

I attended the Sunrise many times as a teenager and enjoyed it very much. Some years after, I started dating a woman from Nassau county who enjoyed the movie going experience as much as I did. As a native New York City boy,and not knowing Long Island very well, I made a date with her one night and she suggested we go to the drive in. I took a minute to recall my memories and said to her, “where”? The Westbury was only two exits away, and we started going to the drive in on several dates after that. Unfortunately, after two years of dating, the Westbury closed, kind of ruining our relationship. I managed to see one more movie there with another woman, “Air Force One”,in a rainstorm no less.How I miss the drive in!

I can only hope that the “free children’s playground” was empty throughout the engagement of these two particularly harrowing Dustin Hoffman flicks!

It’s great having those pictures on the site. Thanks Ed and B Mitchell. I really enjoyed doing maintenance work at this theater, in the 80’s and 90’s. This was a cool theater, and actually had the unusual duty of being the UA Nassau DM’s, office, many years ago (very rare for a DI: most DM’s wanted their office to be in an indoor theater). That’s a rather useless fact; but more seriously, there’s a whole generation out there that has no idea what a Drive-In Theater is. It’s a shame.
BMitchell, did you ever think the nearest DI would be in Orange County? Also, I’m guessing you don’t have a white Mustang anymore?
JP

… and this:

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Thanks for the tip, Ed.
I uploaded two photos that I scanned recently. I’d like to scan some more to upload, if I can find them!

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Just found this site, it’s really cool. But hey, the top half of the marquee was changed when the D/I was replaced. The original lights did work like a shooting star, but were difficult to replace and always troublesome. UA gave up on them long before I worked there through the 1980’s. The new top looks similar, without the shooting star bulbs. Funny that they kept the bottom of the structure, becuase it was always in terrible shape inside and leaked like crazy when it rained.

And while I’m complaining, the D/I held 1189 cars, not the number Cinema Treasures cites.

I tried to post a photo of the old marquee, but the site stopped me, saying it’s not taking photos at this time.

There’s nothing like a drive-in movie on a nice summer night with the top down!

I drove by the United Artists multiplex that occupies the old Drive-In’s site just the other evening… Is the curbside pylon sign for the current theater the original sign for the old Drive-In? At the top of the sign is a lighting design that is very much in keeping with old Drive-In signage – to my mind. The white bulbs are arranged to look like either a star streaking in an arc across the top of the sign or – if you’re view is a bit more askew – a palm tree bent way over by hurricane force winds! I assume the former was the designer’s intention rather than the latter!!!

Not the usual drive-in fare
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Hello ALL!

I remember this Drive In and it along with the Smithtown Drive In were the two last ones. The Smithtown went first and then the Westbury. Now with not many Drive-In’s left, many are experiencing the ‘You don’t know what you had until it’s gone’ syndrome and in some states, including upstate NY, Drive-In’s are making a comeback…not in leaps and bounds mind you. But, now it is easier to save an old drive in from closing, particularly if it has multiple screens. Many Long Islanders I know do miss having the Drive-In’s around. In fact when I moved to the Eastern Side of Long Island, I realized that they have an outdoor amphitheater at the base of what is known as ‘Bald Hill’. This amphitheatre mostly hosts concert events throughout the summer, but when they have a slow summer, they show movies. They have a theatre section in the front by the stage where you can get a seat. But the real fun is if you get a spot on the hill itself. They have a special seating area called “The Great Lawn” and you can bring your lawn chairs, picnic blankets and something to eat and sit under the stars…much like at a Drive-In. Does it capture every essence of a Drive-In…No it doesn’t, but for all of us Long Islander’s looking to capture some of that ‘watching a movie under the stars’ feel, it still is a great experience. The place is huge too. The downside is they never get first runs. But it is really for the experience, it is cheap too, I believe they charge by car load.

Here is the site:

http://www.brookhavenamphitheater.com/

Click on ‘Movies’

Hope that helps out the Long Island Drive In buffs out there

JG

Sorry for the typo. Here’s the link:

It Happened on Long Island

Odd that all the drive-ins were running this single, maybe because it was December? I can see them running a different second feature but all the drive-ins always played two movies.
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