Islip Cinemas
410 W. Main Street,
Islip,
NY
11751
410 W. Main Street,
Islip,
NY
11751
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 194 comments
From Newsday, Dec 21, 2009
New owner has big plans for former Islip Theater
December 21, 2009 By JENNIFER MALONEY jennifer.maloney@newsday.com
The Islip Theater, which residents rallied to save from demolition, has been granted an encore.
Under a new name, the Dorotheater, it will offer movies and music and house its own symphony orchestra, said the building’s new owner, Edward Lambese, who chose the name to honor his mother, Dorothy.
“The building said, ‘Help me!’ ” Lambese said. “It was nothing short of a miracle.”
The former owner, Jim Nazzaro, applied to the Islip planning board earlier this year to raze the vacant cinema, which stopped showing movies in 2006, and build a day care center on the property, on Main Street in Islip. Though Nazzaro, of East Islip, had already entered into an agreement with a New Jersey-based day care center chain, The Learning Experience, he gave Lambese permission to begin cleaning up the building in case the day care deal fell through.
Nazzaro, a developer, withdrew the application for the day care center on Nov. 25. His withdrawal letter to the town did not cite a reason.
Nazzaro did not respond to requests for comment.
Lambese, a professional string player who performs with the West Islip Symphony, said his purchase of the 60-year-old cinema was finalized two weeks ago. He would not disclose the sale price.
Town Planning Commissioner Gene Murphy said the town is pleased by the plot twist.
“The planning department had concerns about the scale of day care,” he said. “The goal of preserving the theater and preserving its use as a theater is something the town completely supports.”
Lambese, 53, of Bay Shore, said he’s tentatively planning an opening concert for early January, pending a furnace repair. He has submitted an application for nonprofit status.
His vision of the space – “a little Radio City Music Hall” – will require major renovations: new plumbing, new air conditioning and a conversion, in progress, from triplex to the original single auditorium. But shows can begin in the upstairs auditorium, he said.
Acknowledging the recession and the recent closure of Huntington’s IMAC Theater, Lambese said his business model is different. “We’re going to be a multipurpose entertainment playhouse,” he said. “It’s going to serve the community’s entertainment needs.”
The theater will present live performances on weekends and classic movies during the week, he said.
Hi all,
If anyone can please tell Mr. Ed Lambese that the Spoonful-O-Blues band (www.Spoonful-O-Blues.com) would love to play there again (like the old days), and as long as we are available for the date chosen, to play the opening of the theater (or any other night thereafter). We can also line up other acts as well to play with us or for other nights. We can be reached at spoonfulobluesband@yahoo.com or at 631-592-2952.
You can see pictures of us playing there on our website here –
http://www.spoonful-o-blues.com/Islip_Pavilion.htm
This theater is just about our favorite Long Island venue to play.
Thanks!
Ken Flint
Drummer and Vocalist for Spoonful-O-Blues
According to today’s Islip Bulletin, the Islip Theater was purchased last week by Ed Lambese, through Dorotheater, H.I.T.S. (Historic Islip Theater Society). They plan to operate it as a theater/concert hall with a planned opening of later this month.
All those who were critical of Jim Nazzaro owe him an apology. He pulled out of the deal with the day care center in deference to the community, having sacrificed tens of thousand of dollars over the years trying to keep it as a theater.
Hopefully Mr. Lambese will be successful. Everyone in this community will be rooting for him.
The archives at the Wolfsonian in Florida have a theatre building listed as Islip Theatre in Islip,New York with a date of 1946.The architects were John and Drew Eberson.
ON THE MARQUE VOTE FOR TOM CILMI COUNTY LEGISLATURE..
HE MAYBE A DEM OR REP…ANYONE KNOW HIM….IF HE CAN USE THE ISLIP THEATRE TO GET VOTES HE SHOULD SAVE DOWNTOWN ISLIP AND SAVE THE THEATRE AS SOME KIND OF THEATRE….HE’S A WEST BABYLON GRAD…
ANY IDEAS?
I’m curious to know as well. I drove past it yesterday and there was no indication of any change.
Recent photo is all well and good. What was the outcome of the meeting. Has the fate of the theatre been sealed?
Didn’t make the vigil due to a crisis at home. Anybody out there make it. Tonight is the planning board meeting. This could be the moment of truth.
There was an article in Newsday a few weeks ago about a guy from East Islip that has been in contact with JJ Nazzaro to reopen the theater as a performing arts venue. If anyone knows who he is, I would really like to get in touch with him!
Thanks, rvb. Looking forward to reading it.
In addition to this comment I contacted the folks at CT hoping they will make this tomorrow’s lead “story”.
Hi—I just received the same email, rvb. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make the candlelight vigil and meeting because I don’t live in the area. All the best of luck in your fight to save the theatre.
I just received an alert that there will be a candlelight, or flashlight, vigil at the theatre tomorrow, Tuesday, August 4th at 7:30 PM. Try and make it to save the theatre. At the very least sign the petition and do it now. The next planning board meeting is this Thursday, August 6th. The fate of the theatre may be ruled on at that time.
I’ve signed it.
UPDATE ON ISLIP THEATER…
The plan that the current owner is actively seeking is to tear down this beautiful art deco theater to erect a daycare center in its place. There is no time to waste as the next meeting at Town Hall will have already determined the fate of the theater and the public will not be allowed to debate or discuss it any further once this next meeting takes place(could be in a week or 2). This is why it is crucial for everyone to show their support now!!!
I URGE EVERYONE TO go to this website to sign the online petition to keep OUR ISLIP THEATER standing for generations to come.
View link
You can also write to:
TOWN OF ISLIP PLANNING BOARD
Re: Application SP2009-014
655 Main Street
Islip, NY 11751
Att: Vee Bobelis
or call:
631-224-5450
att: Dave Genoway
Even though I don’t reside in the area, I, too am curious about what happened at the June 18th meeting.
So what happened at the June 18th meeting?
If anyone feels the way I do, come down to the meeting at Islip Town Hall on June 18th at 7:30 PM.
Thank you.
I believe the plans are to demolish the building. I urge you all to attend the town meeting on June 18th.
I think its a sin to make it a child care center…the YMCA is right up the street and they offer many children programs. Not to mention the place is loaded with asbestos….
I am going to the town hearing to fight against it. It is a complete waste of an historic theater.
DROVE THROUGH ISLIP TONIGHT….AS REPORTED BY RYAN MAY 19TH..THE ISLIP SIGN IS AS BRIGHT AS THE DAY IT WAS PUT UP….THERE NOW IS A PUBLIC NOTICE ON THE DOOR FOR THURS JUNE 18TH AT 7PM TO BE HELD AT ISLIP TOWN HALL…
SOMEONE WANTS TO MAKE IT A CHILD CARE CENTER…
ANY IDEAS ? ANY THOUGHTS?
:)
AMEN
All the best of luck. Here’s hoping the Islip Theatre gets restored and running movies again. People should not be deprived.
Passed by the theater today to see about 3 or more men working on the inside and outside. They took down the board covering the old “Islip” sign, which is now illuminated again! I am going to stop in there tomorrow if I see them and see whats going on.
Ryan