Any theatre on a major highway service road is a plus. It’s almost odd that this one was positioned at a relatively obscure location some twenty years ago and now that there has been major development eastward closed it down in favor of the new one in Holtsville a couple of exits back. When you look at the spotty location of theatres out here any viewing involves a drive of 20 miles (which is one of the reasons I rarely go, even to see pictures I want to see).
When I did an advanced search on Hemstead Theatre there were only seven hits. Number 5 shows the theatre with the policemen already available, the preceeding one is entitled Fulton Avenue. The text mentions the sign on the building. This maybe too tricky to enlarge enough to actually see the sign and not worth the effort.
Warren could you also access the photo from the Long Island Memories site that has the sign stating on this site will be constructed the Hemptead Theatre. I came upon it just a few moments ago.
Unfortunately, the link used by Lost Memory no longer seems to be in operation but the postcard image and the 1925 construction site can be seen on Long Island Memories.According to that site the theatre was under construction for several years and only opened in 1928.
I plan on adding the Plaza. I have some material but am holding off since once something is up I don’t think “we” have the ability to change it.
As far as the town is concerned, it is much improved. There is a lot of revitalization of Merrick Road and Main Street and, of course, there’s the whole restaurant row down by the docks.
And on the subject of changing library links, the one posted by Lost Memory dated 1961 was probably the one showing a new marquee showing the Skouras name being erected which appears on the same site as the two from Warren G. Harris. If you would please do the honors, sir.
Even before it was the State or the Fine Arts, this was the site of the Fulton Theatre. Long Island Memories has a picture of the boarded up Fulton saying that on this site was to be erected a 500 seat movie theatre.
With some time to kill I actually looked at all the pictures on this site and found another postcard image of the Glen theatres, from the opposite side as the previous one. This one identified it as the Glen.
The Long Island Memories has a postcard image of what they call the Glen Cove theatre. There is no marquee to this effect. But since the location is Glen Street, I’m sure its the Glen. Would some techie please provide direct access to this. http://207.97.148.182
Well, at least we now have the story of the mountain of metal in front of the theatre. Without the explanation it just looks like junk. This is all the trash they cleaned out of the theatre after the late Saturday night show.
I was in the Freeport Library earlier this week and the research librarian showed me a picture from around the turn of the 20th century showing construction of the opera house. She said she would be adding it to the Long Island Memories Collection at http://207.97.148.182
I just checked a few moments ago and it was up saying opera house first became American, burnt down 1923 – as all above. Will someone with some techie knowledge please do the advanced search at this site and provide a direct link to the image at this site. Thanks.
During WWII the people of Port Washington had a scrap metal drive with the slogan “Let’s beat the pans off the Nazis”. A photo of the collection in 1942 in front of the theatre, with the marquee prominently shown is among the photos which are part of the Long Island Memories of the LILRC Digitalization Program -http://207.97.148.182 click on advanced search and indicate Beacon Theatre. I don’t have the techie skill to allow you direct access. This may, possibly, be the same 1942 photo Lost Memory mentions but I can’t pull up either image from the 2007 posting, whether this is temporary or not I don’t know. Usually, I can pick these up.
And if you scroll down further on the link Lost Memory has accomplished you will see the vandalized remains of the Commack DriveIn pylon now also gone.
I was just looking at a site for the Kings Park Historical Society and on their first photo page is a color photo of the RKO Twin hardtop and a photo of a vandalized Drive In pylon which distinctly says Commack DI Twin. So, presumably it was twinned at some point toward the end.
As a summer temp letter carrier I had the opportunity to see the theatre before it would open each day. In the late 50’s it seemed well maintained and a cozy if austere space.
I became aware of this thatre a number of years ago while attending an off Broadway show which I believe was called In Gay Company. There was a song in that show that one character sang that he met his one true love in the balcony of Loew’s Sheridan Square.
Any theatre on a major highway service road is a plus. It’s almost odd that this one was positioned at a relatively obscure location some twenty years ago and now that there has been major development eastward closed it down in favor of the new one in Holtsville a couple of exits back. When you look at the spotty location of theatres out here any viewing involves a drive of 20 miles (which is one of the reasons I rarely go, even to see pictures I want to see).
True, but it adds to the picture of in the day.
When I did an advanced search on Hemstead Theatre there were only seven hits. Number 5 shows the theatre with the policemen already available, the preceeding one is entitled Fulton Avenue. The text mentions the sign on the building. This maybe too tricky to enlarge enough to actually see the sign and not worth the effort.
Thank you.
Warren could you also access the photo from the Long Island Memories site that has the sign stating on this site will be constructed the Hemptead Theatre. I came upon it just a few moments ago.
Unfortunately, the link used by Lost Memory no longer seems to be in operation but the postcard image and the 1925 construction site can be seen on Long Island Memories.According to that site the theatre was under construction for several years and only opened in 1928.
I plan on adding the Plaza. I have some material but am holding off since once something is up I don’t think “we” have the ability to change it.
As far as the town is concerned, it is much improved. There is a lot of revitalization of Merrick Road and Main Street and, of course, there’s the whole restaurant row down by the docks.
And now on the same collection is a picture of the completed Opera House.
And on the subject of changing library links, the one posted by Lost Memory dated 1961 was probably the one showing a new marquee showing the Skouras name being erected which appears on the same site as the two from Warren G. Harris. If you would please do the honors, sir.
Just recently looking at Long Island Memories I came upon a nice photo of the Squire which was on a b & w post card dated 1951.
Even before it was the State or the Fine Arts, this was the site of the Fulton Theatre. Long Island Memories has a picture of the boarded up Fulton saying that on this site was to be erected a 500 seat movie theatre.
With some time to kill I actually looked at all the pictures on this site and found another postcard image of the Glen theatres, from the opposite side as the previous one. This one identified it as the Glen.
The Long Island Memories has a postcard image of what they call the Glen Cove theatre. There is no marquee to this effect. But since the location is Glen Street, I’m sure its the Glen. Would some techie please provide direct access to this. http://207.97.148.182
Well, at least we now have the story of the mountain of metal in front of the theatre. Without the explanation it just looks like junk. This is all the trash they cleaned out of the theatre after the late Saturday night show.
I was in the Freeport Library earlier this week and the research librarian showed me a picture from around the turn of the 20th century showing construction of the opera house. She said she would be adding it to the Long Island Memories Collection at http://207.97.148.182
I just checked a few moments ago and it was up saying opera house first became American, burnt down 1923 – as all above. Will someone with some techie knowledge please do the advanced search at this site and provide a direct link to the image at this site. Thanks.
Grove Street was renamed in honor of local resident and well known bandleader Guy Lombardo some years ago.
During WWII the people of Port Washington had a scrap metal drive with the slogan “Let’s beat the pans off the Nazis”. A photo of the collection in 1942 in front of the theatre, with the marquee prominently shown is among the photos which are part of the Long Island Memories of the LILRC Digitalization Program -http://207.97.148.182 click on advanced search and indicate Beacon Theatre. I don’t have the techie skill to allow you direct access. This may, possibly, be the same 1942 photo Lost Memory mentions but I can’t pull up either image from the 2007 posting, whether this is temporary or not I don’t know. Usually, I can pick these up.
What’s the point in updating the chain names. They change as often as banks.
And if you scroll down further on the link Lost Memory has accomplished you will see the vandalized remains of the Commack DriveIn pylon now also gone.
Yup.
Sorry guys, I just went back to the historical site again and enlarged the picture. It just says Commack Drive In. Well, it is a vandalized pylon.
There is a nice color shot of the building at the Kings Park Historical Society web site on page one of its photo options.
I was just looking at a site for the Kings Park Historical Society and on their first photo page is a color photo of the RKO Twin hardtop and a photo of a vandalized Drive In pylon which distinctly says Commack DI Twin. So, presumably it was twinned at some point toward the end.
As a summer temp letter carrier I had the opportunity to see the theatre before it would open each day. In the late 50’s it seemed well maintained and a cozy if austere space.
I became aware of this thatre a number of years ago while attending an off Broadway show which I believe was called In Gay Company. There was a song in that show that one character sang that he met his one true love in the balcony of Loew’s Sheridan Square.