End of an era as Malverne Cinema & Art Center closes its doors for last time
The Malverne Cinema & Art Center on its last day…
The Malverne Cinema & Art Center on its last day in business Sunday. Credit: Jeff Bachner
By Joshua Needelman
Updated September 29, 2024 8:47 pm
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They came to say goodbye.
On Sunday, in the hours before the Malverne Cinema & Art Center screens went dark for the last time and the movie house closed for good, owners Anne and Henry Stampfel embraced those who had helped make theater a local institution. It felt like a shiva call. The crowd stood in the lobby with the plush carpet for hours, sharing laughs and memories.
People like John Aresta, the Malverne chief of police, whom Anne Stampfel had hired as an usher in 1981.
Like Jo Constantelos, a longtime friend of the Stampfels whose son worked at the theater in high school
Like Joanna Volpe, the Stampfels' daughter, who grew up at the cinema.
The Stampfels, who live in Massapequa, arrived around 5:30 a.m. on this dark and chilly Sunday to clean out the building.
“I was sad,” Anne said. “The weather outside kind of matched my mood.”
The final slate of Hollywood fare: “Lee,” “Reagan,” “Transformers One,” “The Wild Robot.”
For neighborhood movie fans, the theater’s demise meant the end for first-run features close to home. For the Stampfels, it marked the end of a challenging few years of business.
The cinema closed for much of 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic hit before temporarily reopening that October.
But “it cost too much to unlock the door each day,” Anne Stampfel said, and the theater closed again in January 2021.
The Stampfels opened again, this time in May 2021, with an assist of a federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.
“That helped us get this far,” Henry Stampfel said.
As far as additional help, his wife added with a note despair, there is none “out there now. I’ve searched.”
Last Tuesday, the decision was made to shut the down the theater after the couple couldn’t reach an agreement with the landlord over building renovations.
It marked the end of a three-decades plus journey for the couple, who purchased the theater in 1990. The landlord was not available late Sunday to discuss plans for the future of the five-screen theater with seating for nearly 700. The original theater was built in 1947. It’s located in a strip mall on Hempstead Avenue where the roadway meets Nassau Avenue.
The Stampfels had met at a theater in Oceanside. He was working as a projectionist; she as a candy salesperson. They bonded over their love of the industry and built their own film fiefdom: Over the years, the Stampfels have run theaters in Bellmore, Hempstead and Long Beach.
But it was in Malverne where the Stampfels became most involved with the community, their daughter said. They would often hold film talks with residents.
“It would be sold out all weekend Thursday through Sunday,” Volpe said. “And even Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday were busy, because people would just come here, and find out what was playing when they got here. They trusted it would be good because they knew films would be carefully curated.”
Aresta said it was at the Malverne Cinema where he saw his first-ever movie with his father: “The Poseidon Adventure” in 1972.
“This is the last landmark in Malverne,” Aresta said. “It’s going to hurt seeing Anne and Henry leave. And just their legacy. They’ve employed so many kids over the years.”
About 7 p.m., as the final films let out, Anne Stampfel sat on a chair in the lobby, watching her customers, for the final time, filter out into the damp night.
“Thank you,” one customer said, turning to her.
Stampfel let a small smile form on her face: “Thank you.”
please update close as of September 30. According to the owner, the boiler needed to be replaced, it would be too costly to repair and it would have no heat in the winter. Unfortunately they chose to close for good.
A better grand opening ad now in the photos section and please update when the theatre opened orginally with 6 screens (4 254 seat screens and 2 294 seat screens). Unfortunately the theatre is not reserved seating, don’t know the total seat count with the additional screens
Please rename it back to Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn, the official website of the theatre hasn’t change it to the Spike Lee Cinema, maybe one of the screens is dedciated to him. Until the website changes the name, please put it back to the original hame.
Please rename, Silverspot Cinema Miami according to website. Also, same situation of a Saturday evening, the theatre was slow for a typical Saturday night.
Please update, total screens is now 8 screens, half the theatre is now a bowling alley. Total seats is now 793
Theatre 1 251 (EVX)
Theatre 2 89
Theatre 3, 4 and 5 50 seats
Theatre 6 119 seats
Theatre 7 122
Theatre 8 62
Please update, total seats is 1102 with Luxury Loungers and the screen count is 13, Theatre 13 was added a few years later the official name is Cinemark Mansfield and XD
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End of an era as Malverne Cinema & Art Center closes its doors for last time The Malverne Cinema & Art Center on its last day… The Malverne Cinema & Art Center on its last day in business Sunday. Credit: Jeff Bachner
By Joshua Needelman Updated September 29, 2024 8:47 pm Share They came to say goodbye.
On Sunday, in the hours before the Malverne Cinema & Art Center screens went dark for the last time and the movie house closed for good, owners Anne and Henry Stampfel embraced those who had helped make theater a local institution. It felt like a shiva call. The crowd stood in the lobby with the plush carpet for hours, sharing laughs and memories.
People like John Aresta, the Malverne chief of police, whom Anne Stampfel had hired as an usher in 1981.
Like Jo Constantelos, a longtime friend of the Stampfels whose son worked at the theater in high school
Like Joanna Volpe, the Stampfels' daughter, who grew up at the cinema.
The Stampfels, who live in Massapequa, arrived around 5:30 a.m. on this dark and chilly Sunday to clean out the building.
“I was sad,” Anne said. “The weather outside kind of matched my mood.”
The final slate of Hollywood fare: “Lee,” “Reagan,” “Transformers One,” “The Wild Robot.”
For neighborhood movie fans, the theater’s demise meant the end for first-run features close to home. For the Stampfels, it marked the end of a challenging few years of business.
The cinema closed for much of 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic hit before temporarily reopening that October.
But “it cost too much to unlock the door each day,” Anne Stampfel said, and the theater closed again in January 2021.
The Stampfels opened again, this time in May 2021, with an assist of a federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.
“That helped us get this far,” Henry Stampfel said.
As far as additional help, his wife added with a note despair, there is none “out there now. I’ve searched.”
Last Tuesday, the decision was made to shut the down the theater after the couple couldn’t reach an agreement with the landlord over building renovations.
It marked the end of a three-decades plus journey for the couple, who purchased the theater in 1990. The landlord was not available late Sunday to discuss plans for the future of the five-screen theater with seating for nearly 700. The original theater was built in 1947. It’s located in a strip mall on Hempstead Avenue where the roadway meets Nassau Avenue.
The Stampfels had met at a theater in Oceanside. He was working as a projectionist; she as a candy salesperson. They bonded over their love of the industry and built their own film fiefdom: Over the years, the Stampfels have run theaters in Bellmore, Hempstead and Long Beach.
But it was in Malverne where the Stampfels became most involved with the community, their daughter said. They would often hold film talks with residents.
“It would be sold out all weekend Thursday through Sunday,” Volpe said. “And even Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday were busy, because people would just come here, and find out what was playing when they got here. They trusted it would be good because they knew films would be carefully curated.”
Aresta said it was at the Malverne Cinema where he saw his first-ever movie with his father: “The Poseidon Adventure” in 1972.
“This is the last landmark in Malverne,” Aresta said. “It’s going to hurt seeing Anne and Henry leave. And just their legacy. They’ve employed so many kids over the years.”
About 7 p.m., as the final films let out, Anne Stampfel sat on a chair in the lobby, watching her customers, for the final time, filter out into the damp night.
“Thank you,” one customer said, turning to her.
Stampfel let a small smile form on her face: “Thank you.”
please update close as of September 30. According to the owner, the boiler needed to be replaced, it would be too costly to repair and it would have no heat in the winter. Unfortunately they chose to close for good.
A better grand opening ad now in the photos section and please update when the theatre opened orginally with 6 screens (4 254 seat screens and 2 294 seat screens). Unfortunately the theatre is not reserved seating, don’t know the total seat count with the additional screens
The surround sound works well in theater 9
Please update, total seats 1734
Seating Capacity: 1. 135 2. 133 3. 79 4. 50 5. 55 6 and 7. 57 8. 90 9. 124 10. 135 11. 76 12 and 13. 91 14. 175 15. 226 16. 160
Please update, total seats 832 Seating Cacity by screen: 1. 65 2. 115 3. 117 4. 73 5. 65 6. 104 7. 97 8. 202
Theatre capacity: 1. 42 2. 108 3. 73 4. 89 5. 128 6. 182 7. 181 8. 91 9. 10 10. 81 11. 81 12. 46
Official grand opening ad by Clearview Cinemas in the photos section.
Please update, total seats 1351 Theatre Capacity 1. 146 2. 210 3. 257 4. 130 5. 105 6. 204 7. 173 8. 126
Please rename it back to Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn, the official website of the theatre hasn’t change it to the Spike Lee Cinema, maybe one of the screens is dedciated to him. Until the website changes the name, please put it back to the original hame.
Grand Opening ad in photos section
Please rename, Silverspot Cinema Miami according to website. Also, same situation of a Saturday evening, the theatre was slow for a typical Saturday night.
Please update, total seats 728 Theatre 1, 2 and 3 48 seats Theatre 4 78 Theatre 5 and 6 86 seats Theatre 7 92 seats Theatre 8 and 11 46 seats Theatre 9 and 10 54 seats Theatre 12 42 seats
Please update, total screens is now 8 screens, half the theatre is now a bowling alley. Total seats is now 793 Theatre 1 251 (EVX) Theatre 2 89 Theatre 3, 4 and 5 50 seats Theatre 6 119 seats Theatre 7 122 Theatre 8 62
Seating Cpacity: Theatre 1 38 Theatre 2 57 Theatre 3 140 Theatre 4 158 Theatre 5 54 Theatre 6 214 Theatre 7 36
Please rename SMG Arlington Lincoln Square and total seats is 951
Seating Capacity: Theatre 1. 102 Seats Theatre 2, 7 and 8 103 seats Theatre 3 132 seats Theatre 4 206 seats Theatre 5 97 seats Theatre 6 101 seats Theatre 9 105
Please update, total seats 992
Seating Capacity Theatre 1 171 Seats Theatre 2 186 seats Theatre 3 and 8 57 seats Theatre 4 and 5 89 seats Theatre 6 and 7 56 seats Theatre 9 231 seats
Please update, total seats 1024 Seating Capacity: Theatre 1 and 10 94 seats Theatre 2 and 9 60 seats Theatre 3 and 8 182 seats Theatre 4 and 7 112 seats Theatre 5 and 6 64 seats
Please update, total seats 736 Theatre 1 74 seats Theatre 2 116 Theatre 3 88 Theatre 4 66 Theatre 5 62 Theatre 6 54 Theatre 7 112 Theatre 8 164
Please update, total seats 744 Theatre 1 and 2 44 seats Theatre 3 116 Theatre 4 118 Theatre 5 154 (XD) Theatre 6 and 7 119 Theatre 8 43 seats
Please update, total seats 886 Theatre 1 84 seats Theatre 2 197 Theatre 3 60 Theatre 4 59 Theatre 5 43 seats Theatre 6 150 Theatre 7 114 Theatre 8 108 Theatre 9 71
Please update, total seats 921 Seating Capacity: Theatre 1 99 seats Theatre 2 106 seats Theatre 3 62 seats Theatre 4 44 seats Theatre 5 186 Theatre 6 170 Theatre 7 and 8 47 seats Theatre 9 53 seats Theatre 10 107 seats
Please update, total seats 861 Theatre 1 108 seats Theatre 2 100 Theatre 3 200 (LOOK PX) Theatre 4 177 Theatre 5 101 Theatre 6 107 Theatre 7 and 8 34 seats
Please update, theatre opened August 3, 2001
Please update, total seats is 1102 with Luxury Loungers and the screen count is 13, Theatre 13 was added a few years later the official name is Cinemark Mansfield and XD
Seating Capacity Theatre 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12 53 seats Theate 3 103 seats Theatre 4 82 seats Theatre 5 and 7 92 seats Theatre 8 119 seats Theatre 13 170 seats (XD)