It was actually housed in what the residents called a twin building. Among the other tenants was the US Post Office. The photo, courtesy of the Hamtramck Historical Society, dates around 1912. The banner for the theater is visible. The Jewel used to advertise “Specializing in First Class Moving Pictures”.
Although the heading for the Merrick places it as third in size of the Jamaica theaters, at the time of it’s opening it was advertised as Jamaica’s largest playhouse.
There are so many supposed to be theaters: D150 at Gardiner Manor, Bay Shore, NY; unnamed Century Theater on Hillside Avenue in Bellerose, Queens, NY; unnamed theaters in Freeport and Lindenhurst, NY; unnamed Century Theater in Huntington Station, NY; unnamed multiplex in Central Islip, NY; etc.. These are just on Long Island, NY of my personal knowledge.
What I have done is mention these on an existing theater on CT for historical purposes.
robboehm
commented about
Avon 7on
Oct 7, 2020 at 5:51 pm
That is my post. After Al Alvarez directed me to the Avenue site I made my comment.
The Mermaid Theatre, together with the Masque and Maidman Theatres, was constructed by developer Irving Maidman as an off-Broadway venue around 1960. Apparently it didn’t remain in that capacity for even a decade.
The Masque was constructed around 1960, along with the Maidman and Mermaid Theatres by developer Irving Maidman as off Broadway Theatres on 42nd Street west of Eight Avenue. Apparently they didn’t make it through the decade in that capacity.
ridethetrain the stated policy of CT is that the listing is under the last name. There have been exceptions. It can still be accessed by entering Loew’s Astor Plaza.
The Babcock’s have indicated they want to retire and have put the Drive-In on the market for $979,000. They says business has been good and the digital projectors they purchased are fully paid for.
One wonders how many theaters will survive the pandemic particularly since the trend to install recliners has severely cut the number of seats and any social distancing would reduce the number of customers so that operation would not be economically feasible.
All the Prudential “All Weather” Drive-Ins (Smithtown, Johnny, Patchogue) started out with one screen inside and one outside, both playing the same features and not differentiating the name. As time went on and business slowed the indoor and outdoor theaters showed different films. The Patchogue one shut down the drive in, added additional screens, and was rebranded as the Patchogue-Sunrise.
Except for the 100 in Melville which was operated by Century, the Sunrise in Valley Stream which was operated by Redstone and the Westbury which was operated by Skouras, the balance of the Long Island Drive-Ins were operated by Prudential: 5th Avenue (Bay Shore); Bay Shore – Sunrise; Rocky Point; Coram; Skyway (Greenport); Massapequa; Hempstead Turnpike (Bethpage); Flanders (Riverhead); Shirley; Hamptons (Bridgehampton); Commack.
Prudential built a hardtop theater, the Cinema, next to the Bay Shore – Sunrise but always showed separate films at the two venues. The Bay Shore – Sunrise was later twinned. The Westbury triplexed.
When the Drive In closed it was used as a golf driving range. The Drive In portion of the sign was covered over with new information. When the driving range closed a portion of the “cover” was removed just leaving the “int”. Don’t ask what it said. All that has been removed and the owner put a totally new sign atop the structure. See the photo section. He has had numerous opportunities to sell the property but refuses to do so. It’s really a shambles.
The pylons often long outlive the theater. The Rocky Point one is still up. The one for the Whitman in Melville was still up at the beginning of the year (may still be) The one for the Movies at Coram was up for years and was only removed when they finally tore down the building. I think the remains of the one for the Brookhaven Multiplex is still visible from the Long Island Expressway. The one from the Westbury Drive In was repurposed for the new multiplex erected on the site. The one at the Sunrise Mall in Massapequa was used to list stores in the complex. The one for the Patchogue All Weather advertises the gated community erected on the site. Etc. Etc.
David, the only thing the South Bay has in it’s favor is parking. And that usage is questionable since they only, legitimately, have a small area around the building. The area used to have the Lindenhurst, Babylon, North Babylon theaters but somehow in it’s dilapidated condition the South Bay soldiered on. The pandemic will be the end of many theaters because of fear and social distancing. So many theaters have just about destroyed their viability when they severely reduced the seating capacity with the installation of recliners. So in an auditorium under 100 seats, which seems to be the case, more often than not, social distancing and reduced capacity percentages spells doom.
David, you’ll have to wait a couple of months for my next comment but, the way things have not been going, will probably be more of same.
I was only in the theater once with friends to see Sister Act. I remember not being impressed with the theater which was probably a triplex by that time.
It was actually housed in what the residents called a twin building. Among the other tenants was the US Post Office. The photo, courtesy of the Hamtramck Historical Society, dates around 1912. The banner for the theater is visible. The Jewel used to advertise “Specializing in First Class Moving Pictures”.
Uploaded two photos from the Gouverneur Museum collection: the facade; the removal of the marquee when it became unsafe.
Although the heading for the Merrick places it as third in size of the Jamaica theaters, at the time of it’s opening it was advertised as Jamaica’s largest playhouse.
This huge complex has fewer seats than the old theater it replaced.
There are so many supposed to be theaters: D150 at Gardiner Manor, Bay Shore, NY; unnamed Century Theater on Hillside Avenue in Bellerose, Queens, NY; unnamed theaters in Freeport and Lindenhurst, NY; unnamed Century Theater in Huntington Station, NY; unnamed multiplex in Central Islip, NY; etc.. These are just on Long Island, NY of my personal knowledge.
What I have done is mention these on an existing theater on CT for historical purposes.
That is my post. After Al Alvarez directed me to the Avenue site I made my comment.
The Mermaid Theatre, together with the Masque and Maidman Theatres, was constructed by developer Irving Maidman as an off-Broadway venue around 1960. Apparently it didn’t remain in that capacity for even a decade.
The Masque was constructed around 1960, along with the Maidman and Mermaid Theatres by developer Irving Maidman as off Broadway Theatres on 42nd Street west of Eight Avenue. Apparently they didn’t make it through the decade in that capacity.
ridethetrain the stated policy of CT is that the listing is under the last name. There have been exceptions. It can still be accessed by entering Loew’s Astor Plaza.
The Babcock’s have indicated they want to retire and have put the Drive-In on the market for $979,000. They says business has been good and the digital projectors they purchased are fully paid for.
Was built by James Papayanakos.
One wonders how many theaters will survive the pandemic particularly since the trend to install recliners has severely cut the number of seats and any social distancing would reduce the number of customers so that operation would not be economically feasible.
So, David, there is your answer. And, Ken, you were right.
But the bottom line is the Drive-In no longer exists and what remains of the pylon and the grounds is a shambles.
Site is now a Lowe’s Home store.
All the Prudential “All Weather” Drive-Ins (Smithtown, Johnny, Patchogue) started out with one screen inside and one outside, both playing the same features and not differentiating the name. As time went on and business slowed the indoor and outdoor theaters showed different films. The Patchogue one shut down the drive in, added additional screens, and was rebranded as the Patchogue-Sunrise.
Except for the 100 in Melville which was operated by Century, the Sunrise in Valley Stream which was operated by Redstone and the Westbury which was operated by Skouras, the balance of the Long Island Drive-Ins were operated by Prudential: 5th Avenue (Bay Shore); Bay Shore – Sunrise; Rocky Point; Coram; Skyway (Greenport); Massapequa; Hempstead Turnpike (Bethpage); Flanders (Riverhead); Shirley; Hamptons (Bridgehampton); Commack.
Prudential built a hardtop theater, the Cinema, next to the Bay Shore – Sunrise but always showed separate films at the two venues. The Bay Shore – Sunrise was later twinned. The Westbury triplexed.
All are now history.
Not in the ads or on the pylon. “5th”.
Not so David. Never known as Bethpage Drive-In. Always a question, however, whether it was in Bethpage or Plainedge.
The townhouses have been open for sometime. Called the Vineyard.
A more familiar name than the village of Nesconset in which it is located. Confusing. However, Nesconset IS located in the TOWN of Smithtown.
On a similar note the new Huntington Plaza Theater is located in the village of East Northport which is in the TOWN of Huntington.
When the Drive In closed it was used as a golf driving range. The Drive In portion of the sign was covered over with new information. When the driving range closed a portion of the “cover” was removed just leaving the “int”. Don’t ask what it said. All that has been removed and the owner put a totally new sign atop the structure. See the photo section. He has had numerous opportunities to sell the property but refuses to do so. It’s really a shambles.
The pylons often long outlive the theater. The Rocky Point one is still up. The one for the Whitman in Melville was still up at the beginning of the year (may still be) The one for the Movies at Coram was up for years and was only removed when they finally tore down the building. I think the remains of the one for the Brookhaven Multiplex is still visible from the Long Island Expressway. The one from the Westbury Drive In was repurposed for the new multiplex erected on the site. The one at the Sunrise Mall in Massapequa was used to list stores in the complex. The one for the Patchogue All Weather advertises the gated community erected on the site. Etc. Etc.
Never operated by Century just Prudential and UA.
When Prudential opened the Bay Shore – Sunrise Drive In the capacity was also given as 2,500. Later they twinned it.
Perhaps one of the specific Drive In sites would have some insight (lol)re theater capacities.
David, the only thing the South Bay has in it’s favor is parking. And that usage is questionable since they only, legitimately, have a small area around the building. The area used to have the Lindenhurst, Babylon, North Babylon theaters but somehow in it’s dilapidated condition the South Bay soldiered on. The pandemic will be the end of many theaters because of fear and social distancing. So many theaters have just about destroyed their viability when they severely reduced the seating capacity with the installation of recliners. So in an auditorium under 100 seats, which seems to be the case, more often than not, social distancing and reduced capacity percentages spells doom.
David, you’ll have to wait a couple of months for my next comment but, the way things have not been going, will probably be more of same.
I was only in the theater once with friends to see Sister Act. I remember not being impressed with the theater which was probably a triplex by that time.