Islip Cinemas
410 W. Main Street,
Islip,
NY
11751
410 W. Main Street,
Islip,
NY
11751
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 193 comments
And, remember, it was triplexed at some point. Who knows what the interior looks like. There is also a question as to whether it was ever airconditioned. There is no real parking lot at the theatre but quite a lot on Main Street and the side streets. There is also the parking lot at the Old Town Hall, across the street which is often available in the evening.
robboehm: The reason I mentioned the possibility of somebody burning the building down himself in order to collect insurance is because that happens pretty often, and, secondly, who really knows what a person with standards and values can and/or will do if they become desperate enough.
If a sewage problem under the building has been what’s been preventing the renovation of the Islip Theatre all along, that’s unfortunate, and it sounds like an impossibility, in this case. Sorry to hear that. If people are willing to volunteer, but there’s no money m coming in, due to what it would cost to remedy the sewage problem under the building, that, too, is unfortunate.
Thanks for all the info, robboehm, and, sorry that such a cherished theatre has to go.
I was speaking to a representative of the Historical Society. The problem with reinventing the Islip is a sewage problem under the building, of unknown origin. Among the negatives we have the smell. Also, the cost of remediation is purported to be in the millions which is in excess of the value of the property. The likihood of bucks being available to do the remediation and get the theatre up to snuff is unlikely. There have been a lot of people in the community ready to volunteer for or at the theatre but no dollars.
Don’t think that was the case since he was supposed to be a person with standards and values. Incidentally, your response appeared twice, no doubt as a result of all the trouble the site has been having for the past few days. I was surprised that mine made it since it crashed before I had a confirm that it was successfully added. Here’s a chance to use a new capability of CT. When you, and only you, look at your comments you see the word “remove”. You, and only you can remove it. So you can now remove the duplicate. I have tried to do that on a couple of my past postings as well as removing ones which were no longer applicable e.g., the Google map is off.
Too bad that the theatre burnt down. I wonder if the owner/renter of the place did that to collect insurance. That often happens.
Too bad that the theatre burnt down. I wonder if the owner/renter of the place did that to collect insurance. That often happens.
There were the West Islip Twins, the East Islip which burnt down, the Islip and the Star in Islip and the Central Islip. They were supposed to build a small multiplex in the new King Kullen shopping center in CI. The footprint was laid but nothing came of it.
There was a East Islip With about 475 seats..go to the top of this page put Islip see all the Islips west and east.
The Star was a unique entity somewhere on the opposite side of Main Street. The building is supposed to still exist albeit as retail space. I have my “operatives” getting more information. In theory there is more data and pictures in the Library but they are undergoing major renovations and this material will not be liberated for several months. I’ll keep after it. I believe I’ll have enough from your reference and my ground crew to put up a skeletal entry shortly.
They’ve been trying since 2009 without success. On a positive front work is now proceeding on the Westbury and Suffolk revitalizations, in the case of Westbury, rebuilding since there is an entire new roof and the inside has be gutted.
Thanks… keep an eye out for Lindenhurst also.
Good luck, wally 75 and everybody else who’s trying to save the Islip Theatre. Hope something good comes up, if one gets the drift.
I talked to Greg today, who is trying to lease Islip.. He knows about CT. He told me Clearview not interested.. So, if anyone knows someone who wants this theatre call 631 328 1020..
That’s too bad. I guess they don’t want people to go out, have fun and mingle among each other, but to remain isolated and alienated from each other at home. Movie theatres are one place that act at least as a temporary community, where people, whether they know each other or not, can come together to share the experience of seeing a good movie on the great big, wide screen, in a real movie theatre with the lights down low, as they’re really meant to be viewed.
It seems as all the plans to revitalize theatres on Long Island are falling through. There were plans for the Islip. A recent newspaper article says they’re going to tear down the Patchogue Plaza rather than going for for the Media Arts Center. Work seems to have stalled on the Suffolk in Riverhead. Haven’t heard any more about the Westbury or the Paramount in Huntington.
I’d be curious to hear what’s really and truly going to happen to the Islip Theatre, even though I don’t reside in the area.
Feel free to drop more hints..
Something might be happening with the islip Theater.. possibly a working movie theater again… but I’ve already said to much =X
That, too, is unfortunately, wally75. It’s clear that the people who put the Islip theatre up for rent have other ideas for its use, rather than a theatre.
Nothing happening, just a big for rent sign…
It’s sad to see a movie theatre that one used to constantly patronize while growing up fall into such disrepair, or to be changed so drastically to multiple screens. Although I don’t reside in the Islip, NY area, here’s hoping that your theatre is renovated, up and running soon.
I have recently had an occasion to see the inside of this theater which is in terrible disrepair. I had such fond memories as a kid, spending so many hours in the dark watching film after film. I remember seeing “Nine To Five” in 1980 after it had just been transformed from a one screen movie house to a three screen (I remember it both ways) in the right screening room on the main floor. I saw “The Elephant Man” in the balcony theater which was my favorite room.
Currently, it’s not even a vague shadow of its former self. But I have hopes of its resurrection some day.
That sounds like a wonderful idea, susieq60! Hope it all goes well, and that the community continues to enjoy this great-sounding little movie theatre!
anything new to report
From Newsday, Dec 21, 2009
New owner has big plans for former Islip Theater
December 21, 2009 By JENNIFER MALONEY
The Islip Theater, which residents rallied to save from demolition, has been granted an encore.
Under a new name, the Dorotheater, it will offer movies and music and house its own symphony orchestra, said the building’s new owner, Edward Lambese, who chose the name to honor his mother, Dorothy.
“The building said, ‘Help me!’ ” Lambese said. “It was nothing short of a miracle.”
The former owner, Jim Nazzaro, applied to the Islip planning board earlier this year to raze the vacant cinema, which stopped showing movies in 2006, and build a day care center on the property, on Main Street in Islip. Though Nazzaro, of East Islip, had already entered into an agreement with a New Jersey-based day care center chain, The Learning Experience, he gave Lambese permission to begin cleaning up the building in case the day care deal fell through.
Nazzaro, a developer, withdrew the application for the day care center on Nov. 25. His withdrawal letter to the town did not cite a reason.
Nazzaro did not respond to requests for comment.
Lambese, a professional string player who performs with the West Islip Symphony, said his purchase of the 60-year-old cinema was finalized two weeks ago. He would not disclose the sale price.
Town Planning Commissioner Gene Murphy said the town is pleased by the plot twist.
“The planning department had concerns about the scale of day care,” he said. “The goal of preserving the theater and preserving its use as a theater is something the town completely supports.”
Lambese, 53, of Bay Shore, said he’s tentatively planning an opening concert for early January, pending a furnace repair. He has submitted an application for nonprofit status.
His vision of the space – “a little Radio City Music Hall” – will require major renovations: new plumbing, new air conditioning and a conversion, in progress, from triplex to the original single auditorium. But shows can begin in the upstairs auditorium, he said.
Acknowledging the recession and the recent closure of Huntington’s IMAC Theater, Lambese said his business model is different. “We’re going to be a multipurpose entertainment playhouse,” he said. “It’s going to serve the community’s entertainment needs.”
The theater will present live performances on weekends and classic movies during the week, he said.