Uniondale Mini Cinema

Randyman on July 23, 2007 at 12:04 pm

Dr. B – If you really needed the 3-D glasses, I just have to wonder whether were you really smoking enough.

Your list of flicks tells me that you were a mini fan during my era there (yes, brief as it lived there were distinct eras). I too long for my missing Mini Cinema poster. Just not an eBay item I guess.

Bob Downey visited the Mini during his tour to raise money to finish his film in progress. I remember the names Shithead & Granola. Those were the lead characters' names and perhaps the working title as well. Don’t remember much about it other than their cocaine binge. He wanted to talk about his new work but of course we all wanted to talk about Bingo Gas Station Motel Cheeseburger With A Side Of Aircraft Noise And You’ll Be Gary Indiana.

The Borman 6 Girl got to have soul!

drbmbay on July 23, 2007 at 1:50 am

one of the saddest moments in my life was when I moved once and upon unpacking somehow my mini-cinema poster was gone. I remain to this day proud that I was included in that poster of all the fans – twice. the only one who was. because I was there every freakin' weekend of my teenage years, I think.

It was the greatest haven for a moviestruck teenager relagated to having to put up with living in suburbia. I realize there’s been a lot tame talk about the mini but I remember people passing bongs around the place, so let’s be honest about one of the things that made that place so great. it was a really a magical playland where people could come, get high, eat fun food (mr. shiftee ice cream, anyone!), and watch really great movies.

I became such a regular that the guys started letting me in for free and I used to help out taking tickets sometimes, sometimes even watching the front door for bathroom breaks. it was never just about the movies. it was about the people there. people who were having fun sharing the things they loved with other lovers of the same damn thing. and for the people who worked there? what other kind of job could you possibly want to have?

I wish I could remember names. there was one guy who worked there, we were taking tickets for 200 motels, and there were two guys really, really stoned coming in and we started echo-talking to freak them out. ah, yes. how young we all were…

I remember the night the place was robbed. I came out to see the employees and everyone was really flipped out, but held it together and didn’t stop the movie, if I remember correctly. the show must go on.

I was with four friends in the parking lot one night. a car came by and two undercover cops flashed their badges at us. they pulled us out of the car and wanted to know what we were smoking. they pulled a roach out of the ashtray and threatened to arrest us. they frisked us. took the pot that one of the guys had. and drove off. end of that story.

the best thing in the world were the all-nighters. freaks, marx brothers, god knows what else, contests. I won a contest once. I told a really awful joke with a friend of mine and we won. the all-nighters were a great big sleep over party with no grown-ups. what wonderful memories to compensate for the chronic anxiety that is most of the time during one’s later teen years. and the guys that worked there were like older brothers to me. just being who they were let me know that those tough teen angst will pass and even though somethings may make more sense someday, other things will make even less.

but my favorite movies, my absolute favorite shows were robert downey films. greaser’s palace. putney swope. pound.

and downey would come and speak. here was a real movie director coming to speak to a bunch of stoned kids on long island. about 10 years ago, I was with a friend in a restaurant in LA and he pointed out downey sitting alone at another table. he was reading the racing charts. I had my friend who knew him introduce me. we talked about me seeing him at the mini back in the day. that was nice.

the entire place was a dreamland that shaped my life forever. I make films now. and the mini helped me to fall in love with films of all kinds. it was there I discovered fellini. from goddard to godzilla, the mini was the best film school in the world, with all the popcorn you could eat.

and I would have to say that my love of world music began the first time I saw the harder they come one midnight at the mini.

have you ever tried to tell people, explain to them, what it was like there? you can’t. that’s just the way it is. it was special and you can’t really point to anything one other thing and say it was just like that. the mini was and is beyond description.

if you were there, you know.

that’s about all…

micohen on March 9, 2007 at 10:57 am

I agree – those videos were great. Especially the “Rocky Horror” parody. Mikeyboomer – please put them back! I assumed because there were no copyright issues they would be up forever, so I was taking my time going through them.

RobertR on January 28, 2007 at 12:32 pm

Harder They Come
View link

Randyman on January 8, 2007 at 7:14 am

Yes, plenty of showings of Harold & Maude as well as Where’s Papa? (later retitiled “Going Ape” all because of the one scene in the ape costume).

“I kinda remember seeing them there, but can’t be sure.” Wow, in just a few words you summed up what it felt like to spend a night at the Mini-Cinema!

timmyb on January 7, 2007 at 9:54 pm

Thanks for all the posts. it certainly brought back a bunch of memories from a time I don’t remember well. I think I saw a few concert films (dead, Pink Floyd) along with rocky Horror, Quadrophenia? The Hills have Eyes (scared the shit of of me). I think there was a double feature of kentucky fried Movie and groove Tube once. Waiting to get in was as much fun as the movie most nights.
Did you guys play Where’s Papa? or Harold and Maude? I kinda remember seeing them there, but can’t be sure.

Thanks for the youtube vids. The old A&P Supermarket looks just as bad as it does now

tisker on December 28, 2006 at 7:36 pm

Happy New Year everyone.

hopanero on November 1, 2006 at 11:12 pm

I was only there once.I saw Led Zeppelin’s the song remains the same with my best friend and our mom’s,we were in 5th-6th grade.The scene was crazy EVERYBODY smoking pot and drinking i’ll never forget it.Long live the mini cinema!

DanR on November 1, 2006 at 1:51 am

From the Howard Stern Show 8-14-06(quoted from marksfriggin.com):

Gary and Howard talked about this mini-cinema theater that used to be there and how they would play some really weird movies there. Gary said they had a movie called ‘'Gums’‘ that was about a mermaid that blew guys to death. Howard said he’d like to see that movie and he’d also like to start his own mini-cinema, he figures the fans would like something like that.

MarzanoMiniPlayer on October 10, 2006 at 7:30 pm

Hi Min-Fans ! Mike Russo here with some real exciting news now! I have spent the last year or so compiling ALOT of the Mini-Cinema footage I shot back in 1977 1985 with Joe Marzano…Joe Marzano the Originator of the Marzano Mini-Players & Sadly he passed but he did leave me with all of the Mini-Movies & Rocky Horror Mini-Cinema Films.. I will be posting all of it up on my YOUTUBE site in the next few weeks…Some amazing stuff here, tell everyone cause I got stuff that everybody has forgotten about including the RoseLand & Club Heat Halloween Parties from 1979 that I Shot personally with Joe..Including interviews with Richard Obrien and Sal Piro, Dori, Gale, April and many more! Hold On Cause here come the Memories! Go to YOUTUBE.COM and tpye in Mini cinema…My email is Id love to hear from some of the Mini-Cinema regulars…Peace….Mikey

RobertR on October 4, 2006 at 10:33 am

There is an ad here for the Mini in 1975
View link

TerryP on September 7, 2006 at 5:05 pm

and Gary is still doing projection and sound for UA out of Denver.