Frank Buck’s! I remember it well,seeing ‘wild’ animals while eating popcorn.It was great.Later on there was an archery range where the mall is now and also the Howard Johnson’s restaurant was there a long time too. We couldn’t wait for Friday and Saturday nights back in the 50s.Many nights saw us,let’s say circumnavigating the back fence,one step ahead of the guards.Some nights there were so many of us we would sit back there and watch the action going on in front of us,with some of it taking place on the screen.A great time of life.
I go back to Copiague now and then and have to look for the old landmarks.Oh well.Carl S
The building and environs remain, but;no movie can be seen in Amityville, Carmans road, Copiague, Bethpage ,Lindenhurst or in Farmingdale. I was just in the area last week and realized that all the movie houses I used to visit are no more. Even the row of movie theaters on 42nd street are gone. I remember before the renaissance one had quite a selection of several movies within feet of each other. The Beekman was nice too.
We lived so close to the all weather that on summer nights with
the windows open(who had ac?) we could hear the movie…and if
we went up to the attic,could get a bird’s eye view of the
screen! The rear exit of the drive-in opened onto a quiet
street where lovebirds would sit in their cars also watching
the movie..at times. When the movie ended and the people started
leaving from the various exits it was like..wow! A never ending
stream of lights and horns punctuating a tranquil Long Island
scene. Gone forever.
Don..you’re right. I go way back to the Amityville movies…back to
the early 50s. Every Saturday found us kids on line..(and I mean on
a line,not in front of a computer)paying 20 cents to see 2 pics,
cartoon,pathe news,coming attractions while munching on a 5 cents
candy. One Saturday we found out to our horror that the price was
raised to a stratospheric…quarter! Luckily my mother always
brought us and saved us from disaster!
Carl S
We used to sit in back of the fence at the rear of the awdi and
watch the movie from there,except on nights that we didn’t..as in
we were great leapers then…ahem. The concession stand had these
wow! food combos like franks and beans together. Some nights we'd
go up to the outside balcony of the indoor theater and watch the
outdoor movie from there. I remember seeing ‘the long hot summer'
there. On the weekends you’d see practically all your classmates,
as well as some nice looking young ladies that you’d try to meet.
I also remember going to the all weather roller rink to do the same.
We would always ask a nice young lady if she’d 'like to skate double'
Remember the 'farmer’s market just down the road? Another good meeting place.
I remember the sign well! It said..paraphrasing now..
Not wanted..gooky mcgook!
It went on to list a lot of no nos
Carl S from Molloy st,just a short walk from the school. I graduated
from the 9th grade from Copiague school..the original in 1956
Frank Buck’s! I remember it well,seeing ‘wild’ animals while eating popcorn.It was great.Later on there was an archery range where the mall is now and also the Howard Johnson’s restaurant was there a long time too. We couldn’t wait for Friday and Saturday nights back in the 50s.Many nights saw us,let’s say circumnavigating the back fence,one step ahead of the guards.Some nights there were so many of us we would sit back there and watch the action going on in front of us,with some of it taking place on the screen.A great time of life.
I go back to Copiague now and then and have to look for the old landmarks.Oh well.Carl S
Oh! You’re right, Don. I completely forgot about that youngster at the old airport site. Are you from Amity originally?
The building and environs remain, but;no movie can be seen in Amityville, Carmans road, Copiague, Bethpage ,Lindenhurst or in Farmingdale. I was just in the area last week and realized that all the movie houses I used to visit are no more. Even the row of movie theaters on 42nd street are gone. I remember before the renaissance one had quite a selection of several movies within feet of each other. The Beekman was nice too.
Did you work there in the late 50s-early 60s?
We lived so close to the all weather that on summer nights with
the windows open(who had ac?) we could hear the movie…and if
we went up to the attic,could get a bird’s eye view of the
screen! The rear exit of the drive-in opened onto a quiet
street where lovebirds would sit in their cars also watching
the movie..at times. When the movie ended and the people started
leaving from the various exits it was like..wow! A never ending
stream of lights and horns punctuating a tranquil Long Island
scene. Gone forever.
Don..you’re right. I go way back to the Amityville movies…back to
the early 50s. Every Saturday found us kids on line..(and I mean on
a line,not in front of a computer)paying 20 cents to see 2 pics,
cartoon,pathe news,coming attractions while munching on a 5 cents
candy. One Saturday we found out to our horror that the price was
raised to a stratospheric…quarter! Luckily my mother always
brought us and saved us from disaster!
Carl S
We used to sit in back of the fence at the rear of the awdi and
watch the movie from there,except on nights that we didn’t..as in
we were great leapers then…ahem. The concession stand had these
wow! food combos like franks and beans together. Some nights we'd
go up to the outside balcony of the indoor theater and watch the
outdoor movie from there. I remember seeing ‘the long hot summer'
there. On the weekends you’d see practically all your classmates,
as well as some nice looking young ladies that you’d try to meet.
I also remember going to the all weather roller rink to do the same.
We would always ask a nice young lady if she’d 'like to skate double'
Remember the 'farmer’s market just down the road? Another good meeting place.
I remember the sign well! It said..paraphrasing now..
Not wanted..gooky mcgook!
It went on to list a lot of no nos
Carl S from Molloy st,just a short walk from the school. I graduated
from the 9th grade from Copiague school..the original in 1956