Cultural Arts Playhouse

714 Old Bethpage Road,
Old Bethpage, NY 11804

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Associated Independent Theatres Inc., K-B Theatres

Functions: Retail

Previous Names: Bethview Theatre, Cine Capri, Old Bethpage, Theatre Cultural Arts Playhouse.

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Cultural Arts Playhouse

Opened in 1962 as the Bethview Theatre by Associated Independent Theatres Inc. Operated for many years by a Long Island chain called K-B Theatres. It was always changing from first to second run. It was renamed Cine Capri on December 30, 1977. It went through a few different owners before fading away in late-1986 screening Tom Hanks in “The Money Pit”.

It became a live theatre named Cultural Arts Playhouse.

Contributed by RobertR

Recent comments (view all 27 comments)

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on March 10, 2011 at 10:16 am

When you get time “Former” could you tell us about the Booth? Or any other stories,I am sure you have some.Thanks.

formerprojectionist
formerprojectionist on March 12, 2011 at 8:59 pm

Hello Friend, my projection experience was from 1993 through ‘98, which was real late in the game, and I worked the Long Beach, Oceanside, Malvern, and interned at the Green Acres theater. I practiced in many a booth, was in the Hewlett Theater booth in'79, but my best stories really come from the guys who trained me. I was a patron of movies and virtually lived in the theaters through the very late 70’s and early 80’s.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on March 18, 2011 at 10:21 pm

Tis,he is from our theatre generation.Hope for some good stories.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on April 15, 2011 at 11:21 am

Wow. Haven’t been on this page in 5 years! Glad to see the activity here. So, where in the shopping center was this little cinema located? In the “L” shaped corner? Or out on the end somewhere?

formerprojectionist
formerprojectionist on April 15, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Ed, it was in the “L” shaped corner. I had forgotten where this theater even was and found it when my wife took me to see a production of “Chess” there (I believe they called themselves the Broadhallow Theater and and they are now located in the Elmont public Library, the new library on Hempstead turnpike).

rukdgme
rukdgme on April 28, 2012 at 6:20 am

As a kid in the late 70s and early 80s, I remember riding my bike to this theatre (and left it outide unlocked!) The last movie that played here was 1986’s The Money Pit. The theatre closed after that run, and that movie poster hung in the window for quite some time. I then started working at Richie’s Discount right next door, and remember seeing them pulling all the theatre seats out and bringing in new ones to a new playhouse, around 1989. I went to see the very first performance there, it was Evita, which as a 14 year old kid, thought it was awful, but I just wanted to see the inside of the theatre. This space operated as a live performance venue for many years under a few different names. Most recently, it was the Cultural Arts Playhouse, which has since moved up Old Country Road in Plainview. Currently, there is a sign in the window that says “Gym Coming Soon”. The box office lobby has remained in tact all these years, even the phone booth in the front corner. However, I’m sure it will all be torn out, if they are building a gym.

gfm8959
gfm8959 on October 21, 2012 at 3:29 pm

Updated pics added. I worked there with projectionist Pat Ryan and his brother Bobby from 79-81. Do any of you guys know them and how they’re doing? Thanks

paul baar
paul baar on June 10, 2017 at 5:54 am

The Old Bethpage was an okay theater in a tucked away place.There I saw Buck Henry in the satirical movie Taking Off.I also saw The Exorcist,featuring a promising Jason Miller,Oscar winner Ellen Bursten,Igmar Bergman favorite- Max Von Sydow;and that poor little Linda Blair with the pea soup and the crucifix.I preferred the The Omen,“Yea Gregory Peck!”

rivest266
rivest266 on June 3, 2021 at 10:21 am

Became Ciné-Capri on December 30th, 1977. Grand opening ad posted.

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