Herricks Cinemas 4

3324 Hillside Avenue,
New Hyde Park, NY 11040

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Bow-Tie Cinemas, Clearview Cinemas, GG Theaters

Previous Names: Herricks Cinema

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Herricks Cinemas 4

Tiny neighborhood house located in the back of a small strip mall. Herricks Cinema was opened on June 22, 1962. The previous owner GG Theatres twinned it on June 24, 1984 and went first run after many years of discount double bills. Acquired by Clearview in 1996 they somehow broke each side in two and made it a quad on February 19, 1999. In June 2013, Bow-Tie Cinemas took over as it took most Clearview locations. It was closed on March 16, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Bow-Tie Cinemas reopened the theater on November 12, 2021, and due to low patronage closed it permanently after business on February 24, 2022.

Contributed by Robert R

Recent comments (view all 30 comments)

Tom Brennan
Tom Brennan on June 28, 2010 at 12:21 pm

I worked at this theater as an usher when I was in high school in the early 90’s. At the time, the theater was a twin and both screens while tall in height, were rather narrow. Overall, the theater was very small and a bit run down, so I can’t imagine how they managed to squeeze in an additional two screens. For some reason, this theater always did well, at least when I was there. It was the perfect template of a neighborhood theater… loyal patrons with near sold out crowds on weekends and a respectable showing on weekdays.
At the time, it was under the control of the “GG Theaters” chain, which owned by Mr. GG (I have no idea what GG was short for), who was a bit of a character. His main hub was the Port Washington theater and also ran a theater in Baldwin. He was Israeli with a strong accent and not much of a personality. He would call for the totals on most night and occasionally pop by to grace the theater with his presence.
The theater was managed by an eccentric older woman named Ruth (or Ruthy) and she was entertaining to say the least. She had a bit of a foul mouth and would have no problem insulting patrons of the theater if they somehow pissed her off (like complaining that the sound was too low or loud). If you were nice to her, she was nicer to you… but if you pissed her off in some way… watch out! Her daughter Joanie was an on and off assistant manager and she had a real sour disposition and unpleasant to work with. The rest of the crew was rounded out by teenagers mostly. We had some fun changing around words with the marquee on random late nights and would often change the answering machine to that of a gay porn theater… but only for a couple of hours at night.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on July 8, 2010 at 2:46 pm

Your manager sounds like a “classy lady"The theatre business does not need,but wait,she worked for GG theatres,Not GCC.

Sean C.
Sean C. on July 18, 2013 at 4:01 pm

@Tom Brennan — i too worked at this venue in high school for a time, and i think we may have worked together. i remember Ruth all too well…she was a real piece of work.

Tom Brennan
Tom Brennan on January 12, 2014 at 12:44 pm

That’s funny Sean, we probably did! It was a unique experience to be sure. I have great memories of working there and the funny characters that both worked at and frequented the theater. I also remember Steve, the projectionist, who was a great guy and a lot of laughs for us teenagers. I was there from early ‘92 till about late ‘93.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on November 4, 2019 at 7:24 pm

Please update, GG Theatres made it a twin theatre in 1984. Clearview Cinemas bought the GG Theatres chain in 1996. In 1999, it open as 4 screens.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 2, 2021 at 4:30 pm

First listings in Newsday appeared on June 22nd, 1962. No ad found.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on June 6, 2021 at 12:41 pm

Please update, became a twin on June 24, 1984 and a quad on February 19, 1999. No grand opening ad for a twin, but uploaded display ad and grand opening ad as quad in photos section

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on December 5, 2021 at 10:10 am

Please update, theatre open June 20, 1962 with Five Finger Excercise and 13 West Street Grand opeinin ads in photos section

RobertR
RobertR on April 11, 2023 at 8:46 am

So sad another Long Island neighborhood house gone

robboehm
robboehm on April 11, 2023 at 10:24 am

Mattituck and Long Beach just closed. Hampton Bays is still open but will become a CVS when the approvals are received.

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