Despite all the discussion on the CVS project both the theater and the adjacent buildings are still standing. There is also no indication of CVS locating here.
The more I read the headings on these theaters the “curioser” the owner/management relationships seem. Loew’s builds theaters that go Century. Century builds and leases to Loew’s. And, oddly, before the Almi-Century and RKO Century Warner, Loew’s was trying to buy Century. Dentury built the Suffolk and it went to Prudential. Prudential built the Huntington Station and it went to Century. Calderone built and leased to Skouras and Century. Etc., etc.
I was speaking to the owner of the business just under the pylon for the drive in. He felt that Walmart or one of the other big box stores should have been permitted to build there to provide employment for the many graduating high school students along the 25A corridor. His opinion is contrary to the majority who want to prevent overdevelopment of the 25A corridor which is already the home to a dozen strip malls and a shopping center anchored by Kohl’s.
For some time the pylon has sported a new metal sign proclaiming “Rocky Point Drive In” in red and yellow which was erected by the owner to proclaim that this is a commercial site. Town of Brookhaven shot down that claim in a recent court case. To be continued.
markp- I really don’t think drive ins have a place in our area at this time. PS Have you seen that great book “The American Drive-In Movie Theatre” by Don and Susan Saunders? A nice resource. I’m almost, just almost, ready to check out every drive-in they’ve documented against CT. But I do have a life. Walmart has about the best price on it and, at this time of year, if you do it online, there may be free shipping.
Also on Drive-Ins. The site similar to CT lists a drive in in Centereach, Long Island. I’ve yet to find any source of confirmation on this. ?????
It’s official, no big box store on the site. It will be used for recreational purposes. Owner had tried to cut deals with Target, Lowe’s and Walmart but locals won out.
I think these startups like The Space and the Suffolk should pick the brains of the successful operations, particularly Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center.
So after three years it still isn’t finished. Unless things turn around it will be out of business before it’s completed. Was an unrealistic venture to begin with.
How many of these venues can Long Island support? The Suffolk in Riverhead has a lot of shows scheduled but one of the merchants said they weren’t doing well. Bolton in Patchogue has a very low profile. There is activity at Patchogue. Don’t know how the Paramount in Huntington is doing. Even the Music Fair, or whatever it’s called these days, doesn’t have as many. WHPAC is a smaller space but seems to attract diverse acts. Don’t know how well they do.
Seems like an odd location for a CVS, well past the heart of town. There is already a big CVS just north of the main shopping area. Reality is the property isn’t all that large for the store and the parking they usually have associated with their properties.
It’s a shame you can’t really see the marquee on the announcement photo. It’s also interesting to see the original street names. One always thinks of Sunrise Highway. So many of the streets in Queens went numeric but theatres built on them retain the old names, e.g. Willard and Polk.
What happened to the concept of last name of usage rules? On another note. The Strand was at one point carved into three unique theatres, the Warner, Penthouse and Cine Orleans. At a later date the three became one (or, rather, two) as the Warner Twin. Should not the Penthouse and Cine Orleans have their own listings? Isn’t there a precedence with the Globe carved out of the, I think, Rialto. One theatre had a Broadway entrance, the other 42nd Street.
Number of rows varied. I think Century was 10. However, at the Mid- Island, there was a special section, with special admission and different seats surrounded by a metal railing. Subsequently there was no smoking and the railing came down. Those special seats disappeared when multiple auditoriums were created.
I have the definitive word from an electrician who used to service the shopping center complex including the theatre. The original single screen space was divided up on a couple of occasions resulting in 6 auditoriums.
When what used to be storage space for an adjacent business was relinquished, it was acquired by the theatre for two additional, small screening rooms just past the concession stand to the left. Next time I’m there I’ll determine the auditorium numbers (some combination of 4,5 and 6).
What’s the point in purchasing the theatre if the rules and regulations get in the way. The current owners gave up on trying to do anything long before Sandy blew in with all the red tape.
Protestant churches never had the clout over their members like the Catholics. True, some movie goers were from outside villages. When I was doing research on the original Baldwin Theater, not the Century one, there was mention of people going to RVC (Rockville Centre) as we Long Islanders write it, when there was void left by the closing of the theater.
Ground was broken for this theater on March 8, 1948.
The cost was $ 250,000.
Despite all the discussion on the CVS project both the theater and the adjacent buildings are still standing. There is also no indication of CVS locating here.
The more I read the headings on these theaters the “curioser” the owner/management relationships seem. Loew’s builds theaters that go Century. Century builds and leases to Loew’s. And, oddly, before the Almi-Century and RKO Century Warner, Loew’s was trying to buy Century. Dentury built the Suffolk and it went to Prudential. Prudential built the Huntington Station and it went to Century. Calderone built and leased to Skouras and Century. Etc., etc.
Filmed on location in the Coliseum I believe Urban was the Pope at that time. Nay. Just a typo 1959.
The Big Circus was released in 1059.
I seem to recall the manager of the Whitman saying it had 750 seats which would make this 650.
I was speaking to the owner of the business just under the pylon for the drive in. He felt that Walmart or one of the other big box stores should have been permitted to build there to provide employment for the many graduating high school students along the 25A corridor. His opinion is contrary to the majority who want to prevent overdevelopment of the 25A corridor which is already the home to a dozen strip malls and a shopping center anchored by Kohl’s.
For some time the pylon has sported a new metal sign proclaiming “Rocky Point Drive In” in red and yellow which was erected by the owner to proclaim that this is a commercial site. Town of Brookhaven shot down that claim in a recent court case. To be continued.
markp- I really don’t think drive ins have a place in our area at this time. PS Have you seen that great book “The American Drive-In Movie Theatre” by Don and Susan Saunders? A nice resource. I’m almost, just almost, ready to check out every drive-in they’ve documented against CT. But I do have a life. Walmart has about the best price on it and, at this time of year, if you do it online, there may be free shipping.
Also on Drive-Ins. The site similar to CT lists a drive in in Centereach, Long Island. I’ve yet to find any source of confirmation on this. ?????
It’s official, no big box store on the site. It will be used for recreational purposes. Owner had tried to cut deals with Target, Lowe’s and Walmart but locals won out.
I think these startups like The Space and the Suffolk should pick the brains of the successful operations, particularly Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center.
I wonder how much the theater cost to build in the first place compared to the renovation cost.
So after three years it still isn’t finished. Unless things turn around it will be out of business before it’s completed. Was an unrealistic venture to begin with.
How many of these venues can Long Island support? The Suffolk in Riverhead has a lot of shows scheduled but one of the merchants said they weren’t doing well. Bolton in Patchogue has a very low profile. There is activity at Patchogue. Don’t know how the Paramount in Huntington is doing. Even the Music Fair, or whatever it’s called these days, doesn’t have as many. WHPAC is a smaller space but seems to attract diverse acts. Don’t know how well they do.
Seems like an odd location for a CVS, well past the heart of town. There is already a big CVS just north of the main shopping area. Reality is the property isn’t all that large for the store and the parking they usually have associated with their properties.
It’s a shame you can’t really see the marquee on the announcement photo. It’s also interesting to see the original street names. One always thinks of Sunrise Highway. So many of the streets in Queens went numeric but theatres built on them retain the old names, e.g. Willard and Polk.
What happened to the concept of last name of usage rules? On another note. The Strand was at one point carved into three unique theatres, the Warner, Penthouse and Cine Orleans. At a later date the three became one (or, rather, two) as the Warner Twin. Should not the Penthouse and Cine Orleans have their own listings? Isn’t there a precedence with the Globe carved out of the, I think, Rialto. One theatre had a Broadway entrance, the other 42nd Street.
Lowes not Loews. Really shaping up but probably won’t be open until after the first of the year.
Obviously not air conditioned if it was closed for the summer.
Just came back from the Mattituck. Theatres 4 and 5 are the ones carved from the former storage area.
Number of rows varied. I think Century was 10. However, at the Mid- Island, there was a special section, with special admission and different seats surrounded by a metal railing. Subsequently there was no smoking and the railing came down. Those special seats disappeared when multiple auditoriums were created.
I have the definitive word from an electrician who used to service the shopping center complex including the theatre. The original single screen space was divided up on a couple of occasions resulting in 6 auditoriums. When what used to be storage space for an adjacent business was relinquished, it was acquired by the theatre for two additional, small screening rooms just past the concession stand to the left. Next time I’m there I’ll determine the auditorium numbers (some combination of 4,5 and 6).
What’s the point in purchasing the theatre if the rules and regulations get in the way. The current owners gave up on trying to do anything long before Sandy blew in with all the red tape.
Protestant churches never had the clout over their members like the Catholics. True, some movie goers were from outside villages. When I was doing research on the original Baldwin Theater, not the Century one, there was mention of people going to RVC (Rockville Centre) as we Long Islanders write it, when there was void left by the closing of the theater.
Go for it. You might try going via the historical society. One of the women I spoke to a number of years ago had a contact.
Sounds like there were maxi times at the mini cinema.