CORRECTION: THIS theater did NOT CLOSE in the 80s! Last year of business was the end of the 1976 season or the 1977 season at the latest. I have tons of old newspapers—especially when Elvis died in ‘77-so I will check . The marque remained standing till 1979-as memory serves me . I so wish there were some photos but this well-loved drive in but it has been an elusive phantom. I remember the marque was on an angle right in front with the booths to the right-fairly close to the road. There was a mini kids chair-o-plane as well as the train ride. I believe the same type of train ride is featured in the last Abott & Costello movie “Dance with Me , Henry” (late 50s?). I think the snack bar was the size and shape of the Westbury Drive In snack bar (again, I’m going on my memory). Historical Societies ? Fooey! When most of them were established , they did not consider the 1950s and 1960s old enough—especially if they were formed in the 1950s or 1960s. LOL.
OK, I have read about 2000 posts on Cinema Treasures; and goodbot-that was THE best story I ever read here! Thank you! I was hanging on every word! I was at the Mini Cinema only once, 1979 with my high school girlfriend for Rocky Horror. They showed the Tim Curry “music clips” before –“I Do Thee Rock / Paradise Garage” Nobody mentions the classic Rocky Horror buttons sold at the concession stand.These were the 2" black & white & red ones-(not those large color ones) The night we were there there were samples pinned to the wall. One of which (I guess the “rare” one of Columbia that I had never seen before—but had all the others) I asked the girl behind the counter (she had red or light brown curly hair??) that I wanted to buy one. She looked and they were all out of it, but she sold me the display one which had a dent in it. I have that button till this day and whenever I go through my junk drawer and see it —it reminds me of the Mini Cinema!~
As of March 2011; the Pylon is still up and in nice shape! Maybe this is something symbolic? The spirit of Cinema Treasures fans are keeping it preserved. I liked this theater because it looked “very 1960s” in the 80s!
1) This should be listed as the NORTHPORT Theater! It’s a decades old neighborhood movie house with a LONG HISTORY dating back to the 1930s!!!!! (Hysterical hyperbole)!!!!! It should not be listed as it’s latest incarnation AS A PLAYHOUSE from the last 10 years or so!! This makes it “invisible” to posters , researchers and fans!!!! Please let’s fix this. A theater such as this should have hundreds of postings, recollections and warm memories. This is a huge error. Saps, longislandmovies,ed solerno,Bway, Lost Memory, Warren G. back me up here! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. with the the childhood nostalgia and comments; NOBODY mentions the Ma & Pa Toy store across the street from the Ridgewood in detail !? LOL. This would be very important to any kid! As multiplexes killed local movie houses, Toy r' Us killed the ma & Pa Toy Stores !
I stayed up till 5:24 Am reading this entire thread! I do not remember the Ridgewood at all (I’m from Bensonhurst) , but love reading “the memories or others” nonetheless. There is an site called “My Brooklyn” which is pretty much all about memories of the “old days” and serves as the “message in a bottle” social-retro-networking (in example: “Hi. my name is and I lived at from 1966 to 1975, does anyone remember ______?”…….Maybe there is a site like this for Queens as well?).
I still have yet to see a photo of the 1969 Ridgewood snow fallen marquee sign—did I miss it on here?
I seriously smell a screenplay within all the stories on here especially with the inclusion of the infamous murder in the Ridgewood (did anyone post a news article on it? Did I miss that as well?)—and what did you imply when you said “inside job” ? ? Finally; although John’s Bargain Store is mentioned here without detail; I’ll add a few things: was John’s the first “chain” discount store? What I mean by that is that it was more of a “$1.00 store” like we have today— but back then a dollar had more value so the prices were like 19 cents to 99 cents….Here is a question for PKoch because his memory is Smithsonian worthy-**When did John’s Bargain Store come and then go out of business???? I’m guessing; gone by 1972/1973? Am I wrong?? There was one in Bensonhurst and aside from dish towels, clothes pins and flip flops-the toy section carried the accessory sets for the Gilbert line of James Bond/Honey West/Man from UNCLE dolls (not yet called “action figures”, you guys!). So yeah, no dolls-just the little accessory cards that featured Honey West’s lipstick, guns, grenades, etc. probably for 49 cents each! Discuss………….
UPDATE ! I found filmed footage evidence of this drive in! The 1968 exploitation movie “Teenage Mother” was filmed here on Long Island by Jerry Gross (he’s the man that brought us movies like “I Drink Your Blood/ I Eat Your Skin”!). Anyway, Teenage Mother has a shot of the marquee (I think “…..apequa” can only be seen) as well as a short action scene takes place at the drive in at night. You can see off in the distance some twinkling lights that would possible be the scape of Sunrise Highway. Something Weird Video sells this for about $10.00 OR look for it on YouTube. Another scene has the star teenaged mother going home to her parent’s house—and the outside looks like a typical south shore Long Island home too!
Anyone interested in seeing evidence of the MASSAPEQUA DRIVE IN THEATER: This is a low budget exploitation movie called “Teenage Mother” (1968) This movie was filmed on Long Island. One scene is FILMED at the Massapequa Drive In! You see a shot of the marquee and an action scene is filmed at night in the drive it! I think Something Weird Video has it for $10.00 OR look for it on YouTube.
Thank you! I suspected that it opened in the early 50s. The old marquee almost looked like it was from the 1940s- so there we go! I wish someone would post pictures of the inside lobby!
Locals (I live near Huntington) refer to this as the “Huntington Route 110 Drive In”.
CORRECTION: THIS theater did NOT CLOSE in the 80s! Last year of business was the end of the 1976 season or the 1977 season at the latest. I have tons of old newspapers—especially when Elvis died in ‘77-so I will check . The marque remained standing till 1979-as memory serves me . I so wish there were some photos but this well-loved drive in but it has been an elusive phantom. I remember the marque was on an angle right in front with the booths to the right-fairly close to the road. There was a mini kids chair-o-plane as well as the train ride. I believe the same type of train ride is featured in the last Abott & Costello movie “Dance with Me , Henry” (late 50s?). I think the snack bar was the size and shape of the Westbury Drive In snack bar (again, I’m going on my memory). Historical Societies ? Fooey! When most of them were established , they did not consider the 1950s and 1960s old enough—especially if they were formed in the 1950s or 1960s. LOL.
I was here once in 1982. My friends had an apartment down the block. This was a rough area in the 1980s! I hear it’s been gentrified. No surprise.
Oops. 1984
I think I saw “Spinal Tap ” here because it was one of the few theaters showing it at the time —anyone else remember ? 1986 ??
wow-this was someone’s “dream” grind-house !
Techman; what was in the letter ???????
The Roller-Rama had flea markets on Sundays, circa 1976 ? 1977 ? Anyone remember ?????????????
P.S. I CANNOT FIND THE YOUTUBE posts you all spoke of !!!!!!!
OK, I have read about 2000 posts on Cinema Treasures; and goodbot-that was THE best story I ever read here! Thank you! I was hanging on every word! I was at the Mini Cinema only once, 1979 with my high school girlfriend for Rocky Horror. They showed the Tim Curry “music clips” before –“I Do Thee Rock / Paradise Garage” Nobody mentions the classic Rocky Horror buttons sold at the concession stand.These were the 2" black & white & red ones-(not those large color ones) The night we were there there were samples pinned to the wall. One of which (I guess the “rare” one of Columbia that I had never seen before—but had all the others) I asked the girl behind the counter (she had red or light brown curly hair??) that I wanted to buy one. She looked and they were all out of it, but she sold me the display one which had a dent in it. I have that button till this day and whenever I go through my junk drawer and see it —it reminds me of the Mini Cinema!~
View link
my tribute sign that I had painted to Johnny All Weather ! Enjoy
As of March 2011; the Pylon is still up and in nice shape! Maybe this is something symbolic? The spirit of Cinema Treasures fans are keeping it preserved. I liked this theater because it looked “very 1960s” in the 80s!
1) This should be listed as the NORTHPORT Theater! It’s a decades old neighborhood movie house with a LONG HISTORY dating back to the 1930s!!!!! (Hysterical hyperbole)!!!!! It should not be listed as it’s latest incarnation AS A PLAYHOUSE from the last 10 years or so!! This makes it “invisible” to posters , researchers and fans!!!! Please let’s fix this. A theater such as this should have hundreds of postings, recollections and warm memories. This is a huge error. Saps, longislandmovies,ed solerno,Bway, Lost Memory, Warren G. back me up here! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Ridgewood Theater Murder Case: says online “ someone was apprehended and then acquitted” …that’s all I could find.
The Ridgewood Theater Murder Case: says online “ someone was apprehended and then acquitted” …that’s all I could find.
P.S. with the the childhood nostalgia and comments; NOBODY mentions the Ma & Pa Toy store across the street from the Ridgewood in detail !? LOL. This would be very important to any kid! As multiplexes killed local movie houses, Toy r' Us killed the ma & Pa Toy Stores !
I stayed up till 5:24 Am reading this entire thread! I do not remember the Ridgewood at all (I’m from Bensonhurst) , but love reading “the memories or others” nonetheless. There is an site called “My Brooklyn” which is pretty much all about memories of the “old days” and serves as the “message in a bottle” social-retro-networking (in example: “Hi. my name is and I lived at from 1966 to 1975, does anyone remember ______?”…….Maybe there is a site like this for Queens as well?).
I still have yet to see a photo of the 1969 Ridgewood snow fallen marquee sign—did I miss it on here?
I seriously smell a screenplay within all the stories on here especially with the inclusion of the infamous murder in the Ridgewood (did anyone post a news article on it? Did I miss that as well?)—and what did you imply when you said “inside job” ? ? Finally; although John’s Bargain Store is mentioned here without detail; I’ll add a few things: was John’s the first “chain” discount store? What I mean by that is that it was more of a “$1.00 store” like we have today— but back then a dollar had more value so the prices were like 19 cents to 99 cents….Here is a question for PKoch because his memory is Smithsonian worthy-**When did John’s Bargain Store come and then go out of business???? I’m guessing; gone by 1972/1973? Am I wrong?? There was one in Bensonhurst and aside from dish towels, clothes pins and flip flops-the toy section carried the accessory sets for the Gilbert line of James Bond/Honey West/Man from UNCLE dolls (not yet called “action figures”, you guys!). So yeah, no dolls-just the little accessory cards that featured Honey West’s lipstick, guns, grenades, etc. probably for 49 cents each! Discuss………….
I honestly don’t think it looked that much different; it’s pretty generic ? (dsslave- are you friends with me on Facebook , and how are you doing?)
UPDATE ! I found filmed footage evidence of this drive in! The 1968 exploitation movie “Teenage Mother” was filmed here on Long Island by Jerry Gross (he’s the man that brought us movies like “I Drink Your Blood/ I Eat Your Skin”!). Anyway, Teenage Mother has a shot of the marquee (I think “…..apequa” can only be seen) as well as a short action scene takes place at the drive in at night. You can see off in the distance some twinkling lights that would possible be the scape of Sunrise Highway. Something Weird Video sells this for about $10.00 OR look for it on YouTube. Another scene has the star teenaged mother going home to her parent’s house—and the outside looks like a typical south shore Long Island home too!
Anyone interested in seeing evidence of the MASSAPEQUA DRIVE IN THEATER: This is a low budget exploitation movie called “Teenage Mother” (1968) This movie was filmed on Long Island. One scene is FILMED at the Massapequa Drive In! You see a shot of the marquee and an action scene is filmed at night in the drive it! I think Something Weird Video has it for $10.00 OR look for it on YouTube.
also saw the lousy “Jaws 3 – D” here
Saw “The Towering Inferno” here. That was the last time I sat through a movie that had an INTERMISSION !
Where is this pic ?
Thank you! I suspected that it opened in the early 50s. The old marquee almost looked like it was from the 1940s- so there we go! I wish someone would post pictures of the inside lobby!
Tova; if you have any pictures of the inside of the theater we would love to see them!