Uniondale Mini Cinema

and now I have names to faces. remember billy and randy, josh and jeff.

BTW, MANY thanks for posting the poster!

OK, the infamous poster is back. Now let’s start the task of seeing how many of these people can be identified (though certainly that would be none of us if matching against today’s photographs!). I am sure on some and will guess on others, welcoming corrections if necessary. The big photo at the 4 o'clock position is Billy Contin (left) and me (Randy Warren) during our regime as manager and assistant manager respectively. I am guessing the bottom right corner is the fellow who designed each month’s program (“Sam”). Bottom, just left of center, is Tom, who was assistant manager just before me. Don’t remember his last name but he rode a Triumph motorcycle with 10-inch extended front end. I trashed it for him. I think that is his girlfriend just below. Directly below The Mini Cinema logo, with hands behind his back, is Jeff (Hauser?), who was manager just before Billy. The toilet bowl was part of our in-house lore, of the time that a customer came running through the front door and right into the men’s room, with a narc in hot pursuit (remember the NORML benefits?). Supposedly the customer was able to flush something down the toilet just before he could be visited. Upper left of the toilet is Donna, box office cashier. Upper left from Donna is I-can’t-believe-I-forgot-her-name, whose boyfriend was the late great staff member Spider. Far left, the big guy in light colors looks like Dave Figger, who installed audio systems in cars back then. Just below Divine is Josh, who was also asistant manager at one time before leaving for Colorado. And I can’t be sure with this angle but very top and just left of center, with the big grin, looks like Gary, the projectionist who replaced Tom (not shown). And of crouse, the Egg Lady.

thanks so much.

Happy New Year.

Any chance you posted the poster somewhere yet?

definitely let me know when you post the poster!

I worked the candy counter at the Mini (c. 1975), quite peripherally to Billy, Arlene, Josh and Randy. This was the place where I first saw Women in Love, Greasers Palace, Putney Swope, Day for Night, The Harder They Come, Pink Flamingos, Jimi Hendrix, and got my first flashes of film criticism. (Some guy went to great lengths one night to explain Chinatown as a parable of Watergate). I was there for Bob Downey’s appearance, too. Years later, when I revisited Animal Crackers for my book, OTTO KAHN: ART MONEY & MODERN TIME, I should have acknowledged the Mini, too. So, a belated thanks to the Donnellys, and the entire Mini crew, for some of the best of times, ever, on Long Island.

I was truly sad to hear of Ralph’s passing. He will be missed on many levels. He and his lovley wife Gloria Were class people. And i enjoyed every minute I spent in thier company. My deepest symppathy
to his family. Frank Devlin

True, good and gentle all the way to the end, my Dad sincerely has left a legacy, within a month of his passing(and he was buried with not only photos but a tape of the Wizard of Oz) a tribute was give to him at the bookers club luncheon,I can not tell you the line up of successful people who needed to reach out with tears and tell my Mom and I how in different ways and oppourtunity’s if it hadn’t been for Ralph they wouldn’t be who they are, it was extremely warming.
He was of course a remakkable Grandfather, to both Myles and Kyra, because of him they too have a major appreciation for theatre, arts, music, and movies. Kyra remembers each and every play and takes musical Theatre in a performing arts highschool, and Myles actually made it this year, for the first time without his pop to Showeast…he lives in our hearts everysingle day, he will never be forgotten…Keli

Ralph was an absolutely wonderful gentleman and a fantastic boss and colleague. I had the true honor of working for him at the Mini Cinema and for many years along side him at Variety – The Childrens Charity of New York. I am a better person for knowing him, and proud to call him a friend. He was a funny, smart, classy, warm and loving human being and heaven’s gain is our tremendous loss.

He loved the Mini Cinema, and all cinema.

Exhibitor Ralph E. Donnelly died Sept. 21 in Palm Harbor, Fla. He was 75.

~~Donnelly was a pioneer of specialized exhibition, and established the First Avenue Screening Room in Manhattan and the Mini Cinema in Uniondale, New York. ~~

He was a founder of the annual ShowEast convention. Starting in his teens as an usher, he ultimately became president of Cinema 5 Theaters in Manhattan. He was also head film buyer at City Cinemas, RKO-Stanley Warner Theaters, Creative Film Services and Associated Independent Theaters. A past president of the Variety Club and the Motion Picture Bookers Club, he was also a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and was on the board of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. After Donnelly retired, he served as a shipboard host on cruises, screening films and leading discussions of film lore. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; a sister; three children and five grandchildren.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone.