Shirley Twin Theater

The Shirley Twin was opened by Associated Independent Theatres on April 15th, 1970. Grand opening ad posted.

Lived in Eastport. Saw the movie “Woodstock” when it was first released in 1970. You had to be 16 or older to get in to see that movie (had some mild nudity), I was only 15 so I borrowed my older brother’s drivers license and got in no problem. Also saw the Beatles film “Let It Be” at the Shirley Twin.

Bridge Gang Guy

That’s the car, Laura! And I DO remember him coming to the theatre on his motorcycle, with the jacket, helmet and suit. I’d forgotten about that, but the memories are back. In fact, unless I’m mistaken – which could easily be the case, we had an alley that we let people out of theatre one to (our candy storage room was right by that exit). I THINK your dad would sometimes bring the motorcycle in that door where it was out of the way. I was so sorry that he left the theatre. The funny thing is that I was the one person he recommended to the new owners and they ended up absolutely HATING me — which, of course, made me miss him even more.

Hi Laura,

Your dad was actually the first person to give me a job. At the ripe old age of 14 I was made a matinee usher, because my cousin was the assistant manager of the theatre. In fact, at the time I lived in North Shirley and on Saturday mornings he would pick me up on Wm. Floyd Parkway in what I always felt was a really tiny red car, and drive me to the theatre. I really enjoyed working with him.

Hey…I’m wondering if any of you knew my dad..he managed the theatre until 1977 or so – Serge Maynard. He passed away several years ago, and I’d love to hear your memories of him from back then (I was very little). Thanks! Laura

Hi,

I grew up here as well. 1980 – 1999. I remember all of this very well. I think the food store that came before Odd Lot was named PLUS.

When I was a kid, I was movie crazy. I would always beg my mom to either take me to the Shirley Drivein or out to Patchogue to drop me off at a theater. I remember being so happy that they were going to open a twin theater in Shirley. Back then I used to cut newspaper ads from the movie section out and paste them into a book. Something I still have to this day buried somewhere. I remember being so happy the week before the Shirley Twin opened. Trying to guess what movies they were going to play. Then when it finally opened, I was mad. The first movie that played in the Shirley Twin was Goodbye Mr Chips and it played in both theaters. What a bummer for an 8 year old huh? I believe I still have the grand opening ad around somewhere. Anyway I have alot of good memories about that theater and like RetroEd and jolly rodger tomcat, I remember Bohacks and I think the name of the bank next to the twin was a Chemical Bank and later became a Banco Popular. I remember the Robert Halls and of course the Hardees, where the burgers are charco-broiled. While I was underage at the time, there was this guy that worked there who would remember me from week to week; that would let me into all of the rated R movies at that time. I remember seeing all the crazy blaxpotation films like Shaft and Foxy Brown, but no matter how hard I begged that guy would not let me in to see The Exorcist.

I remember that marquee well — I actually fell off of it when I was changing the letters.

I was there when the theatre opened in the late 1960s (I was eight or nine), and I worked there on and off from 1974 to 1982, so if anyone has any questions about it, I’d be happy to answer if I can.

By the way, when the theatre first opened, the supermarket that was in the shopping center was Bohacks. Additionally, the Shirley Post Office was in the same shopping center as was Howard Johnson’s, which someone else mentioned.

I remember the mens room on each side was up these stairs that snaked around the corners, and you always got a double feature. It use to have (the village) supermarket next to it and a bank on the other side of it, and howard johnson’s in the front of the parking lot faceing montauk highway. and even a hardees across william floyd pky next to robert hall clothes.

Was this a circut house?