Tinseltoes – Checked and confirmed that there were presentations call “Dancing Waters” at both the 1939-40 and 1964-65 NY World’s Fairs. The first is long before the 1953 debut at RCMH. I’m actually old enough to remember it!
It would be interesting if you could include admission prices when you present your RCMH anniversary facts. Probably couldn’t even get a candy bar today for what admission prices were then.
robboehm
commented about
Avon 7on
Jan 16, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Thanks. I never would have found it in a million years.
MarkieS, I just went back to the Island site to see if there was a photo, the links no longer exist, and found a posting from you dated June 18, 2009 in which you mentioned your mother, at age 81, referring to the Island as “the itch” and seeing Intermezzo there.
The balcony at the Queens went on forever. I remember one time walking up toward the screen and looking back and upward. My impression was that more than half of the seats in the theatre were in that vast balcony. Having said that, I can’t imagine why the church which is supposed to be moving into the place has removed the fire escapes. Their web site boasts that they have acquired this property which has thus and so many of seats (the bulk of which are in the balcony). So how can they operate the balcony without the fire escapes? Work seems to have come to a halt on this property. And, are they expecting all the people to come by public transportaion? There is a lot with the LIRR and a number of bus lines but parking on Jamaica Avenue and Springfield Boulevard is limited. Let’s face it, one of the reasons the Queens didn’t succeed as a concert venue was PARKING!!!!
To the best of my knowledge there were only two theatres in Hollis. This one and the Island. The Island had a very old looking incandescent lit marquee. I attended one performance at the Hollis in the 1950s. I thought it was clean and attractive. My only negative was the projectionist on that day was totally incompetent. He never made smooth transitions between the reels and he could be heard cursing loudly when things didn’t go right. I remember the usherette, yes usherette, saying she didn’t understand his problem because he was union.
robboehm
commented about
Avon 7on
Jan 16, 2011 at 12:23 pm
As a young adult I attended an evening of TV premiere showings at an Avon Theatre which was located on one of the main avenues. This was probably in the 1950s. You could tell it was an older theatre because of the boxy styled marquee. I’m sure it wasn’t this one, and certainly not the one of 42nd Street. So either it hasn’t made it to CT or it’s one of those also known as entries which would be almost impossible to find. Any thoughts out there?
There was something called the “Dancing Waters” at the 1939-40 World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows and, I believe, again, at the later one. If it’s one and the same we’re talking 70 plus years.
I tracked down the reference posted by CWalcak to the Smithtown, Long Island web site. However, I don’t believe the information is totally correct. I remember the Old Town and it was small. The building pictured on the website is a large retail space. There is also a reference to it as being small in the first anniverary commemorative for the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts which was produced with input from the Town Historian and the Public Library. A demolition date of 1965 is plausible, however. Need to check with the Smithtown News to see if they have any sort of index. If not have to hit the microfiche. Possibly Town Hall has something in it’s building records.
Happy to report the marquee has been returned to the facade of the theatre. According to the original banner it was to have been repaired. However, driving by it looked new albeit the same. Wow, is it ever bright now. And they actually sprung for new letters for the signage.
The theatre had one central seating section with aisles on either side. There was one fire exit off each of the side aisles. The floor was sloped. There was no balcony. According to a former employee, whose father managed the theatre for a time, there were
probably 20-25 seats across in each of the rows.
There is a picture of the theatre in George Washington Tiernan’s book, “Kings Park – A Pictoral History – 1870-1960”. There is no current web link available.
The reason I used 3700 was because that is the address CT shows for the UA Coram which was built on the site of the drive-in. The theatre cards I’ve seen and the ads, and the Prudential guide always said Rts 112 & 25. So you’re saying the address for the UA is wrong also. Maybe that had a real address that we can trace back.
That is one bleak, forbiding looking building. It’s appropriate that it’s now a medical center since it looks very institutional, unfortunately MENTAL institutional.
Somewhere out there I know there is a drive-in site which might have the car capacity. I can’t remember the name, however. But then, again, I wonder how accurate it is since they list a drive in in Centereach Long Island for which I can find no substantiating evidence.
Also, there is an ice cream parlour in Middle Island or Ridge on the south side of Route 25 that has several of the old theatre cards advertising the drive in among its movie related memoriabilia.
Interestingly, there is a new leisure center on the drawing board for Widnes which is to include a multiplex cinema. In the interim Cineworld in Runcorn is the closest theatre in the Halton district.
An address is going to be tough since there is currently no building on the site. The empty plot is behind the diner which is located across from the Smithtown Library at the intersection of Routes 25 and 111. Any advertising I’ve seen, and programs from the summer theatre, don’t show an address. I’ve checked with the library and the historical society. Probably the only way for an address is in an old phone book. I believe they have some at Hofstra.
apd and I visited the theatre site yesterday. Windows have been added to the second floor where there were indications that they may have previously existed. You enter through the lobby where the original ceiling is still intact, with the addition of a ceiling fan through the center medallion. The floor, which originally had an incline, to the auditorium is now level. The two stores which flanked the lobby are now part of the martial arts complex with entrances through the lobby. The auditorium has been converted into a two story warehouse. Since the owner/manager was not present we were not able to look further than the public space. The employees indicated they had never seen any of the remnants of the original theatre, not even the actual ceilling, which I would have imagined would be visible from the second floor warehouse area.
Not I, being a Nassau County person, but did do a number of weddings at Antuns.
How Biblical, all the people in the fiery furnace (aka former theatre) a la Shadrack, Mishak and Abendigo.
Tinseltoes – Checked and confirmed that there were presentations call “Dancing Waters” at both the 1939-40 and 1964-65 NY World’s Fairs. The first is long before the 1953 debut at RCMH. I’m actually old enough to remember it!
It would be interesting if you could include admission prices when you present your RCMH anniversary facts. Probably couldn’t even get a candy bar today for what admission prices were then.
Thanks. I never would have found it in a million years.
MarkieS, I just went back to the Island site to see if there was a photo, the links no longer exist, and found a posting from you dated June 18, 2009 in which you mentioned your mother, at age 81, referring to the Island as “the itch” and seeing Intermezzo there.
The balcony at the Queens went on forever. I remember one time walking up toward the screen and looking back and upward. My impression was that more than half of the seats in the theatre were in that vast balcony. Having said that, I can’t imagine why the church which is supposed to be moving into the place has removed the fire escapes. Their web site boasts that they have acquired this property which has thus and so many of seats (the bulk of which are in the balcony). So how can they operate the balcony without the fire escapes? Work seems to have come to a halt on this property. And, are they expecting all the people to come by public transportaion? There is a lot with the LIRR and a number of bus lines but parking on Jamaica Avenue and Springfield Boulevard is limited. Let’s face it, one of the reasons the Queens didn’t succeed as a concert venue was PARKING!!!!
To the best of my knowledge there were only two theatres in Hollis. This one and the Island. The Island had a very old looking incandescent lit marquee. I attended one performance at the Hollis in the 1950s. I thought it was clean and attractive. My only negative was the projectionist on that day was totally incompetent. He never made smooth transitions between the reels and he could be heard cursing loudly when things didn’t go right. I remember the usherette, yes usherette, saying she didn’t understand his problem because he was union.
As a young adult I attended an evening of TV premiere showings at an Avon Theatre which was located on one of the main avenues. This was probably in the 1950s. You could tell it was an older theatre because of the boxy styled marquee. I’m sure it wasn’t this one, and certainly not the one of 42nd Street. So either it hasn’t made it to CT or it’s one of those also known as entries which would be almost impossible to find. Any thoughts out there?
There was something called the “Dancing Waters” at the 1939-40 World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows and, I believe, again, at the later one. If it’s one and the same we’re talking 70 plus years.
I tracked down the reference posted by CWalcak to the Smithtown, Long Island web site. However, I don’t believe the information is totally correct. I remember the Old Town and it was small. The building pictured on the website is a large retail space. There is also a reference to it as being small in the first anniverary commemorative for the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts which was produced with input from the Town Historian and the Public Library. A demolition date of 1965 is plausible, however. Need to check with the Smithtown News to see if they have any sort of index. If not have to hit the microfiche. Possibly Town Hall has something in it’s building records.
Happy to report the marquee has been returned to the facade of the theatre. According to the original banner it was to have been repaired. However, driving by it looked new albeit the same. Wow, is it ever bright now. And they actually sprung for new letters for the signage.
The theatre had one central seating section with aisles on either side. There was one fire exit off each of the side aisles. The floor was sloped. There was no balcony. According to a former employee, whose father managed the theatre for a time, there were
probably 20-25 seats across in each of the rows.
There is a picture of the theatre in George Washington Tiernan’s book, “Kings Park – A Pictoral History – 1870-1960”. There is no current web link available.
I would hope that extensive pix be taken of the interior as it is now before any renovations take place so there is some historical record.
Great news. Hope it comes to fruition.
What were the admission charges in those days? I remember that in the 1950s the first show was 90 cents.
Mark could you provide links to the online items to which have referred?
But you didn’t provide a link.
The reason I used 3700 was because that is the address CT shows for the UA Coram which was built on the site of the drive-in. The theatre cards I’ve seen and the ads, and the Prudential guide always said Rts 112 & 25. So you’re saying the address for the UA is wrong also. Maybe that had a real address that we can trace back.
That is one bleak, forbiding looking building. It’s appropriate that it’s now a medical center since it looks very institutional, unfortunately MENTAL institutional.
Somewhere out there I know there is a drive-in site which might have the car capacity. I can’t remember the name, however. But then, again, I wonder how accurate it is since they list a drive in in Centereach Long Island for which I can find no substantiating evidence.
Also, there is an ice cream parlour in Middle Island or Ridge on the south side of Route 25 that has several of the old theatre cards advertising the drive in among its movie related memoriabilia.
Interestingly, there is a new leisure center on the drawing board for Widnes which is to include a multiplex cinema. In the interim Cineworld in Runcorn is the closest theatre in the Halton district.
An address is going to be tough since there is currently no building on the site. The empty plot is behind the diner which is located across from the Smithtown Library at the intersection of Routes 25 and 111. Any advertising I’ve seen, and programs from the summer theatre, don’t show an address. I’ve checked with the library and the historical society. Probably the only way for an address is in an old phone book. I believe they have some at Hofstra.
Never could figure the title but it’s a nice, soapy flick that TCM has on a couple of times recently.
And, for the record, TCM broadcast “Operation Petticoat” this afternoon.
apd and I visited the theatre site yesterday. Windows have been added to the second floor where there were indications that they may have previously existed. You enter through the lobby where the original ceiling is still intact, with the addition of a ceiling fan through the center medallion. The floor, which originally had an incline, to the auditorium is now level. The two stores which flanked the lobby are now part of the martial arts complex with entrances through the lobby. The auditorium has been converted into a two story warehouse. Since the owner/manager was not present we were not able to look further than the public space. The employees indicated they had never seen any of the remnants of the original theatre, not even the actual ceilling, which I would have imagined would be visible from the second floor warehouse area.