The address is a bit misleading. The Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway did not exist when the Drive-In was operationaly. I believe that the Drive-In was demolished as part of the Seaford-Oyster Bay construction project, if anyone has access to that data.
Century advertised the Patio, singularly in the mainstream NY papers when they had stage shows. As a child I remember seeing an ad for Joey Adams. Only in later years did I know who he was so that must have been early in his career.
The current AMC/ Loews’s opened in 1984. I question the address of the Drive-In since the new theatre is at 2190. Looks like a transposition despite the comment by Lost Memory.
To the person who recently put two photos on this theatre. Wrong theatre. They were of the theatre listed on CT as Fox Plaza Twin. That theatre was originally known as Mid-Island Plaza Twin North and South. The first picture you put up showed a portion of the Twin North signage. The second picture was the auditorium in on of these. You can tell by how new it looked. I don’t recall the former Hicksville, subsequently twin, ever looking new even when they put in the dividing wall. The pictures have been deleted from this, the incorrect site, but the CT people can’t load them where they belong. That is up to you. No need to respond. When I see the pictures in place I’ll remove this comment. Thanks.
Atlantis is attracting great crowds in Riverhead. They even built a hotel next to it. In the redevelopment of town there is also the plan for a multiplex. Restaurants are doing well, some because of Atlantis but most, I would think, because of the courts. Something by the expressway would be ideal. There was originally supposed to be one up by Riverhead Centre. It’s all such a crap shot. Certain areas, despite high population density can’t seem to support a movie theatre. Patchogue immediately comes to mind. Then, in other areas, they overbuild, two theatres in Coram and one in Port Jeff only a short distance away.
Forgot to mention Patchogue which is large and has been up and running for many years. I think the setup of a space is also going to be a factor. The Suffolk will be the only one with cabaret seating of all the performance spaces. Will that appeal to people? Where I live the runs to Riverhead, Westhampton, Patchogue and Port Jefferson are not significantly different. Riverhead, because of the seating, would be my last pick.
The problem with listings in national magazines is often their deadlines. So tentative might imply that they expected the prior film to extend, which was not uncommon. Also, it’s been my experience that even tho' a theatre may be up and running the national magazines may not list it now and then or even at all. I always suspected that there were $$$ involved.
He didn’t even have knowledge of Studio 54. I explained my reference to him to clarify what I meant. For a time Hollyrock, at the former Regent, now Boulton Center in Bay Shore had removed the theatre seats and operated in a cabaret setting. I really question whether something of this nature will work out here. I like Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. It’s an intimate space. If they are expanding the stage area at the Suffolk that will give some flexibility. Just how many of these venues can Long Island support? Smithtown, CM in Oakdale, Westbury, both the old renovating theatre and whatever the Music Fair is now called, Theatre 3, WHB, Boulton Center, Engemann in Northport, Landmark in Port Washington, plus the well established Arena Player, etc., etc..
The Studio 54 reference still holds. The developer specifically indicated to me that there would be cabaret seating on the main floor with theatre seating in the balcony. If that’s not Studio 54 what is?
The Meadows wasn’t “traditional”. As you were heading west there was a narrow strip that just said “Century’s Meadows”. Then you got to the massive part which had the signboard and the MEADOWS. I don’t recall what the portion was that faced the actualy Fresh Meadows complex.
There is a picture, and a sad sight it is, in the Newsday article. But that’s probably copyrighted material. Also, I wouldn’t even know how to go about linking it. But it’s still better than the aerial photo in the link a couple of comments back showing the hole in the roof after a 2007 fire.
Don’t even remember what the marquee on the Park East looked like. The Queens, Floral and Community were boxes. The Meadows was an irregular shape. Only the Bellerose had a wedge like the latter Park. Park, if we had true seating capacity and not the 800 above, was probably the smallest older Century. The Glen Oaks was probably the smallest, period.
The oversized marquee was bigger than those on more impressive Century properties. It was really too big for the building. Remember the pathetic one it replaced?
I was only here once for the Silver Screen classic after I moved east and Farmingdale was too much of a haul. The theatre was obviously outdated since it was obvious that they had just added onto the building from the original core. The auditorium was narrow and uninviting. The free goodies which come with a classic presentation were not up to the standards, or quantity, available at Farmingdale.
According to an article in the September 20, 2011 Newsday plans are moving forward to demolish the theatre and redevelop the site for housing and commercial use. An optomist target date of 2012 was set.
Speaking of the last show at Commack, that, according to comments on the site, it history after next week. Comments also indicate the Green Acres closed.
They’re starting to board up the front of the theatre.
The address is a bit misleading. The Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway did not exist when the Drive-In was operationaly. I believe that the Drive-In was demolished as part of the Seaford-Oyster Bay construction project, if anyone has access to that data.
The Meadows in Fresh Meadows also had an AX exchange.
A delayed comment to Ed’s 8/26 on the Green Acres. No, it was the big guy facing Sunrise.
Just looked at the exterior photos. A double vertical. Wow!
Century advertised the Patio, singularly in the mainstream NY papers when they had stage shows. As a child I remember seeing an ad for Joey Adams. Only in later years did I know who he was so that must have been early in his career.
The current AMC/ Loews’s opened in 1984. I question the address of the Drive-In since the new theatre is at 2190. Looks like a transposition despite the comment by Lost Memory.
To the person who recently put two photos on this theatre. Wrong theatre. They were of the theatre listed on CT as Fox Plaza Twin. That theatre was originally known as Mid-Island Plaza Twin North and South. The first picture you put up showed a portion of the Twin North signage. The second picture was the auditorium in on of these. You can tell by how new it looked. I don’t recall the former Hicksville, subsequently twin, ever looking new even when they put in the dividing wall. The pictures have been deleted from this, the incorrect site, but the CT people can’t load them where they belong. That is up to you. No need to respond. When I see the pictures in place I’ll remove this comment. Thanks.
Atlantis is attracting great crowds in Riverhead. They even built a hotel next to it. In the redevelopment of town there is also the plan for a multiplex. Restaurants are doing well, some because of Atlantis but most, I would think, because of the courts. Something by the expressway would be ideal. There was originally supposed to be one up by Riverhead Centre. It’s all such a crap shot. Certain areas, despite high population density can’t seem to support a movie theatre. Patchogue immediately comes to mind. Then, in other areas, they overbuild, two theatres in Coram and one in Port Jeff only a short distance away.
Forgot to mention Patchogue which is large and has been up and running for many years. I think the setup of a space is also going to be a factor. The Suffolk will be the only one with cabaret seating of all the performance spaces. Will that appeal to people? Where I live the runs to Riverhead, Westhampton, Patchogue and Port Jefferson are not significantly different. Riverhead, because of the seating, would be my last pick.
The problem with listings in national magazines is often their deadlines. So tentative might imply that they expected the prior film to extend, which was not uncommon. Also, it’s been my experience that even tho' a theatre may be up and running the national magazines may not list it now and then or even at all. I always suspected that there were $$$ involved.
He didn’t even have knowledge of Studio 54. I explained my reference to him to clarify what I meant. For a time Hollyrock, at the former Regent, now Boulton Center in Bay Shore had removed the theatre seats and operated in a cabaret setting. I really question whether something of this nature will work out here. I like Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. It’s an intimate space. If they are expanding the stage area at the Suffolk that will give some flexibility. Just how many of these venues can Long Island support? Smithtown, CM in Oakdale, Westbury, both the old renovating theatre and whatever the Music Fair is now called, Theatre 3, WHB, Boulton Center, Engemann in Northport, Landmark in Port Washington, plus the well established Arena Player, etc., etc..
The Studio 54 reference still holds. The developer specifically indicated to me that there would be cabaret seating on the main floor with theatre seating in the balcony. If that’s not Studio 54 what is?
Miss the chicken croquettes at Howard Johnson’s. They were conical shape and had some sort of white sauce on them.
The Meadows wasn’t “traditional”. As you were heading west there was a narrow strip that just said “Century’s Meadows”. Then you got to the massive part which had the signboard and the MEADOWS. I don’t recall what the portion was that faced the actualy Fresh Meadows complex.
There is a picture, and a sad sight it is, in the Newsday article. But that’s probably copyrighted material. Also, I wouldn’t even know how to go about linking it. But it’s still better than the aerial photo in the link a couple of comments back showing the hole in the roof after a 2007 fire.
Don’t even remember what the marquee on the Park East looked like. The Queens, Floral and Community were boxes. The Meadows was an irregular shape. Only the Bellerose had a wedge like the latter Park. Park, if we had true seating capacity and not the 800 above, was probably the smallest older Century. The Glen Oaks was probably the smallest, period.
The oversized marquee was bigger than those on more impressive Century properties. It was really too big for the building. Remember the pathetic one it replaced?
I was only here once for the Silver Screen classic after I moved east and Farmingdale was too much of a haul. The theatre was obviously outdated since it was obvious that they had just added onto the building from the original core. The auditorium was narrow and uninviting. The free goodies which come with a classic presentation were not up to the standards, or quantity, available at Farmingdale.
Tonight parking lot was empty. Pylon was empty and dark. Facade of the theatre was lit like it was business as usual.
According to an article in the September 20, 2011 Newsday plans are moving forward to demolish the theatre and redevelop the site for housing and commercial use. An optomist target date of 2012 was set.
Where more than two auditoriums exist I won’t be there
A drive-by confirmed what I suspected from looking at the aerial shot; the theatres were at the left side of the shopping center.
A bit of trivia. 31st Street was also known as Grand Avenue, the El station still carries both names. Hence, Grand.
Speaking of the last show at Commack, that, according to comments on the site, it history after next week. Comments also indicate the Green Acres closed.