Please add to description, after AMC and Loews merge, all screens had stadium seating May 4, 2007 and in 2016, AMC installed their signature Recliners in all auditorium.
Please update, the theatre open on May 18, 1990 by the Cineplex Odeon chain. Also, note, now the theatre is independent. Just uploaded Grand Opening Ad
Just uploaded two Universal exclusive engagements at this location. Unfortunately, this never became a popular locations for exclusive showings due to its location. A long walk to the subway.
Please update, the theatre open as 6 screens on May 20, 1994. It was expanded to 12 screens in 1997. Theatre was recently renovated with recliners and are currently down to 11 screens. Don’t know if theatre 9 will reopen, been closed for a long time. It has to APEX screens with Dolby Atmos.
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
Please update, theatre Opened October 9, 1987.
Also, Update it became under Cinemark July 26, 2013
Please update, theatre open on June 30, 1995
Please add to description, after AMC and Loews merge, all screens had stadium seating May 4, 2007 and in 2016, AMC installed their signature Recliners in all auditorium.
Just uploaded a article about the LA Live
On November 17, 1989 Loews added two screens to go to 8 screens. Can’t figure out when they eventually got to 14 screens?
Please update Regal Independence plaza as theater name as per fandango
At least during the midweek it $17.
Please update, the theatre open on May 18, 1990 by the Cineplex Odeon chain. Also, note, now the theatre is independent. Just uploaded Grand Opening Ad
Just uploaded two Universal exclusive engagements at this location. Unfortunately, this never became a popular locations for exclusive showings due to its location. A long walk to the subway.
Please update, the theatre open as 6 screens on May 20, 1994. It was expanded to 12 screens in 1997. Theatre was recently renovated with recliners and are currently down to 11 screens. Don’t know if theatre 9 will reopen, been closed for a long time. It has to APEX screens with Dolby Atmos.
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