I think they got the information for the motion picture almanacs about six months ahead of time, so it could have closed in 1970. I’ve seen a few 1970 entries where the theater had already been demolished the year before.
This theater was operated by A.I.T. Theaters in the early seventies. This was an Oceanside, NY-based chain that operated in several NY cities at the time.
In 1970 the Ronkonkoma was operated by A.I.T. Theaters, a company based in Oceanside, NY. Conrad Baker was the president. AIT also operated theaters in Bellmore, Bethpage, Levittown, Massapequam Oceanside, Plainview, Farmingdale, Commack, Deer Park, Hauppage, Kings Park and Setaucket at that time.
Here is a March 1960 ad from the Arlington Daily Herald:
http://tinyurl.com/326kdz
Here is a June 1960 ad from the Great Bend Daily Tribune:
http://tinyurl.com/2u5my2
Here is a June 1960 ad from the Great Bend Daily Tribune:
http://tinyurl.com/2kkkvy
Here is a November 1968 ad from the San Mateo Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2c98p6
Here is a November 1968 ad from the San Mateo Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2ahr33
Here is a November 1968 ad from the Bucks County Courier Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2tebx6
Here is a November 1968 ad from the Bucks County Courier Times:
http://tinyurl.com/yovtw9
Here is a December 1964 ad from the Auburn Citizen Advertiser:
http://tinyurl.com/2yrt4v
Here is a December 1964 ad from the Auburn Citizen Advertiser:
http://tinyurl.com/2hjkem
I think they got the information for the motion picture almanacs about six months ahead of time, so it could have closed in 1970. I’ve seen a few 1970 entries where the theater had already been demolished the year before.
Here is another view of the marquee from JTFox’s source of May 2006:
http://lanepl.org/CMR_16/IMG0040.jpg
The Mars was part of Alliance Amusements, a Chicago-based company, in the early seventies.
In 1970 the Saunders was operated by the Alliance Amusement Co. President was Spiro J. Papas.
This theater was operated by A.I.T. Theaters in the early seventies. This was an Oceanside, NY-based chain that operated in several NY cities at the time.
In 1970 the Ronkonkoma was operated by A.I.T. Theaters, a company based in Oceanside, NY. Conrad Baker was the president. AIT also operated theaters in Bellmore, Bethpage, Levittown, Massapequam Oceanside, Plainview, Farmingdale, Commack, Deer Park, Hauppage, Kings Park and Setaucket at that time.
The Corral was operated by the Pioneer Circuit throughout the sixties. Capacity was 350 cars, according to the 1970 IMPA.
Here is a February 1980 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/28ndwg
Here is a January 1980 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/3cq2or
Here is a January 1980 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2nr66u
Here is a January 1980 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2j89ae
It looks like the El Rancho and the Luna may have been part of the same chain at that time.
This whole block is now office buildings, I think.
The photo posted on 12/1/06 states that the Cinema 3 was formerly the El Rancho Theater.
Here is a May 1949 ad from the Press-Telegram:
http://tinyurl.com/3y363e
That must be the one. Thanks.