During the period April 1960 – January 1973 the Regina operated as a so-called non-stop theater. During the hours of 10AM – 7PM a program of short films, including newsreels, was shown in a loop so the film goer could come at any time. In the evening regular films were shown at 7 and 9 PM. It is estimated that the Regina hosted more than 5 million viewers during it’s non-stop period. It was one of many theaters of this type which were popular in Germany at the time.
Everybody’s getting into the act. Town of North Hempstead announced a drive in night and there is one scheduled at a local country club on Long Island.
Maybe the owner had the right idea when he didn’t sell to a developer. In this time of social distancing Drive – Ins might be resurrected. this is only one of several Long Island Drive – In sites which haven’t been developed. The other two are the Skyway in Greenport and the Flanders.
Same broken windows and faded ragged curtains. Only difference from my March visit was the presence of a small BobCat inside the fencing near the old box office. They’re still in a demolition phase? I thought when they patched up the cracks in the facade, painted it, reinstalled the South Bay signage, upgraded the pylon to include a web site and phone number and installed five new ceiling units (the initial reno called for two additional auditoriums to the three in place)that the “end” was near. The reality may be that the lack of progress to date and whatever comes of the entertainment industry after Corona may mean the end, period.
ridethetrain-Cineplex levelled the building and built an entirely new structure on the site. See it on CT as Shore 8. That theater took a long time to build because the company had financial trouble. The internal construction was visible for months before they resumed work.
markp -The twin in Massapequa became the Rae Cinema. Now it’s retail. The twin in East Meadow became Flick 1 and 2. The single screen in Lake Ronkonkoma became the Lakeside Cinema. It is now an OTB location. The single screen in Center Moriches was created in retail space and later called the Center Cinema. It is now a bank. All these are on Cinema Treasures. I don’t recall one in Queens. Please refresh my memory.
BridgeGangGuy that’s quite a distance between Eastport and Shirley. Better bus service in those days, or maybe the Eastport LIRR station was still open?
I had taken the tour quite a number of years ago when I was visiting friends. I noticed the sign in front of the theatre announcing the tour that day and hung around for it. Don’t remember what the book cost, but that’s probably different too.
If you read the book carefully you note that some of the original design of the entrance was only realized after the restoration. I wonder when they started charging for the tour.
Had it not been for a single worker that I observed entering the building with a small wheelbarrow I would say that nothing has been done since I went by in January. Same cracked windows. Same faded ragged curtains. What he was doing is anyone’s guess.
fred 1 We’re going to see a lot of that.
But limited capacity when there are fewer than a hundred seats spells trouble.
Can they really exhibit when seating is limited. Many of the auditoriums in the multiplexes don’t even have 100 seats!
stevenj I know they’ll be doing that in California. In New York we’re still two phases away.
During the period April 1960 – January 1973 the Regina operated as a so-called non-stop theater. During the hours of 10AM – 7PM a program of short films, including newsreels, was shown in a loop so the film goer could come at any time. In the evening regular films were shown at 7 and 9 PM. It is estimated that the Regina hosted more than 5 million viewers during it’s non-stop period. It was one of many theaters of this type which were popular in Germany at the time.
Uploaded a photo of an art print available through Lantern Press of an original postcard.
Pig races?
Everybody’s getting into the act. Town of North Hempstead announced a drive in night and there is one scheduled at a local country club on Long Island.
Maybe the owner had the right idea when he didn’t sell to a developer. In this time of social distancing Drive – Ins might be resurrected. this is only one of several Long Island Drive – In sites which haven’t been developed. The other two are the Skyway in Greenport and the Flanders.
Time to resurrect in this time of social distancing? I believe the site is still open.
Time to resurrect in this time of social distancing? Site is still open.
Cool idea. The virus may bring back the Drive-Ins. Unfortunately on Long Island all but one or two of the former footprints have now been developed.
Same broken windows and faded ragged curtains. Only difference from my March visit was the presence of a small BobCat inside the fencing near the old box office. They’re still in a demolition phase? I thought when they patched up the cracks in the facade, painted it, reinstalled the South Bay signage, upgraded the pylon to include a web site and phone number and installed five new ceiling units (the initial reno called for two additional auditoriums to the three in place)that the “end” was near. The reality may be that the lack of progress to date and whatever comes of the entertainment industry after Corona may mean the end, period.
ridethetrain-Cineplex levelled the building and built an entirely new structure on the site. See it on CT as Shore 8. That theater took a long time to build because the company had financial trouble. The internal construction was visible for months before they resumed work.
Michael = picture please.
markp -The twin in Massapequa became the Rae Cinema. Now it’s retail. The twin in East Meadow became Flick 1 and 2. The single screen in Lake Ronkonkoma became the Lakeside Cinema. It is now an OTB location. The single screen in Center Moriches was created in retail space and later called the Center Cinema. It is now a bank. All these are on Cinema Treasures. I don’t recall one in Queens. Please refresh my memory.
CJ1949 Rockaway Park is in the Boro of Queens on Long Island. This theater is on Staten Island which is the Boro of Richmond.
BridgeGangGuy that’s quite a distance between Eastport and Shirley. Better bus service in those days, or maybe the Eastport LIRR station was still open?
Hollywood, a seasonal ice cream store on Route 25 in Middle Island (Long Island), NY.
I had taken the tour quite a number of years ago when I was visiting friends. I noticed the sign in front of the theatre announcing the tour that day and hung around for it. Don’t remember what the book cost, but that’s probably different too.
If you read the book carefully you note that some of the original design of the entrance was only realized after the restoration. I wonder when they started charging for the tour.
Had it not been for a single worker that I observed entering the building with a small wheelbarrow I would say that nothing has been done since I went by in January. Same cracked windows. Same faded ragged curtains. What he was doing is anyone’s guess.
Would be nice if someone could find a picture of the place and post it.
Home Depot now there.
Uploaded a picture of the marquee toward the ends of its life when it played Greek movies (note the marquee).