AMC Fantasy 5
18 N. Park Avenue,
Rockville Centre,
NY
11570
18 N. Park Avenue,
Rockville Centre,
NY
11570
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 115 comments
I worked there as an Asst Manager and Manager in the late 70’s and 80’s when it was Century and RKO Century. Hired by Century in 1978.The last film I can recall raking it in was ‘’ The In Laws'‘ with Alan Arkin and Peter Falk.Today the Theatre is part of AMC.Just by going to movies the business is not what it was.I think the rise of Netflix and You Tube could be forseen even as far back as 1980. Cable was starting to emerge. Cineplex had the wrong idea. The CEO believed people would travel to these Cinemas for real butter on the popcorn and real ice cubes in beverages.That did not last and I don’t believe they still do that in their Canadian theatres.They never did feasibility studies. They spent a fortune to five plex a Cinemas in Clearwater,Florida The Sunshine Mall 5. Only to turn it eventually into a dollar cinema which destroyed it.Eventually it and the shopping center were torn down and Condos are on that site.
Please update total seats too 565. Theatre capacity reduced due to AMC Rocking Chairs installed in 2014
Please update the description, the theatre was a Century Theatre and became RKO Century Fantasy theatre. Cineplex Odeon did operate the theatre as a single screen when the purchase the RKO Century Warner chain. It closed as a single screen with a balcony on January 28, 1988. The last feature to play a single screen was Three Men And A Baby. It reopened as 5 screens on September 2, 1988. 2 screens on the ground floor and 3 screens on the 2nd floor. The theatre was rebuilt. When the theatre open on September 2, 1988, all screens Dolby Stereo and Theatre 1 had 70MM projection.
Only two films played in 70MM at the Fantasy, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade and Far And Away.
AMC which merge with Loews Cineplex, renovated the theatre sometime in 2002 and installed AMC Rocking Chairs that don’t recline.
During the RKO Century days, the theatre show a lot of James Bond films and Back To The Future films. Unfortunately, when it was a single screen, it never got Dolby Stereo.
Please update in the description, it open as a fiveplex under Cineplex Odeon and September 2, 1988 (one week late due to delays). AMC put Rocking Chairs and refurbished the theatre a few years ago.
For the first time, AMC Fantasy will be competing with the REGAL Lynbrook 13. Jurassic Park at both locations. The bad part AMC new seats they added a few years ago don’t recline. Regal Lynbrook will have full recliners.
The box office cashier said they have replaced all the seats, but I have not checked it out in person yet.
It is dark and dreary and no longer looks like a movie theatre
One of these days I’ll park to take a pic with my cell, when I’m driving by. The marquee is awful. Just a drab slab of tan over the doorway, with the generic reddish AMC logo centered against it. The same dress-down they did to the old Meadows in Queens.
Waiting for someone to post photos of the current facade.
To me not advertising movies on the marquee is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. Why give up free advertising?
Mike (saps. It seems to me they should not show the chain operating the theatre. They change so often. Meadows had Cineplex Odeon forever; Shore still does. It was different when management was more permanent and you could have your RKO, Loew’s or Century.
Where the Fantasy is located you can see it from the LIRR. It would be good advertising. For something like the Shore it’s in Huntington but off the beaten path so it’s not really a factor. The original marquee on the original Shore just had the name, as did the Alan in New Hyde Park. In later years signboards were added to both.
The new marquee is up, and the ddeath of ballyhoo continues. Some neon lines, the AMC logo, and that’s all, brother. No space for titles of films or any other promotions.
I don’t understand why exhibitors now make the consumers do all the work. First the list of movie theaters in newspaper display ads were eliminated, then the ads themselves are few and far between, and now the theater marquee does not even say what is playing inside. At least they still use one-sheets.
And of course, the brand new but ill-advised seating has not yet been replaced or improved.
The Lynbrook will be rebuilt when they finish the Second Avenue Subway in Manhattan and the Long Island Railroad access to Grand Central. A New York reference to things which will never happen in my lifetime.
If they ever re-build the Lynbrook – and that is a big “IF” – the Fantasy may suffer some consequences. Of course, I think the place will still have some legs, because of its location. There are always young people spilling out of bars and restaurants, in RVC, particularly on weekends. The theater never lacks for foot traffic.
It’s a cock-up. They tried to install the recliners but it turns out the space is four inches too short, so the leather seats are installed but they don’t recline.
Sounds OK, and the seats are wide enough and soft enough, but they are not long enough to support your legs; I felt like I was perched the entire time and could not get into a comfortable position. I couldn’t even brace myself on the seat in front of me, because it is spaced so far away in anticipation of the recliners.
They also don’t rock, because they are not designed as rockers. They’re a hybrid that misses the mark.
And there is no “under the seat” area, because the non-reclining part of the seat goes all the way down to the floor. Jeez!
I sure hope they replace the seat parts with proper-sized seats. The ironic thing is they spent all that money to make the guests more comfortable and achieved the opposite result.
And one more thing — when the Fantasy re-opened, AMC’s web page said now featuring recline seats, with a photo; that bit of false advertising is now gone.
What kind of renation did the do, did they put seats in like Fresh Meadows?
Reopened today (4/4/14)
The last renovation was in 1989 so 25 years later it was time !
The marquee now says “Closed for renovations. See you in April.”
There is still plenty of construction stuff in the lobby as of yesterday. The concession area is gone, and the moldings and decoration put in by Cineplex Odeon has been stripped off. And they have removed the exterior box office and the space is now covered by plywood.
Hey Mike, I’m working in Manhattan now, so rarely in my car, during the week. Maybe I’ll try this weekend, if it isn’t already too late, by then, to see anything inside the lobby.
Ed — pictures please.
Mike – pictures please.
Maybe they will put in reclinders .
Passed by last night and the one sheet displays have “Closed for upgrades you will love” signs but the titles are still on the marquee.
More interesting is that you can see the lobby has been stripped to the bare walls. Cool!