As a resident to the area I never knew the building during it’s glorious theatre days. Until recently the upper outside facade was clean until graffiti vandals attacked it this past fall. I go to the KFC, the Chinese take out and the 99cent store and try to imagine what it might have been like, but that’s very hard to do.
The Merrick was still alive during the early 60’s. One of films that played there was “Whatever Happend To Baby Jane?‘ Guess who shows up for a showing but Joan Crawford herself! Given the redcarpet star treatment, Ms. Crawford held court at the Merrick"s lobby with many crowding fans about her. She went next door with her entourage to get something to eat at Teddy’s a Greek owned diner. A picture in Teddy’s hung for years showing Ms. Crawford haveing a burger deluxe drinking Pepsi with the owner Ted Mantelarios and other "Mildred Pierce” waitresses.
I lived in Jamaica from 1965 to 1978. I remember when the Valencia, Alden, Merrick and Savoy were still thriving. I actually have taken Valencia as one of my cyber names. Even in 1966 the Valencia was a beautiful theatre with most of its features still intact. It was there and the purchase of my first book, Best Remaining Seats got me interested in old theatres. I smoked my very first cigarette in the balcony at the Merrick. The Merrick was awesome even then. The ushers were still uniformed like they were at Radio City. The Alden was rather plain but serviceable. Now the Savoy at that time was in it’s last gasps. I must admit I was curious to take in what was then the “adult” show. On the screen was typical grainy 42nd Street porn, more soft core variety. Once was enough for me I had to leave. However I took in the decor, walls. fixtures and knew this was once a movie palace. The Savoy is long gone making way for York College. Jamaica now has a multiplex that replaces all the dead theatres. Valencia now is indeed a well kept church.
How I loved the All Weather Drive In as a child. Yes, my parents had my sister and I crunch down in our seats to make us appear younger to pay the lower “child under 12” admission. We got away with it for awhile until one day a very large Afro-American woman actually came out of her booth and yelled at my parents, “Don’t you all tell me them kids aint tweleve! Since that day we were honest. There was a small place for rides for the kids. Indoors, the screen was so large it was over whelming and the sound enveloped you…this was before stereo now. The seats were super comfortable. The popcorn was delicious, nice and buttery. I’ve never had better. One time we watched a movie outside, and I got my sex education early when I noticed the going ons in the car next to ours! That’s life!
Does anyone remember a very tall, handsome and disinguished gentleman who broadcast a radio program from the lobby of the Babylon theatre in the mid-fifties? Maybe I imagined it. Thanks.
Hi Orlando. I just discovered this site from a friend, John Dousmanis who frequently corresponds on this site. You and I met on the Theatre Conclave to Seattle a few years back. I feel badly that things had to come to this. The Lindenhurst Theatre was worth saving. Too bad the Studio Theatre couldn’t have gotten it to put on their shows instead of their present site with patrons having to walk up such a long flight of stairs. Anyhow your work in trying to save Lindy is admiralable. Hope all is well with you. Maybe I’ll see you this summer in L.A. .
The Siamese sisters mentioned earlier on in the list of comments had their lives told again recently in the failed Broadway musical “Sideshow” October 16, 1997 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and ran 91 performances. Music was by Henry Krieger and Lyrics by Bill Russell. It starred Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner as the sisters.
As a resident to the area I never knew the building during it’s glorious theatre days. Until recently the upper outside facade was clean until graffiti vandals attacked it this past fall. I go to the KFC, the Chinese take out and the 99cent store and try to imagine what it might have been like, but that’s very hard to do.
The Merrick was still alive during the early 60’s. One of films that played there was “Whatever Happend To Baby Jane?‘ Guess who shows up for a showing but Joan Crawford herself! Given the redcarpet star treatment, Ms. Crawford held court at the Merrick"s lobby with many crowding fans about her. She went next door with her entourage to get something to eat at Teddy’s a Greek owned diner. A picture in Teddy’s hung for years showing Ms. Crawford haveing a burger deluxe drinking Pepsi with the owner Ted Mantelarios and other "Mildred Pierce” waitresses.
I lived in Jamaica from 1965 to 1978. I remember when the Valencia, Alden, Merrick and Savoy were still thriving. I actually have taken Valencia as one of my cyber names. Even in 1966 the Valencia was a beautiful theatre with most of its features still intact. It was there and the purchase of my first book, Best Remaining Seats got me interested in old theatres. I smoked my very first cigarette in the balcony at the Merrick. The Merrick was awesome even then. The ushers were still uniformed like they were at Radio City. The Alden was rather plain but serviceable. Now the Savoy at that time was in it’s last gasps. I must admit I was curious to take in what was then the “adult” show. On the screen was typical grainy 42nd Street porn, more soft core variety. Once was enough for me I had to leave. However I took in the decor, walls. fixtures and knew this was once a movie palace. The Savoy is long gone making way for York College. Jamaica now has a multiplex that replaces all the dead theatres. Valencia now is indeed a well kept church.
How I loved the All Weather Drive In as a child. Yes, my parents had my sister and I crunch down in our seats to make us appear younger to pay the lower “child under 12” admission. We got away with it for awhile until one day a very large Afro-American woman actually came out of her booth and yelled at my parents, “Don’t you all tell me them kids aint tweleve! Since that day we were honest. There was a small place for rides for the kids. Indoors, the screen was so large it was over whelming and the sound enveloped you…this was before stereo now. The seats were super comfortable. The popcorn was delicious, nice and buttery. I’ve never had better. One time we watched a movie outside, and I got my sex education early when I noticed the going ons in the car next to ours! That’s life!
Does anyone remember a very tall, handsome and disinguished gentleman who broadcast a radio program from the lobby of the Babylon theatre in the mid-fifties? Maybe I imagined it. Thanks.
Hi Orlando. I just discovered this site from a friend, John Dousmanis who frequently corresponds on this site. You and I met on the Theatre Conclave to Seattle a few years back. I feel badly that things had to come to this. The Lindenhurst Theatre was worth saving. Too bad the Studio Theatre couldn’t have gotten it to put on their shows instead of their present site with patrons having to walk up such a long flight of stairs. Anyhow your work in trying to save Lindy is admiralable. Hope all is well with you. Maybe I’ll see you this summer in L.A. .
The Siamese sisters mentioned earlier on in the list of comments had their lives told again recently in the failed Broadway musical “Sideshow” October 16, 1997 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and ran 91 performances. Music was by Henry Krieger and Lyrics by Bill Russell. It starred Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner as the sisters.