The history of the Sunrise Cinemas expansion from 6 to 14, over construction was performed by the only owners Redstone Cinemas (National Amusements). When the theatre open in 1979, all 6 screens had 700 seats. In 1981, they open Cinemas 7 and 8 with 583 seats. In early 1982, cinema 3 was the first to be split in half (337 and 283 seats). In 1983, they last 2 theatres built to the far right, theatres 10 and 11 (13 and 14 by 1987) had 359 seats. In 1986, they split 5 in half (6 and 7 by 1987) with 283 and 337 seats. In 1987 when 12 wasn’t enough, they split original theatre 2 and theatre 8 which was a add on in 1982 in half to make 14 screens.
Redstone originally intended to split the two center screens at some point, the had entrances to both sides in the back already in place. The other two they split later on, they had to create a small hallway behind the back of the auditorium.
When the theatre was at 14 screens. The seat count was 1. 682 70MM 2. 342 3. 306 4. 337 5. 283 6. 283 7. 337 8. 682 9. 682 70MM 10. 583 11. 241 12. 282 13. 359 14. 359
IDolby Stereo was first installed in theatres 1, 8, 9 and 10. The rest got them in the new millenium.
During the early 80, ushers were station in 3 locations to rip tickets, 1 for the left, 1 for the two center screens and 1 on the right. Sometimes, they were station in front of all the screens. Later on, only one in the center.
Prior to 1985, they had four different ticket stations to buy tickets, you had to look to see where your film was to buy a ticket. After the fall of 1985, they installed computerized ticketing which they were to downsize the boxoffice staff.
The theatre had one main refreshment stand, which in the late 1980s on busy days, it was at least a 10 minute wait to buy refreshments. They never had enough workers. They very rarely open the auxiliary stand on the right hallway.
Metal detectors installed in 1991.
From 1980 to 1986 went to this location a lot, then after that started to cut down going there because of the crowds and short staff.
Saw The Last Emperor in theatre 11, it was sold out and the screen was like watching a big screen television. The sound was MONO. This was a film that should of been shown in 70MM or at least in one of the large auditoriums.
The Criterion Center open on March 20,1980 with 5 screens. The 6th screen open on February 6, 1981 When United Artists took over the theatre in 1988, sometime in early 1990 they split the lower auditorium. B.S. Moss wasn’t responsible for theatre 2 to be split, it was United Artists Theatre Circuit> Please update.
Please update, Went to 7 screens on May 27, 1988 under Cineplex Odeon. AMC added recliners a few years ago and the only IMAX theatre that not stadium seating.
Please update, the theatre open November 16, 1977 as a quad. When to six sometime in the 1980 and in the early 1990’s they expanded to 10 screens with a new Lobby area.
This theatre was a premiere showcase theatre when it open. It would get all the exclusive Nassau showing with either the Sunrise Cinemas or Green Acres Theatre as the 2 locations for major openings.
Please update, the three additional screens which theatres 2, 3 and 7 were split in half. General Cinema made those theatres half the size. The only thing AMC did, a couple of years ago, they put recliners the theatre. The seating capacity when the theatre open was theatre 1. 472 with THX, 2 and 3 were 450, 4 was 293, 5 and 6 was 233, 7 was 450, 8 was 458 and 9 and 10 were 182. When General Cinema destroyed theatres 2, 3 and 7 to add more screens, 2 had 157, 3 was 150, 7 was 150. Theatres 11 were 107 and 12 and 13 122. To reach the new screens, their were short hallways to enter.
With the theatre being very busy, General Cinema did the expansion in the early 1990s.
The new capacity with the recliners are:
1. 186
2. 84
3. 79
4. 113
5. 113
6. 113
7. 84
8. 186
9. 77
10. 77
11. 37
12. 47
13. 44
Please update, the theatre open around December 16, 1977 with Close Encounters. The theatre had 4 screens, expanded to six screens in the 1980s or 90s. If I can find something thru looking at old newspapers. There was NO GRAND OPENING AD in the New York Daily News or The Journal News. Guess BS MOSS didn’t advertize.
Just to let you know, Harvey Elgart was the owner of the movie theatre and he also own At the time of closing, he was operating the Cobble Hills Cinemas. He eventually open the Kew Gardens Theatre and Williamsburgh Cinemas
The Cineplex Odeon Worldwide Cinema open June 16, 1989 with Ghostbuster II. The theatre could not compete with the Times Square theatres and the Chelsea Cinemas. Sometime around 1994, they went to a second run theatre with reduced prices.
You might want to add to description on September 1, 1990 the theatre was renamed the Loews Fine Arts when they operated the theatre when they took their short control of the theatre. On August 31, 1990 was the last day Pathe (City Cinemas was also doing the booking then). See my photos I just uploaded
The desciption should be updated, went to a Quad in 1983 (grand opening ad in photos), the old North was split, two small and one large (which you went down a ramp) and in 1994 went to a sixplex which the South Theatre got split just like the North. Seating capacity of theatre 1 (125), theatre 2 (280), theatre 3 (125) which was the old South Theatre and Theatre 4 (208), theatre 5 (523) and theatre 6 (208) which was the old North Theatre.
In the early 1990’s they only use one entrance and broke the wall down. When the theatre open in 1970, their were dedicated entrances to the North and the South, own refreshment stand and restrooms.
When it open as a quad in 1983, 2 big houses had Dolby Stereo. In 1994, Dolby was added to the new small screens and the other 2 got it soon after and in 1995 or 1996, the two big houses got DTS Digital Sound.
National Amusements took control sometime in 1991. They would sometime show new pictures or films that originally played at the Sunrise. In the late years, both theatres show the same films (so people that didn’t want to go through metal detectors would chose the Green Acres).
The company was so cheap, it wouldn’t upgrade the theatre. They would refuse to put in either Dolby Digital or DTS Sound. Also, wouldn’t put cupholders on the seats. When digital projections came out, the Sunrise Cinemas got all screen digital projection.
National Amusements if they would of spent money upgrading this theatre, maybe it still open.
The theatre opened on October 16, 1985. Auditorium capacity bases on Variety grosses posted in 1985.. Theatre 1 240, Theatre 2 250, Theatre 3 250 and Theatre 4 125. The theatre closed when the Landmark open.
Please update, the expansion to 13 screens was in 1995.
Please add, the expansion to theatres 6 to 10 and the new and present lobby open in 1994.
Please correct, Cinema 5 and Cinema 6 open in the summer of 1983
The history of the Sunrise Cinemas expansion from 6 to 14, over construction was performed by the only owners Redstone Cinemas (National Amusements). When the theatre open in 1979, all 6 screens had 700 seats. In 1981, they open Cinemas 7 and 8 with 583 seats. In early 1982, cinema 3 was the first to be split in half (337 and 283 seats). In 1983, they last 2 theatres built to the far right, theatres 10 and 11 (13 and 14 by 1987) had 359 seats. In 1986, they split 5 in half (6 and 7 by 1987) with 283 and 337 seats. In 1987 when 12 wasn’t enough, they split original theatre 2 and theatre 8 which was a add on in 1982 in half to make 14 screens.
Redstone originally intended to split the two center screens at some point, the had entrances to both sides in the back already in place. The other two they split later on, they had to create a small hallway behind the back of the auditorium.
When the theatre was at 14 screens. The seat count was
1. 682 70MM
2. 342
3. 306
4. 337
5. 283
6. 283
7. 337
8. 682
9. 682 70MM
10. 583
11. 241
12. 282
13. 359
14. 359
IDolby Stereo was first installed in theatres 1, 8, 9 and 10. The rest got them in the new millenium.
During the early 80, ushers were station in 3 locations to rip tickets, 1 for the left, 1 for the two center screens and 1 on the right. Sometimes, they were station in front of all the screens. Later on, only one in the center.
Prior to 1985, they had four different ticket stations to buy tickets, you had to look to see where your film was to buy a ticket. After the fall of 1985, they installed computerized ticketing which they were to downsize the boxoffice staff.
The theatre had one main refreshment stand, which in the late 1980s on busy days, it was at least a 10 minute wait to buy refreshments. They never had enough workers. They very rarely open the auxiliary stand on the right hallway.
Metal detectors installed in 1991.
From 1980 to 1986 went to this location a lot, then after that started to cut down going there because of the crowds and short staff.
Saw The Last Emperor in theatre 11, it was sold out and the screen was like watching a big screen television. The sound was MONO. This was a film that should of been shown in 70MM or at least in one of the large auditoriums.
The Criterion Center open on March 20,1980 with 5 screens. The 6th screen open on February 6, 1981 When United Artists took over the theatre in 1988, sometime in early 1990 they split the lower auditorium. B.S. Moss wasn’t responsible for theatre 2 to be split, it was United Artists Theatre Circuit> Please update.
Please update, Went to 7 screens on May 27, 1988 under Cineplex Odeon. AMC added recliners a few years ago and the only IMAX theatre that not stadium seating.
Please update, the theatre open November 16, 1977 as a quad. When to six sometime in the 1980 and in the early 1990’s they expanded to 10 screens with a new Lobby area.
This theatre was a premiere showcase theatre when it open. It would get all the exclusive Nassau showing with either the Sunrise Cinemas or Green Acres Theatre as the 2 locations for major openings.
Now they have 1240 seats.
Please update, the three additional screens which theatres 2, 3 and 7 were split in half. General Cinema made those theatres half the size. The only thing AMC did, a couple of years ago, they put recliners the theatre. The seating capacity when the theatre open was theatre 1. 472 with THX, 2 and 3 were 450, 4 was 293, 5 and 6 was 233, 7 was 450, 8 was 458 and 9 and 10 were 182. When General Cinema destroyed theatres 2, 3 and 7 to add more screens, 2 had 157, 3 was 150, 7 was 150. Theatres 11 were 107 and 12 and 13 122. To reach the new screens, their were short hallways to enter.
With the theatre being very busy, General Cinema did the expansion in the early 1990s.
The new capacity with the recliners are: 1. 186 2. 84 3. 79 4. 113 5. 113 6. 113 7. 84 8. 186 9. 77 10. 77 11. 37 12. 47 13. 44
Please update, the movie theatre open on November 2, 2001
Please update the 5 screen expansion to 14 screens was completed on June 7, 2002
Please update, the theatre open around December 16, 1977 with Close Encounters. The theatre had 4 screens, expanded to six screens in the 1980s or 90s. If I can find something thru looking at old newspapers. There was NO GRAND OPENING AD in the New York Daily News or The Journal News. Guess BS MOSS didn’t advertize.
Just to let you know, Harvey Elgart was the owner of the movie theatre and he also own At the time of closing, he was operating the Cobble Hills Cinemas. He eventually open the Kew Gardens Theatre and Williamsburgh Cinemas
The theatre closed labor day weekend in 1996. Don’t have exact date, their last features was A Very Brady Sequel and Carpool
Please update, it was a twin in the 1980s
Correction, it was 5 screens, not 6 screens.
Just add Cineplex Odeon open the theatre under their management on June 19, 1987
The Cineplex Odeon Worldwide Cinema open June 16, 1989 with Ghostbuster II. The theatre could not compete with the Times Square theatres and the Chelsea Cinemas. Sometime around 1994, they went to a second run theatre with reduced prices.
The grand opening ad is in the photos section.
You might want to add to description on September 1, 1990 the theatre was renamed the Loews Fine Arts when they operated the theatre when they took their short control of the theatre. On August 31, 1990 was the last day Pathe (City Cinemas was also doing the booking then). See my photos I just uploaded
The theatre was very similar to the Century Green Acres Theatre, Valley Stream, NY
The desciption should be updated, went to a Quad in 1983 (grand opening ad in photos), the old North was split, two small and one large (which you went down a ramp) and in 1994 went to a sixplex which the South Theatre got split just like the North. Seating capacity of theatre 1 (125), theatre 2 (280), theatre 3 (125) which was the old South Theatre and Theatre 4 (208), theatre 5 (523) and theatre 6 (208) which was the old North Theatre.
In the early 1990’s they only use one entrance and broke the wall down. When the theatre open in 1970, their were dedicated entrances to the North and the South, own refreshment stand and restrooms.
When it open as a quad in 1983, 2 big houses had Dolby Stereo. In 1994, Dolby was added to the new small screens and the other 2 got it soon after and in 1995 or 1996, the two big houses got DTS Digital Sound.
Unfortunately, AMC would not of renovated the theatre instead of closing it. Southern Brooklyn does not have enough move theatres.
National Amusements took control sometime in 1991. They would sometime show new pictures or films that originally played at the Sunrise. In the late years, both theatres show the same films (so people that didn’t want to go through metal detectors would chose the Green Acres).
The company was so cheap, it wouldn’t upgrade the theatre. They would refuse to put in either Dolby Digital or DTS Sound. Also, wouldn’t put cupholders on the seats. When digital projections came out, the Sunrise Cinemas got all screen digital projection.
National Amusements if they would of spent money upgrading this theatre, maybe it still open.
Just uploaded a photo of the way the Movie opened in 1987.
The theatre opened on October 16, 1985. Auditorium capacity bases on Variety grosses posted in 1985.. Theatre 1 240, Theatre 2 250, Theatre 3 250 and Theatre 4 125. The theatre closed when the Landmark open.
This was a major theatre for art house films.