In the late summer of 1972, the Beekman hosted a festival of New York Times' “10 Best Films of the Year” for the previous 10 years or so. I saw “Blow-Up”, “8 ½”, “Belle de Jour” and a documentary on women’s roller derby (yes!) called “Derby” – which I guess Vincent Canby had liked a lot!
First time I was here was January ‘72 for Pasolini’s “Decameron”; even though it was X-rated, I was admitted without any fuss (I was just 17). In April 1981, I saw a Pasolini triple-bill here – Decameron, Canturbury Tales, and Arabian Nights – from the first row of the balcony, which was probably the best seat in the house. In late '84 and early '85, the Festival hosted, over two or three months, a massive festival of French films, most of which had not been released previously. I saw Lelouch’s A Nous Deux and Demy’s Une Chambre en Ville (I wish someone could post the schedule for this!) Last time (I think)I was here was for the awful Godfather Part III, in March of '91.
P.S. I would agree with barrywerks post of 8/21/04 that the first few rows of seats were slanted upward somewhat toward the screen, like the Thalia. I have a distinct memory of that.
Was only here a couple of times – it is way out of the way. And the worst thing is that the exit elevator rudely ejects you right out on to the street – not back in the main lobby.
I remember seeing “Carrie” here in late ‘76. During the last scene, everyone in the packed house screamed and jumped out of his/her seat, then laughed – we had all known a scare was coming, but were fooled anyway. That’s what makes the collective experience of movie-going so great.
Even back in the late 60’s and early 70', this place was considered a “dump”. But it was cheap – one of the first, if I recall correctly, that offered double features for a dollar. My friends and I rode bikes over there, and used to chain them to the stairs behind the theater. I saw so many great movies in this house (and I’m talking about before it was “twinned”): They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?; Pretty Poison; a double bill of Thunderball and You Only Live Twice; Live and Let Die (paired with a forgotten spy film called Scorpio, with Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon); Barry Lyndon; The Night Porter (well, that was a stinker – but I do remember seeing it here).
Last time I was there was for My Cousin Vinnie, I think .
Wasn’t this the most elegant little cinema on Long Island? After years of longing to go, I persuaded my Dad to take me – it was a double bill of “Winning” (Paul Newman racing cars, and competing with Robert Wagner for the affections of Joanne Woodward), and “Tell Them Willie Boy is Here” (Robert Redford and Katherine Ross, and Robert Blake in the title role). Only two seats in each of the side aisles (against the wall), and a black-and-silver motif. Of course, it was a Rugoff/Cinema 5 theater – the only one on LI – so it was like a Manhattan theater in the ‘burbs’. After I got a car in ‘74, I came here frequently – for the Lina Wertmuller hits (Love and Anarchy, Swept Away, Seven Beauties); Dona Flor and her Two Husbands (at which a friend of mine discovered that subtitles aren’t so bad!).
In the 70’s, it seems to me that this place alternated between porno,and being part of a small LI “art-house” group of 3 or 4 theaters which would show foreign films(in Nassau County – with the Malverne, and the Cinema Manhasset?). I remember seeing “The Sicilian Clan” (a good French heist movie, with Alain Delon and Jean Gabin) here in July 1970 (I was desperate to see it, and my mother told my dad to take me – the day before we were driving to Florida).
Also, in the summer of ‘73, I drove over with a group of friends to see Truffaut’s “Such a Gorgeous Kid Like Me”. I think I also saw the Zeffirelli “Romeo and Juliet” here in '68 or '69 (even though there was nudity in it, it was Shakespeare! so what could your parents do?).
The sleazy reputation of the theater lent a certain “frisson” to seeing legit movies there.
This was an astonishing theater. I went to see something there in the fall of 1974, and as I walked up to the box office, I heard this noise, as if a plane was approaching for a crash landing. It turned out to be the trailer for the coming SenSurround “Earthquake”, emanating from the doors of the theater!
In May ‘71, this theater was actually showing Eric Rohmer’s “Claire’s Knee” five times a day (you could look it up). I rode my bicycle over after school one weekday to a 4PM show. I was the only person to buy a ticket, and had a “private screening” of that sublime film – in that vast auditorium! A week or two later, Truffaut’s “Bed & Board” had been added, to make it a double feature, and I returned (there were a few more people then, as I recall). I also recall seeing Ralph Bakshi’s live/animated version of “The Lord of the Rings” here. And the last time I was there was for a restored version of “My Fair Lady”, with my parents (was that at the Syosset, or the Plainview, when it had its Long Island premiere?)
Also saw a re-release of “2001” here, at some point, under the influence.
I never did see “Earthquake”; at the time, I thought it would just be too much for the senses. I regret that, now…
That this place has been gutted and turned into a health club is a crime against cinema!
Those magical words. My parents were fairly regular movie-goers, and it was a great treat to head to the Syosset on a Sunday afternoon.
I saw Mary Poppins here (the greatest movie ever made, to my 10-year-old mind). Also: How the West Was Won (in Cinerama!); It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (hysterically funny sequences); The Sound of Music (of course); Gone With the Wind.
What a grand place it was! Heartbreaking when it became a triplex. I think the last movie I saw there was “Rising Sun”, with my parents, and my mother gasping at every curse word. Movies, as well as theaters, had undergone a big change by then – and not necessarily for the better.
I have good memories of this theater. The low ceiling, perhaps, made the screen seem a mile wide; the seats were comfortable and sightlines good from everywhere. I saw a lot of off-beat fare here in the early 70’s: The Revolutionary (w/Jon Voigt); The Angel Levine (w/Zero Mostel and Harry Belafonte); Alice’s Restaurant; Burn! (w/Marlon Brando); Ned Kelly (w/Mick Jagger); and a turkey called (I still love this title) The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (bad movie – good book).
I saw my first James Bond movie here: On Her Majesty’s Secret
Service (terrific action sequences, and Lazenby’s not that bad). Movie maniac that I was, I drove over on a very snowy weekday night (in January ‘75?) to see The Abduction (Liv Ullmann as Queen Christina – and Anthony Hopkins, I think); as I was the only one (besides the staff) who had showed up, they declined to sell me a ticket, so they could go home early – and I don’t blame them (I
never did see that movie, but I’m sure the Garbo version is better anyway).
In the discount days of the late 70’s and early 80’s, I was a frequent patron. In 1980, I played “uncle” to some 15-year old boys
who wanted to see American Gigolo (an under-rated, really great
movie); the only reason for wanting to see it that I could elicit
from them was the Blondie song!
Before this was “twinned”, it was another good LI house with a big screen. I saw “2001” here for the first time in 1969 (and if you’ve only seen this on TV or DVD – you have NOT seen it – it only works on a big screen!!) and it blew my mind (and I was not stoned, at that young age). In April 1970, the Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film – “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” – was playing here on a double bill with another Foreign Film nominee – Bunuel’s “Tristana” – both dubbed in English (a standard practice around that time, for foreign films that made it to the suburbs). I persuaded my Dad (it was R-rated)to take me and two other friends on
a Saturday night. It was completely sold out, and we had to sit way on the side. “Investigation” had a kinkily erotic opening scene and
an interesting story line, and everyone liked it. The consensus on “Tristana”, from my three companions, was that it was the most boring movie of all time, though I found that riveting as well.
In January 71, there was a double bill of “The Go-Between” (Julie Christie, Alan Bates) and the French film “Claire’s Knee”. It was my
third time seeing “Claire’s Knee”, and the projectionist had screwed up the order of the reels! but I was too inhibited a teenager at the time to make a fuss or even say anything when it was over.
The last things I remember seeing there, in the late 70’s,
were “Alien” and “Apocalypse Now”.
Just discovered this site, and it brought back a flood of movie-going memories on LI. The first time I ever saw a movie was at the Plainview. It was June 1959, I was 4 years old, and my mother took me to see Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Some combination of the movie and the experience of seeing it there made me a life-long cinemaniac. Every time we passed by on South Oyster Bay Road, I’d strain to see if I could make out the posters for the coming attraction – always two of them – often not quite visible through the front doors. The cutain, as I recall, was kind of diaphonous and multi-colored – and that terrific marquee with the big red
letters – I wish I’d taken some pictures. This was the only theater within walking distance (of Clearview Village), so I spent many Saturday and summer afternoons there.
Many memories of great movies seen on that big screen: re-releases
of Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai. On two consecutive Saturdays in May 1968, I saw Far From the Madding
Crowd and Doctor Zhivago – two sweepingly romantic epics that made a great impression on me. In the early 70’s, I remember seeing McCabe and Mrs. Miller on an October night aftering working after school at Food Fair, down the block (hmmm, Julie Christie and the Plainview seem linked).
It was a great loss when it was closed and turned into a medical center!
In the late summer of 1972, the Beekman hosted a festival of New York Times' “10 Best Films of the Year” for the previous 10 years or so. I saw “Blow-Up”, “8 ½”, “Belle de Jour” and a documentary on women’s roller derby (yes!) called “Derby” – which I guess Vincent Canby had liked a lot!
First time I was here was January ‘72 for Pasolini’s “Decameron”; even though it was X-rated, I was admitted without any fuss (I was just 17). In April 1981, I saw a Pasolini triple-bill here – Decameron, Canturbury Tales, and Arabian Nights – from the first row of the balcony, which was probably the best seat in the house. In late '84 and early '85, the Festival hosted, over two or three months, a massive festival of French films, most of which had not been released previously. I saw Lelouch’s A Nous Deux and Demy’s Une Chambre en Ville (I wish someone could post the schedule for this!) Last time (I think)I was here was for the awful Godfather Part III, in March of '91.
P.S. I would agree with barrywerks post of 8/21/04 that the first few rows of seats were slanted upward somewhat toward the screen, like the Thalia. I have a distinct memory of that.
Was only here a couple of times – it is way out of the way. And the worst thing is that the exit elevator rudely ejects you right out on to the street – not back in the main lobby.
I remember seeing “Carrie” here in late ‘76. During the last scene, everyone in the packed house screamed and jumped out of his/her seat, then laughed – we had all known a scare was coming, but were fooled anyway. That’s what makes the collective experience of movie-going so great.
Even back in the late 60’s and early 70', this place was considered a “dump”. But it was cheap – one of the first, if I recall correctly, that offered double features for a dollar. My friends and I rode bikes over there, and used to chain them to the stairs behind the theater. I saw so many great movies in this house (and I’m talking about before it was “twinned”): They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?; Pretty Poison; a double bill of Thunderball and You Only Live Twice; Live and Let Die (paired with a forgotten spy film called Scorpio, with Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon); Barry Lyndon; The Night Porter (well, that was a stinker – but I do remember seeing it here).
Last time I was there was for My Cousin Vinnie, I think .
Wasn’t this the most elegant little cinema on Long Island? After years of longing to go, I persuaded my Dad to take me – it was a double bill of “Winning” (Paul Newman racing cars, and competing with Robert Wagner for the affections of Joanne Woodward), and “Tell Them Willie Boy is Here” (Robert Redford and Katherine Ross, and Robert Blake in the title role). Only two seats in each of the side aisles (against the wall), and a black-and-silver motif. Of course, it was a Rugoff/Cinema 5 theater – the only one on LI – so it was like a Manhattan theater in the ‘burbs’. After I got a car in ‘74, I came here frequently – for the Lina Wertmuller hits (Love and Anarchy, Swept Away, Seven Beauties); Dona Flor and her Two Husbands (at which a friend of mine discovered that subtitles aren’t so bad!).
Wonderful place to see movies.
In the 70’s, it seems to me that this place alternated between porno,and being part of a small LI “art-house” group of 3 or 4 theaters which would show foreign films(in Nassau County – with the Malverne, and the Cinema Manhasset?). I remember seeing “The Sicilian Clan” (a good French heist movie, with Alain Delon and Jean Gabin) here in July 1970 (I was desperate to see it, and my mother told my dad to take me – the day before we were driving to Florida).
Also, in the summer of ‘73, I drove over with a group of friends to see Truffaut’s “Such a Gorgeous Kid Like Me”. I think I also saw the Zeffirelli “Romeo and Juliet” here in '68 or '69 (even though there was nudity in it, it was Shakespeare! so what could your parents do?).
The sleazy reputation of the theater lent a certain “frisson” to seeing legit movies there.
This was an astonishing theater. I went to see something there in the fall of 1974, and as I walked up to the box office, I heard this noise, as if a plane was approaching for a crash landing. It turned out to be the trailer for the coming SenSurround “Earthquake”, emanating from the doors of the theater!
In May ‘71, this theater was actually showing Eric Rohmer’s “Claire’s Knee” five times a day (you could look it up). I rode my bicycle over after school one weekday to a 4PM show. I was the only person to buy a ticket, and had a “private screening” of that sublime film – in that vast auditorium! A week or two later, Truffaut’s “Bed & Board” had been added, to make it a double feature, and I returned (there were a few more people then, as I recall). I also recall seeing Ralph Bakshi’s live/animated version of “The Lord of the Rings” here. And the last time I was there was for a restored version of “My Fair Lady”, with my parents (was that at the Syosset, or the Plainview, when it had its Long Island premiere?)
Also saw a re-release of “2001” here, at some point, under the influence.
I never did see “Earthquake”; at the time, I thought it would just be too much for the senses. I regret that, now…
That this place has been gutted and turned into a health club is a crime against cinema!
Exclusive Long Island Engagement.
Those magical words. My parents were fairly regular movie-goers, and it was a great treat to head to the Syosset on a Sunday afternoon.
I saw Mary Poppins here (the greatest movie ever made, to my 10-year-old mind). Also: How the West Was Won (in Cinerama!); It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (hysterically funny sequences); The Sound of Music (of course); Gone With the Wind.
What a grand place it was! Heartbreaking when it became a triplex. I think the last movie I saw there was “Rising Sun”, with my parents, and my mother gasping at every curse word. Movies, as well as theaters, had undergone a big change by then – and not necessarily for the better.
I have good memories of this theater. The low ceiling, perhaps, made the screen seem a mile wide; the seats were comfortable and sightlines good from everywhere. I saw a lot of off-beat fare here in the early 70’s: The Revolutionary (w/Jon Voigt); The Angel Levine (w/Zero Mostel and Harry Belafonte); Alice’s Restaurant; Burn! (w/Marlon Brando); Ned Kelly (w/Mick Jagger); and a turkey called (I still love this title) The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (bad movie – good book).
I saw my first James Bond movie here: On Her Majesty’s Secret
Service (terrific action sequences, and Lazenby’s not that bad). Movie maniac that I was, I drove over on a very snowy weekday night (in January ‘75?) to see The Abduction (Liv Ullmann as Queen Christina – and Anthony Hopkins, I think); as I was the only one (besides the staff) who had showed up, they declined to sell me a ticket, so they could go home early – and I don’t blame them (I
never did see that movie, but I’m sure the Garbo version is better anyway).
In the discount days of the late 70’s and early 80’s, I was a frequent patron. In 1980, I played “uncle” to some 15-year old boys
who wanted to see American Gigolo (an under-rated, really great
movie); the only reason for wanting to see it that I could elicit
from them was the Blondie song!
Too bad it’s gone, like so many others!
Before this was “twinned”, it was another good LI house with a big screen. I saw “2001” here for the first time in 1969 (and if you’ve only seen this on TV or DVD – you have NOT seen it – it only works on a big screen!!) and it blew my mind (and I was not stoned, at that young age). In April 1970, the Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film – “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” – was playing here on a double bill with another Foreign Film nominee – Bunuel’s “Tristana” – both dubbed in English (a standard practice around that time, for foreign films that made it to the suburbs). I persuaded my Dad (it was R-rated)to take me and two other friends on
a Saturday night. It was completely sold out, and we had to sit way on the side. “Investigation” had a kinkily erotic opening scene and
an interesting story line, and everyone liked it. The consensus on “Tristana”, from my three companions, was that it was the most boring movie of all time, though I found that riveting as well.
In January 71, there was a double bill of “The Go-Between” (Julie Christie, Alan Bates) and the French film “Claire’s Knee”. It was my
third time seeing “Claire’s Knee”, and the projectionist had screwed up the order of the reels! but I was too inhibited a teenager at the time to make a fuss or even say anything when it was over.
The last things I remember seeing there, in the late 70’s,
were “Alien” and “Apocalypse Now”.
Just discovered this site, and it brought back a flood of movie-going memories on LI. The first time I ever saw a movie was at the Plainview. It was June 1959, I was 4 years old, and my mother took me to see Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Some combination of the movie and the experience of seeing it there made me a life-long cinemaniac. Every time we passed by on South Oyster Bay Road, I’d strain to see if I could make out the posters for the coming attraction – always two of them – often not quite visible through the front doors. The cutain, as I recall, was kind of diaphonous and multi-colored – and that terrific marquee with the big red
letters – I wish I’d taken some pictures. This was the only theater within walking distance (of Clearview Village), so I spent many Saturday and summer afternoons there.
Many memories of great movies seen on that big screen: re-releases
of Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai. On two consecutive Saturdays in May 1968, I saw Far From the Madding
Crowd and Doctor Zhivago – two sweepingly romantic epics that made a great impression on me. In the early 70’s, I remember seeing McCabe and Mrs. Miller on an October night aftering working after school at Food Fair, down the block (hmmm, Julie Christie and the Plainview seem linked).
It was a great loss when it was closed and turned into a medical center!