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.
Cool. At one time some of the Queens Theaters were listed either by community or under Queens. Eventually it was decided that all would be by community since that is the only boro where community identities are maintained. Just watch the TV news: the Belmont Section of the Bronx, etc.. If one knows the name of the theater or the village name it can be accessed. I don’t think there is too much need to do a generic search as “Queens”.
Uploaded an exterior photo from the AMC Classic Fort Benning site. It shows Wynnsong as the operator, a fact not mentioned in the overview or comments.
I wonder if I’ll ever live to see the day when the future of the RKO Keiths, the Playhouse in Great Neck and the Times Square in Manhattan will all be resolved (and, of course, the Long Island Rail Road going into Grand Central Station and the completion of the Second Avenue Subway).
Although there is a good shot of the facade and marquee in the Hallmark film Love to the Rescue I don’t believe the interior shot in the film is the Lucas.
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).
Cool. At one time some of the Queens Theaters were listed either by community or under Queens. Eventually it was decided that all would be by community since that is the only boro where community identities are maintained. Just watch the TV news: the Belmont Section of the Bronx, etc.. If one knows the name of the theater or the village name it can be accessed. I don’t think there is too much need to do a generic search as “Queens”.
Uploaded a photo of the exterior.
Uploaded an exterior photo from the AMC Classic Fort Benning site. It shows Wynnsong as the operator, a fact not mentioned in the overview or comments.
On occasional weekends and during school holidays they often present a family oriented stage show.
I wonder if I’ll ever live to see the day when the future of the RKO Keiths, the Playhouse in Great Neck and the Times Square in Manhattan will all be resolved (and, of course, the Long Island Rail Road going into Grand Central Station and the completion of the Second Avenue Subway).
Yes Mike, it is the issue with loading and such. There are new standards in place and, apparently, the old can’t be grandfathered.
Although there is a good shot of the facade and marquee in the Hallmark film Love to the Rescue I don’t believe the interior shot in the film is the Lucas.
If you’re ever in Toronto the free tour is a must for all theatre lovers.
Closing for the winter after Tuesday’s showings of Little Women and 1917.