Meadowbrook Theatre

This completion of this theatre was delayed for a time because of a shortage of building materials, particularly steel. I believe the Korean “War” was the reason. For a considerable period of time there was only one completed “arch” of steel which, eventually, became the front of the theatre. When they added the additional auduitoriums in latter years they literally added to the building rather than just chopping it up. Really ugly. They did some chopping to. But as an earlier comment mentioned the way the name Meadowbrook was displayed on the marquee was unique. Something to be said for blue. (See my comments on the Salisbury in Westbury)

I was just thinking about this wonderful theater and felt compelled to comment. I worked at the Meadowbrook Quad from 1979-81, and what a cool experience it was. I was 17 at the time. Everyone on the staff became such good friends during that time. The Theater was a single house with a balcony until late 1977, when 3 more screens were added on. I was there for some of the Meadowbrooks' biggest hits (Caddyshack, Private Benjamin, Blues Brothers, Animal House, The Jerk, Apocalypse Now, Halloween, Superman II). Some of the bombs that screened have a warm place in my heart also (Xanadu, He Knows You’re Alone, 1941.) Jean S. and Tony Lomonico were the managers and they treated us great. Tony would run movies after the theater closed and we’d have private staff screenings of Blazing Saddles, Fame and Night Hawks. We would pile into our cars after the shows closed and head to the nearest watering hole (Black Thorn, Barrymore’s.) It’s such a shame it’s all gone now. It really was a class act during the late 70s – early 80s. To all my co-worker friends from that wonderful time (Tom, Lisa, Debbie, Roseanne, Karen, Vicki, Neil, Theone, Denise, Kathy) a Big warm hello from the past!

I worked a few shifts at the Meadowbrook before it closed. I’m an assistant manager at the Lynbrook and Westbury theatres. During the last few years at that theatre it was difficult to find managers and staff to work there because they had reduced the amount of shows per day. i believe they opened at 4pm. A lot of the management during this time were managers just covering shifts from the Lynbrook. I was there the last day it was opened and even there to help close the theatre. Lynbrook still has the Meadowbrook’s booster seats! Very sad becuase I would hear stories of how busy this location used to be and I always thought it wasnt in that bad of condition. The Patchogue and Lynbrook are in far worse condition. I remember closing one night there and ending the entire day with $46.00 from Concession and $175.00 from the box office. That didnt even cover the cost of the Union Projectionist used for that day. What a shame…I had a few good times there though…always fun to work a differant theatre from time to time

Hi Greg,

Send me an e-mail.

Mikey

I’m pretty sure; the movie opened in 1979. It played as a “midnight movie” on and off through the 80’s—but I don’t think they would have gone out of their way with a van and masks and stuff for that?? Please ask your son if he remembers! Thanks!

Jean: were you involved with the Dawn of the Dead promotion above? Looks like FUN! Did the van go to OTHER UA theaters in the area?

It was good to hear from you again it has been a long time
since anyone posted anything,I hope you enjoy the summer I
will always remember all of you and the fun we all had .
Jean S

Wow… Almost 2 years since someone posted anything here…

Well, for those of you who need their fix of Rocky, there will be a summer run of the Rocky Horror Show. More info on the performances can be found at: http://www.myspace.com/franticfranstheatre

And, if you go, you get to see me running around in fishnets and panties again… ;)

The ads on the back of the Island Ear for Midnight Madness were actually designed and created by the manager Jean’s son, Pat. A very talented artist.

Was anyone else visiting here a Rocky Horror regular? I played Frank for a few years… Looking to make contact with some old friends and dead relatives… Mikey…

I came here for a few of those midnight shows in the ‘80’s but never made it down for a “normal” first run booking as I lived on the Queens/Nassau border and would more typically go to Valley Stream or Lynbrook to catch a first run. I definitely saw “Eraserhead” here as well as “The Kids Are Alright” and “The Song Remains the Same.” I didn’t know that theater 1 at the time was the original auditorium! The midnight showings we attended were usually in a smaller auditorium and I wasn’t as savvy about theater architecture then to have realized we were in an extension of the original building.

I remember when I saw “The Kids Are Alright” with my friends Mike and Kevin, we had loaded up on a quart of beer each and a small fifth of our favorite poison (Southern Comfort for me and Kev and Rum 151 for Mike). We were sitting in Mike’s Datsun 280Z (really a two-seater, but Kev would scrunch down into the small space behind the seats!) and figured that we’d never get the liquor snuck into the theater (it being a warm night and all) so we figured we’d better just down it all right now before the show! Oh, the abuse my body could take when I was 19!!! Needless to say we were happily lubricated, but you can imagine the many trips to the bathroom after about an hour into the movie!!!

Never saw “Rocky Horror Picture Show” here… I caught that one a few times at the 8th Street Playhouse and then once or twice at the UA Midway.

Anyone remember those ads for UA’s Midnight Madness on the back page of the free Island Ear weekly newspaper? As someone said above, “good times!”

The UA plexing was one thing, what about letting theatres turn into rundown pig styes like they did with this, the Bayside, Continental, Squire, Manhasset and almost every other place they have.