UA Lynbrook 6
321 Merrick Road,
Lynbrook,
NY
11563
321 Merrick Road,
Lynbrook,
NY
11563
13 people
favorited this theater
Showing 151 - 175 of 207 comments
I would love to know how to change the blurb at the top of the page. It would be nice if someone that knows and has worked at the theatre could put up something that isnt so anti-regal/ua.
Also Ed…I did run the Lynbrook for a brief time in 2005…I was 21 and still going to school so I couldnt watch it for too long. I’m currently an Assistant Manager at Lynbrook but split my time with Westbury as well. I will be leaving the company soon for a better opportunity.
I’m not sure if you are referring to Lanny Brown. He has worked at the Lynbrook for over 25 years…and yes a true gentleman. If you do give us another chance please ask for me. I’d like to share some theatre knowledge with you. Thanks for the response!
Hey Mike… I’m sure you know this already, but your theater’s greatest asset is the wonderful staff you have. Particularly the gentleman who presides up front where the tickets are ripped. A very friendly bunch and I hope you treat them well! If I ever bring myself to take another stab and test out the theater’s A/C, I’ll be sure to say hello to you.
Ed…
The air conditioning has been fixed. Of course I can agree that I would like to see the building preserved. However, the issue as always is the cost. They have found that because of the layout of the theatre it would cost far more money to do that then just replace the existing theatre. I’ve heard someone mention the plumbing being a huge problem. It is a shame but I myself am begining to believe that this will end up being a situation where Regal just sucks what they can from this theatre and sells it when it is no longer profitable. Maybe they can use another bank on those five corners!
I used to attend movies at the Lynbrook back in the 1980’s when it was a quartet. I’ve recently moved into Lynbrook from Queens and have visited the theater twice in the last few weeks. The first occasion was to see the movie “1408” which was playing in the pitifully small theater that has been constructed within former retail space just off the entrance foyer. Avoid this “screening room” at all costs if you like to see movies on a big screen – the room is a small square box and the screen anything but big. The night I went, the A/C was out in the main building but was working in the two newest theaters (the store front space I attended and the theater converted from the old backstage area).
Just a week or so ago, I took my son to the Lynbrook to see “The Simpsons Movie” and once again found that the A/C was not working in the main building. The wonderfully nice ticket-taker (an older gentleman who has worked there for years) was advising that the upstairs theaters were unbearably hot but that the two former orchestra auditoriums were reasonably comfortable. He allowed me to walk in to check out the room before I had to purchase our tickets. It seemed OK so I forged ahead. Little did I realize that I would be spending much of the movie swatting at the gnats that were buzzing around the theater in the humidity. I probably should have asked for my money back, even though we stuck it out to the end of the movie.
The place (particularly the older four theaters) has definitely been neglected over the years – the usual UA treatment. I would have guessed that the well worn padded wooden seats were the originals from 1923, but they probably only date back to the original division of the orchestra floor as they were clearly properly oriented towards the screen. Still, that means they date to the late 1970’s! Any decor that may remain from the theater’s original architecture is obscured by a thick red padding that now adorns the walls and a drap commercial drop ceiling in the lobby and foyer spaces. I haven’t been in the balcony theaters for many years, so I’m not sure if any original design elements are visible.
Mike… I appreciate your point of view as the theater’s manager, but I wonder if the place wouldn’t benefit from some TLC by Regal rather than bulldozing the structure and starting new. There is much history here and to have it unceremoniously razed – without even the consideration of upgrading the facilities – would be a shame. I would love it if any of the original design could be salvaged. Perhaps the drop ceiling could be removed to expose the original lobby decor – if any of it still exists. Even a gut job within the shell of the old theater with a restoration of the facade would be preferrable to a brand new structure. It’s really quite a handsome building and some of that character ought to be preserved.
And whatever happens – fix that air conditioning!
I’m a little shocked that I’ve come across this site. I’m currently a manager at the UA Lynbrook and have been since February 2000. In June of 2005 I was transferred to the UA Westbury theatre but have recently split my time between these two theatres as well as the UA Patchogue theatre. While the condition of the theatre has clearly shown it’s age it hasnt been given fair treatment with reguards to ownership. Prior to 2002 United Artist’s had full intentions of giving Lynbrook a new 12 screen theatre. The village and CEO’s for United Artist’s were in constant talks and blueprints were even created. United Artist’s filed Chapter 11 in 2000 and Regal Cinemas (now known as Regal Entertainment Group) acquired Edwards theatre’s and United Artist’s in 2002. Plans for the new theatre were put on hold due to the fact that they have been unable to work out an agreement on parking, the restauraunt next door is an issue, and of course other projects. From what I have heard there is now no plans for at least the next two years to do anything with the theatre. They have replaced a large portion of the roof which cost around $30,000 as well as purchase 3 new compressors for the HVAC system….maybe $10,000….and have had some of the hallways in the past few weeks repainted and fixed. The theatre needs to be knocked down…and I hope that the company sees this soon before it’s too late.
As for the loss of the union projectionist’s…I’d like to add that most manager’s now are level 4 certified operators. We are capable of running the booth properly and have done a quality job since the loss of the union in most of our theatres. However, I will say that this does not make up for the experience that most union operators have. I would prefer for the union to be doing the job instead of me…but I don’t want people to believe that managers are incapable of threading up and running a show flawlessly.
hey we in lynbrook like our theartre ya it has fallen into disrepar but that can b fixd ,if u want 2 have more screens than when the resterant next door closes than add more but keep the orgininnal structure!!!
that theatre is historic, it dates back to around 1918
the stage uptairs is amasing, i was there 4 a friends bday party many years ago, most people dont even know their is a stage up their!!!!
yes their is plenty of room 4 improvement but it doesnt mean that it has 2 b rebuilt
many historic things in lynbrook r gone like the lynbrook airdome
half the reason the site was maid was to PRESERVE THEATRES so how about WE DO EXACTY THAT
hey we in lynbrook like our theartre ya it has fallen into disrepar but that can b fixd ,if u want 2 have more screens than when the resterant next door closes than add more but keep the orgininnal structure!!!
that theatre is historic, it dates back to around 1918
the stage uptairs is amasing, i was there 4 a friends bday party many years ago, most people dont even know their is a stage up their!!!!
yes their is plenty of room 4 improvement but it doesnt mean that it has 2 b rebuilt
many historic things in lynbrook r gone like the lynbrook airdome
half the reason the site was maid was to PRESERVE THEATRES so how about WE DO EXACTY THAT
EdSolero- Re: your 11/24 comments on the marquee, they re-did the marquee at the Criterion on Times Square in the same manner – United Artists across the top and ‘The Broadway’ on the bottom. I never knew what that was suppose to mean as they continued to advertise in the paper as United Artists Criterion.
The changeover to managers in the booth is spreading all over the country. IATSE Local 640 of Nassau and Suffolk counties has been able to keep the wolves from the door until now, but it has been common in New Jersey and Westchester for a while now. Only NY Local 306 is able to prevent this, due in part to the requirement by NYC law of an operator’s license. Although I suppose one could argue it’s only a matter of time before managers get licenses or the license is done away with. Optioning a license requires only a written exam; the practical booth exam has been done away with, and costs only$60 every two years. I retired in 2005 but still plan on renewing my license every two years.
Of course the quality of the projection goes down hill with ushers running the booth, but managers in some circuits are receiving projectionist training prior to going into the booth and as a result seem to be doing a fair job. The problems come about when managers are required to perform other duties simultaneous to their booth work, or when union operators are required to operate two locations at a time. I believe the projectionist should never leave the booth.
As for cost, of course it’s cheaper for the exhibitor to employ managers, and they are of the mindset if they lose a show or two it’s still cheaper than having a pro in the booth full time.
So the sad truth is, expect less and less professionals running the show and more and more mishaps on the screen. I do however believe it will be quite a while before you see that in city theatres, I hate to see that change anytime soon.
I saw a movie at the Lynbrook this weekend and when I asked if Tom the projectionist was working that night, I was shocked to learn that they have fired all their projectionists, and now the “managers” are running the show. I spoke to a manager and she told me it happened about a month ago, to save money, and was happening at the smaller UA sites. This was always a union shop and I dread that the quality of presentation will now deteriorate. The night I was there, they couldn’t get the sound to work on the pre-show advertising (a blessing?) and I guess it’s all downhill from here.
Meredith, what say you?
Lost Memory … awesome postcard photo. I worked in the Lynbrook quad for a couple of years in the early 80’s. Many, many fond memories. The old stage, and the “elephant doors” opening to Hempstead Avenue are gone I guess (WHAT a pity), but what about the basement changing rooms? I’ve been there since it was six-plex’d and there doesn’t appear to be any use now of the basement, but it is there. And the ghost stories … anyone?
This Christmas 1954 as lists the Lynbrook as a Century Theatre, was it ever?
View link
Here are couple of night shots I took recently:
The Lynbrook – long shot
The Lynbrook – tight shot
A few weeks ago when I passed by, the right half of the marquee was dark. Looks like they’ve fixed the lights behind the main panel, but the yellow border lighting on the right side still appear to be out.
Anyway… judging from the signage, looks like the official name of this theater is actually “United Artists Theatres The Lynbrook.”
Thanks Lost… looks almost identical to the postcard I posted from the cinematour.com site back on December 15th. According to the two features advertised on the marquee (“The Nth Commandement” and “Truxton King”) the photo from which this postcard was made dates from 1923. I wonder what is spelled out before the word “Lynbrook” on the front side of the marquee… can anyone make that out or care to make an educated guess?
Nice collection of images on that site… Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any for the Arcade/Studio 1 Theater that was located on Atlantic Ave around the corner from the Lynbrook.
Here’s a new link to my Lynbrook Theater album on photobucket.
All the charm and atmosphere of the original interior appointments may be lost, but the exterior is still in good condition and I snapped a few photos of the place last week as I travelled with my camera around this area, as well as Valley Stream, Woodmere, Lawrence and Laurelton, Queens, to photograph some of the old theaters (and sites) I used to attend when I was a kid.
Long shot from the West
Theater facade
Marquee and entrance
Marquee and upper facade
Upper facade detail
Facade detail
Facade corner detail
Corner view from East
As I snapped these photos, I noticed a good number of children and their parents walking in for some matinee (probably Disney’s “Eight Below”). Whenever I stop in at the Cold Stone Creamery across the street, I notice many older kids and adults coming in and out of the theater – and usally adding to the very long Cold Stone queue for an after-movie dessert. From all observation, this theater is still very well attended.
A stage housing w/ fly space is evident in the long exterior shots of the building… I believe someone noted previously here that the former stage area and dressing rooms are still in existence.
I also took some shots of the former Laurelton Theater (including interior shots), RKO Lawrence and 5 Towns theaters as well as of the structures that are now in place where the former Studio 1, Valley Stream and [url=/theaters/8367/]Belair Twin[url] theaters once stood.
I believe the place is non-union now.
Hi Saps and Ed. Yes, I still pop in and check out the posts, only now I do it from South Carolina. Take Care y'ALL!!!
FYI my nephew has taken a new 30 year lease on the former Cuban restaurant. There are no plans to demolish; however it is a separate property from the theater. I have never been in the theater but during my stay on LI (I helped renovate the restaurant) I noticed that it was doing a very enthusiastic business.
The cinematour site has this vintage postcard rendering of the Lynbrook’s original exterior and marquee. I can’t recall if there was ever a structure on the corner to the right of the theater during the days I frequented the place, but the postcard indicates something was there. It’s currently a vacant lot with the full side elevation of the theater exposed to Hempstead Ave. And I believe the current marquee is flat with no canopy over the entrance to the building.
Used to be a grand theater.
Yes… that’s right. Each auditorium had two sets of doors – one closer to the center lobby area and the other down the foyer hallway leading towards either side of the theater. I think there used to be benches against the wall near those doors down the hall.
I think that you can see the screen from the end (side?) doors, but the center door views are blocked by the booth. Next time I go I will make some observations.