Malverne Cinema
350 Hempstead Avenue,
Malverne,
NY
11565
350 Hempstead Avenue,
Malverne,
NY
11565
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End of an era as Malverne Cinema & Art Center closes its doors for last time The Malverne Cinema & Art Center on its last day… The Malverne Cinema & Art Center on its last day in business Sunday. Credit: Jeff Bachner
By Joshua Needelman Updated September 29, 2024 8:47 pm Share They came to say goodbye.
On Sunday, in the hours before the Malverne Cinema & Art Center screens went dark for the last time and the movie house closed for good, owners Anne and Henry Stampfel embraced those who had helped make theater a local institution. It felt like a shiva call. The crowd stood in the lobby with the plush carpet for hours, sharing laughs and memories.
People like John Aresta, the Malverne chief of police, whom Anne Stampfel had hired as an usher in 1981.
Like Jo Constantelos, a longtime friend of the Stampfels whose son worked at the theater in high school
Like Joanna Volpe, the Stampfels' daughter, who grew up at the cinema.
The Stampfels, who live in Massapequa, arrived around 5:30 a.m. on this dark and chilly Sunday to clean out the building.
“I was sad,” Anne said. “The weather outside kind of matched my mood.”
The final slate of Hollywood fare: “Lee,” “Reagan,” “Transformers One,” “The Wild Robot.”
For neighborhood movie fans, the theater’s demise meant the end for first-run features close to home. For the Stampfels, it marked the end of a challenging few years of business.
The cinema closed for much of 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic hit before temporarily reopening that October.
But “it cost too much to unlock the door each day,” Anne Stampfel said, and the theater closed again in January 2021.
The Stampfels opened again, this time in May 2021, with an assist of a federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.
“That helped us get this far,” Henry Stampfel said.
As far as additional help, his wife added with a note despair, there is none “out there now. I’ve searched.”
Last Tuesday, the decision was made to shut the down the theater after the couple couldn’t reach an agreement with the landlord over building renovations.
It marked the end of a three-decades plus journey for the couple, who purchased the theater in 1990. The landlord was not available late Sunday to discuss plans for the future of the five-screen theater with seating for nearly 700. The original theater was built in 1947. It’s located in a strip mall on Hempstead Avenue where the roadway meets Nassau Avenue.
The Stampfels had met at a theater in Oceanside. He was working as a projectionist; she as a candy salesperson. They bonded over their love of the industry and built their own film fiefdom: Over the years, the Stampfels have run theaters in Bellmore, Hempstead and Long Beach.
But it was in Malverne where the Stampfels became most involved with the community, their daughter said. They would often hold film talks with residents.
“It would be sold out all weekend Thursday through Sunday,” Volpe said. “And even Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday were busy, because people would just come here, and find out what was playing when they got here. They trusted it would be good because they knew films would be carefully curated.”
Aresta said it was at the Malverne Cinema where he saw his first-ever movie with his father: “The Poseidon Adventure” in 1972.
“This is the last landmark in Malverne,” Aresta said. “It’s going to hurt seeing Anne and Henry leave. And just their legacy. They’ve employed so many kids over the years.”
About 7 p.m., as the final films let out, Anne Stampfel sat on a chair in the lobby, watching her customers, for the final time, filter out into the damp night.
“Thank you,” one customer said, turning to her.
Stampfel let a small smile form on her face: “Thank you.”
How likely is it that the landlord will find somebody to rent if they are the ones to replace the heating system.
please update close as of September 30. According to the owner, the boiler needed to be replaced, it would be too costly to repair and it would have no heat in the winter. Unfortunately they chose to close for good.
If you call them now the message states that Sunday is their last day of operation.
This evening I received the following email:
Thanks Mike. We have no idea about the cinema. The HVAC system broke down this summer and it cost us thousands to just put a bandaid on it to keep it going but now it’s basically shot. Had several companies come in to look it over and give advice and estimates which we shared with the landlord who declined to pick up the cost. Weeks and weeks later after a lot of back and fourth he didn’t budge. That’s basically it. We just couldn’t go into October without heat. Anyone coming in will have to do that first thing. We wish him luck but our hearts are heavy and would have preferred to hand the baton to the next runner so to speak rather than just ending it this way. In the meantime, we think of our employees and our patrons. We will miss every single one of them! Hugs to you, Anne
The sign in the lobby showing upcoming releases is blank.
Me thinks after tomorrow’s show that this cinema is closing. There are only 4 films there. one of the cinemas down the hall is vacant. They’ve removed the sign that show what they’re playing. In the lobby there is a sign that usually shows what’s coming the next few weeks. There are no posters up for upcoming releases, just ones for films there or have been there. I asked 2 people who work there about this and they say they just don’t know what’s coming in. One was a woman who’s been there about 10 years, as long as I have been going there.
It is the end of September and they would be closed on Monday anyway, so they’ll be gone by October.
Oh, one of their phone numbers can suggest other businesses.
Reopened a few months ago.
Ridethetrain, I’m really enjoying all your opening day ads, reopening ads, etc. Do you think that you could also include the date of the ads in your postings?
The fifth screen opened September 26, 1997
Please update, became a Twin on May 29, 1981. Grand opening ad in photos section
Please update, became a quad on June 14, 1996. (No grand opening ad)
Survived Covid.
Please update, became a twin in 1981, quad in 1996 and finally 5 screens in 1997. Theatre 5 was built on old store.
It looks like when Lynbrook opens next week, the two theatres are going to compete. Malverne business might hurt because of the more comfortable seating at Lynbrook. Won’t You Be My Neighbor will be play dating with each other.
Under development for five years and delayed by wartime restrictions, the Malverne Theatre finally opened on May 26th, 1947, with a single feature policy starting with the sub-run “It’s A Wonderful Life.” More details uploaded to the Photos Section.
According to the Fandango Movie Times there are five films starting around 1PM. I think Mike is correct on his assumption.
I’m pretty sure this theater has five screens, not six…
Ed Solero said:
Is that a good thing?
recently saw “the 100 year old man who…” at this cool little theater…it was $6 wednesday matinee special…oy the crowd!!
This is my wife’s favorite theater. She goes to more movies now because of this place.
I saw “The Artist” there.
Saps, I’m happy that this theater is doing well enough to afford the changeover to digital. I’m not enamoured with the screen sizes, but I do feel it is vital for movie lovers (can hardly say “film lovers” anymore) that suburban art houses like this, and the one in Kew Gardens, survive and continue to thrive.
But they do give out photocopied reviews of every movie playing, and they have a weekly email newsletter one may subscribe to.
Speaking of which, please note this item in this week’s email:
“Please note the curtailed schedule while we transition to all digital from 35mm projection. We are proud to say that process is now complete at our Bellmore Cinema. We’ll always love film; however, digital is the wave of the future. Some people say it’s the tsunami of the future in the industry.”
Due to the inclement weather today my wife wanted to see “The Intouchables” and we went here. This was my first visit to this theater. Does not give out free posters like the Kew Gardens theater nor independent film news like the one in Manhassett.