MOVIEGUY, Thanks for your prompt reply and also to SAPS. I plan to make a nostalgic trip back to Jamaica soon after 28 years and will visit the Jamaica Movieplex. Looking foward to that popcorn!
For a photograph of the Rainbow taken in the early 1930’s visit http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu Click on “How Public Housing Transformed New York” then Click on “Spared the Wreckers Ball” and finally click the thumbnail photo showing the Rainbow theater to get an enlarged copy which can be printed. It is now owned by Love Chapel of Outreach of NYC Inc.
SAPS comment is very cyrptic. Perhaps he meant in answer to my question that this is the worst “theatre” ever…How does anybody else think? I still won’t go unless I hear something positive about this place. Thanks.
If indeed LIU plans to vacate the building for a newer gym facility the prospect of returning the Paramount to its former theatrical hey day would be a massive effort. The expense and the constuctive undertaking would be over whelming. At best creating a very simple utilitarian auditorium constructed from scratch may be more reasonable for lectures, community arts concerts and dramas and maybe showings of classic films, student films, etc.
I had a cousin John, now deceased, who was able to pull a reel of film from the rubble. I believe it was from “Tarzan’s New York Adventure”. After my cousin’s passing that reel no longer exists.
Not having been down Jamaica Avenue in 27 years, I’d like to know what is the Jamaica Multiplex like? Is it comfortable and clean? Is the climate peaceable and safe to watch films or is plagued by loud, rowdy , mischievous teen agers? Is the popcorn good? If I hear good things I’ll come back for a visit, but if I hear negative things I’ll stay away.
Just a note f.y.i. this wasn’t the “original” theatre in Lindenhurst. A much older one served the town on Wellwood Avenue and burned down in the late 40’s a year or two before the “new” one was built. My cousin salvaged a reel of film from the rubble I believed it was “Tarzan’s New York Adventure”. My cousin has passed on and that reel is lost. It may be worth a trip to the library for a view of old newspapers or microfilm about the earlier Lindenhurst movie house.
From what I imagine it’s possible the grosses weren’t enough to pay the extremely high property taxes. A work certificate in one of the windows now indicates that “refrigeration” work is being done for an incoming “food market”. Neighbors think a kosher meat market or kosher grocery may be coming in to serve the raising Orthodox Jewish population. A revival as a movie theatre no longer seems possible for this site. Chalk it up to history.
As of the present 3/25/05 there is a work crew currently working on the cement floor. The back of the building is covered with graffiti. The windows are so covered with dirt and grime you can hardly see in. The days of when this building was a theatre now seem a long distant dream.
The last time I attended the Alden was in 1968 to see Fred Astaire’s last film “Finian’s Rainbow”. The years passed and the Alden demised. However I did hear a “rumor” about the still remaining auditorium behind the present retail spaces that a poor Pentecostal church was looking to rent the space for their services. Evidently the rumor has been proved false or the deal never went through.
I would like to see RCM just for a short period of time say two weeks a year to roll back time and give the public the old time bill of fare. A movie, first run or an oldie with the stage show. Of course they would charge expected 2005 prices, but…why not? The show doesn’t need to be elaborate but a simple deal with Rocketts, Ballet and a specialty act or two. Wouldn’t it be fun to do that?Have the grand old organ play between shows a few numbers.
I would like to see RCM just for a short period of time say two weeks a year to roll back time and give the public the old time bill of fare. A movie, first run or an oldie with the stage show. Of course they would charge expected 2005 prices, but…why not? The show doesn’t need to be elaborate but a simple deal with Rocketts, Ballet and a specialty act or two. Wouldn’t it be fun to do that?Have the grand old organ play between shows a few numbers.
I would like to see RCM just for a short period of time say two weeks a year to roll back time and give the public the old time bill of fare. A movie, first run or an oldie with the stage show. Of course they would charge expected 2005 prices, but…why not? The show doesn’t need to be elaborate but a simple deal with Rocketts, Ballet and a specialty act or two. Wouldn’t it be fun to do that?Have the grand old organ play between shows a few numbers.
Not to spook anyone but the New Amsterdam is haunted by the spirit of one of the Follies girls. Her name is Olive Thomas and she died very young from an illness and over dosed on her medication. Former and some present maintanance people and performers have seen her. Mostly in the balcony and in the so called Garden Roof section. They say she looks so real and solid you’d think she was alive. Well, that’s the legend of the New.Am.
I only went to the Utopia once and that was back in the late 1960’s. A curiously odd picture called “I Am Curious Yellow” was playing . It was one of those early sex with four letter words pictures that shocked your socks off then but today now seems tame. Then it was rated X but today it would get an R. The theatre was getting shabby even by then. Since I did not grow up with the Utopia I had no emotional or sentimental attachment to it as such but I did think the outside structure was neat. I always thought it echoed the 1939 World’s Fair.
To read a contemporary account on the Valencia’s opening take a short hike to the Jamaica Library and ask to see a micro-film reel of the January 1929 Long Island Press. Ginger Rogers danced on the Valencia stage before her fame and fortune. A multiplex theatre has just opened on Jamaica Avenue to serve today’s residents.
As I pass by the building daily it is still a mess. Inside workers are toiling laboriously drilling and ripping up the concrete floor for what who knows? The workers refuse to discuss what is going on.I heard rumors that the theatre may come back.
A dear friend of mine, whose name I will mention, patronized the Dale one evening in the 90’s. A small bomb exploded in a seat in the row in front of him causing him to be seriously injured in the foot and leg. He was fortunate that he wasn’t injured worse or killed. The event was in the papers. I believe it caused by some Latin American politcal terrorists. Soon after my friend’s unfortunate incident the Dale closed.
Part of the building that housed the now closed Howard Johnson’s slated to be demolished it appears the days of this venue could now be numbered.
MOVIEGUY, Thanks for your prompt reply and also to SAPS. I plan to make a nostalgic trip back to Jamaica soon after 28 years and will visit the Jamaica Movieplex. Looking foward to that popcorn!
For a photograph of the Rainbow taken in the early 1930’s visit http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu Click on “How Public Housing Transformed New York” then Click on “Spared the Wreckers Ball” and finally click the thumbnail photo showing the Rainbow theater to get an enlarged copy which can be printed. It is now owned by Love Chapel of Outreach of NYC Inc.
SAPS comment is very cyrptic. Perhaps he meant in answer to my question that this is the worst “theatre” ever…How does anybody else think? I still won’t go unless I hear something positive about this place. Thanks.
The Theatre Historical Society of America will be visiting this theatre on June 22, 2005.
The Theatre Historical Society plans to visit this theatre on June 21st, 2005 as one of its conclave highlights.
If indeed LIU plans to vacate the building for a newer gym facility the prospect of returning the Paramount to its former theatrical hey day would be a massive effort. The expense and the constuctive undertaking would be over whelming. At best creating a very simple utilitarian auditorium constructed from scratch may be more reasonable for lectures, community arts concerts and dramas and maybe showings of classic films, student films, etc.
I had a cousin John, now deceased, who was able to pull a reel of film from the rubble. I believe it was from “Tarzan’s New York Adventure”. After my cousin’s passing that reel no longer exists.
Kenroe thanks for your comment and I’d be glad to meet you at the THS Conclave this summer. Haven’t heard from Orlando, hope he’s well and going too.
Yes, this theatre is next to a firehouse. When I last passed the place on the LIRR I noticed they now feature live children’s shows.
Not having been down Jamaica Avenue in 27 years, I’d like to know what is the Jamaica Multiplex like? Is it comfortable and clean? Is the climate peaceable and safe to watch films or is plagued by loud, rowdy , mischievous teen agers? Is the popcorn good? If I hear good things I’ll come back for a visit, but if I hear negative things I’ll stay away.
Just a note f.y.i. this wasn’t the “original” theatre in Lindenhurst. A much older one served the town on Wellwood Avenue and burned down in the late 40’s a year or two before the “new” one was built. My cousin salvaged a reel of film from the rubble I believed it was “Tarzan’s New York Adventure”. My cousin has passed on and that reel is lost. It may be worth a trip to the library for a view of old newspapers or microfilm about the earlier Lindenhurst movie house.
From what I imagine it’s possible the grosses weren’t enough to pay the extremely high property taxes. A work certificate in one of the windows now indicates that “refrigeration” work is being done for an incoming “food market”. Neighbors think a kosher meat market or kosher grocery may be coming in to serve the raising Orthodox Jewish population. A revival as a movie theatre no longer seems possible for this site. Chalk it up to history.
As of the present 3/25/05 there is a work crew currently working on the cement floor. The back of the building is covered with graffiti. The windows are so covered with dirt and grime you can hardly see in. The days of when this building was a theatre now seem a long distant dream.
The Paris is one of the most comfortable theatres to see a film!
My father once told me he worked as a projectionist at the Bayshore for a very short time between 1945-1947. He was fired after three months.
The last time I attended the Alden was in 1968 to see Fred Astaire’s last film “Finian’s Rainbow”. The years passed and the Alden demised. However I did hear a “rumor” about the still remaining auditorium behind the present retail spaces that a poor Pentecostal church was looking to rent the space for their services. Evidently the rumor has been proved false or the deal never went through.
I would like to see RCM just for a short period of time say two weeks a year to roll back time and give the public the old time bill of fare. A movie, first run or an oldie with the stage show. Of course they would charge expected 2005 prices, but…why not? The show doesn’t need to be elaborate but a simple deal with Rocketts, Ballet and a specialty act or two. Wouldn’t it be fun to do that?Have the grand old organ play between shows a few numbers.
I would like to see RCM just for a short period of time say two weeks a year to roll back time and give the public the old time bill of fare. A movie, first run or an oldie with the stage show. Of course they would charge expected 2005 prices, but…why not? The show doesn’t need to be elaborate but a simple deal with Rocketts, Ballet and a specialty act or two. Wouldn’t it be fun to do that?Have the grand old organ play between shows a few numbers.
I would like to see RCM just for a short period of time say two weeks a year to roll back time and give the public the old time bill of fare. A movie, first run or an oldie with the stage show. Of course they would charge expected 2005 prices, but…why not? The show doesn’t need to be elaborate but a simple deal with Rocketts, Ballet and a specialty act or two. Wouldn’t it be fun to do that?Have the grand old organ play between shows a few numbers.
Not to spook anyone but the New Amsterdam is haunted by the spirit of one of the Follies girls. Her name is Olive Thomas and she died very young from an illness and over dosed on her medication. Former and some present maintanance people and performers have seen her. Mostly in the balcony and in the so called Garden Roof section. They say she looks so real and solid you’d think she was alive. Well, that’s the legend of the New.Am.
I only went to the Utopia once and that was back in the late 1960’s. A curiously odd picture called “I Am Curious Yellow” was playing . It was one of those early sex with four letter words pictures that shocked your socks off then but today now seems tame. Then it was rated X but today it would get an R. The theatre was getting shabby even by then. Since I did not grow up with the Utopia I had no emotional or sentimental attachment to it as such but I did think the outside structure was neat. I always thought it echoed the 1939 World’s Fair.
To read a contemporary account on the Valencia’s opening take a short hike to the Jamaica Library and ask to see a micro-film reel of the January 1929 Long Island Press. Ginger Rogers danced on the Valencia stage before her fame and fortune. A multiplex theatre has just opened on Jamaica Avenue to serve today’s residents.
As I pass by the building daily it is still a mess. Inside workers are toiling laboriously drilling and ripping up the concrete floor for what who knows? The workers refuse to discuss what is going on.I heard rumors that the theatre may come back.
A dear friend of mine, whose name I will mention, patronized the Dale one evening in the 90’s. A small bomb exploded in a seat in the row in front of him causing him to be seriously injured in the foot and leg. He was fortunate that he wasn’t injured worse or killed. The event was in the papers. I believe it caused by some Latin American politcal terrorists. Soon after my friend’s unfortunate incident the Dale closed.