On those rare occasions when the Radio City Music Hall, largely unknown, subway box office was closed spent time on line by the Guild to go in thru the main entrance.
amending my comment about theatres in Patchogue there was also the Star Palace at the time of the first Unique. But that was long gone before I came on this earth.
The Plaza was the only post world war II theatre built in Patchogue Village. It had no commercial functions. Alto originally a single screen it was twinned. It then closed and remained derelect for more than two decades. Despite attempts to repurpose it as a media center it was torn down this year. Of all the theatres that once existed in the village proper or on Sunrise Highway the Patchogue Theatre for the performing Arts is the only one in operation. The Sun Wave Twin is now retail, the Multiplex (and the previous All Weather Drive In originally in the space) and the Granada were demolished, the Rialto burnt down. The original Unique, precursor to the second one which became the Rialto was only demolished in the past two years having served as a retail space. The space occupied by the original Unique and the second Unique (aka Rialto) is now a housing complex.
And they’re not going to favor the photo of the facade. Here you have a fabulous theatre with a non-descript, ugly marquee. For all one knows it’s a hotel not a performance space.
Way back when Bloop mentioned the blue decor in the lobby. The large Century’s sign on the facade of the building was red with the theatre name in blue.
Noticed on another site that the facade of the York and the lobby, such as it was, was done in green and white glazed brick. The large Century’s sign was in green with the name of the theatre in white.
Read something on one of the other sites regarding the Morton Village. Facade has glazed black and white brick. Sinage was red and not the splashy sinage common to Century. Maybe a local restriction?
During the period when construction was suspended I was able to observe the structural steel and see how the theatres were actually nested over several levels. From the street the auditoriums did not appear to be large (I’ve never been inside), but the lobby takes up a significant portion of the footprint Another one of those times I wished I’d had a camera or a camera phone with me.
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?
On those rare occasions when the Radio City Music Hall, largely unknown, subway box office was closed spent time on line by the Guild to go in thru the main entrance.
The Granada was a retail site, still with the sloped floor. The entire block was demolished and is now the site of the courthouse complex.
amending my comment about theatres in Patchogue there was also the Star Palace at the time of the first Unique. But that was long gone before I came on this earth.
The Plaza was the only post world war II theatre built in Patchogue Village. It had no commercial functions. Alto originally a single screen it was twinned. It then closed and remained derelect for more than two decades. Despite attempts to repurpose it as a media center it was torn down this year. Of all the theatres that once existed in the village proper or on Sunrise Highway the Patchogue Theatre for the performing Arts is the only one in operation. The Sun Wave Twin is now retail, the Multiplex (and the previous All Weather Drive In originally in the space) and the Granada were demolished, the Rialto burnt down. The original Unique, precursor to the second one which became the Rialto was only demolished in the past two years having served as a retail space. The space occupied by the original Unique and the second Unique (aka Rialto) is now a housing complex.
Timing is right since the theatre was constructed 1960-61.
And they’re not going to favor the photo of the facade. Here you have a fabulous theatre with a non-descript, ugly marquee. For all one knows it’s a hotel not a performance space.
AXtel
Way back when Bloop mentioned the blue decor in the lobby. The large Century’s sign on the facade of the building was red with the theatre name in blue.
Noticed on another site that the facade of the York and the lobby, such as it was, was done in green and white glazed brick. The large Century’s sign was in green with the name of the theatre in white.
Read something on one of the other sites regarding the Morton Village. Facade has glazed black and white brick. Sinage was red and not the splashy sinage common to Century. Maybe a local restriction?
During the period when construction was suspended I was able to observe the structural steel and see how the theatres were actually nested over several levels. From the street the auditoriums did not appear to be large (I’ve never been inside), but the lobby takes up a significant portion of the footprint Another one of those times I wished I’d had a camera or a camera phone with me.
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.