Opening and a later ad uploaded. One of the many owners had proposed building an airdrome on Gillette directly across from the theater. It would seem that this theater was killed by bad management. There were breakups, lawsuits other brushes with the law.
The theater was originally constructed in 1932 by Mike Glynne. The demolition of all but the facade and the creation of four new auditoriums probably occurred in the 1990s.
Chandeliers from the original (see photo section) reportedly found a home in a night club when the auditorium was twinned.
Saw Sweet Bird of Youth opening night. Long line. Not everyone got in.
Although one could wear civvies, there was a dress code. I was turned away one night because I was wearing a sweater with no observable shirt underneath. A buddy loaned a fresh one he had in his car.
They could contact you in an emergency by projecting a message to the left of the proscenium.
Can’t remember if there was a concession stand or whether admission was 50 cents or a dollar. I think the latter.
From the style of the theater I believe it was erected in the 1950s. It was not new when I was there in the early 1960s. At that time there were two other post theaters, Numbers 2 and 3. They were your typical military base type structures. Timmerman was sometimes referred to as Theater 1.
Uploaded a current picture of the interior. When I was there in the 1960s the walls were a tan/beige. Also uploaded an exterior photo showing most of the theater. The box office was on the left.
After Jericho Turnpike was widened the marquee took several hits. All of the front detail shown in the Grove photo was covered over by an aluminum panel as were the lights surrounding the actual display board. Haven’t been able to find any intact photo of the Bellerose. Also can’t find one of the original marquee which it replaced and one I remember vividly. My mother always had to pull me across Jericho Turnpike because I would stare at the illuminated marquee.
If you look at the 1949 photo of the Grove Theater in Freeport you can see what the marquee of the Bellerose looked like when it was first installed, probably around the same time.
rivest, you uploaded a photo of the Paramount in Alexandria on CT. You may not be aware of it but the Saenger was next door to the left. You can barely see the marquee. So, since you have the photo, please upload it on this site, too.
Was up that way today. Pylon is finally gone. Went back to the photo section to make sure there was a picture of it. Also read the opening ad which said the Whitman was the 37th theater. Century had a lot and got rid of a lot before the “final curtain”. Back in the 1930s the Bellerose was number 37. In my lifetime they built the Meadows, Shore, 110 Drive-In, York, Whitman, Glen Oaks, Park East, Green Acres, Kings Plaza, Roosevelt Field, Five Towns, Richmond (on Staten Island), Paramus (NJ), one in Dayton, OH, assumed the Oceana, Sheepshead and Tuxedo (all in Brooklyn from one chain) and the Plaza (Corona) and Prospect (Flushing) from Loew’s. They had actually built the Prospect but leased it to Loew’s. Among the dropped over the years were the Parkside (Brooklyn), Town (Flushing), Huntington Station (aka Station) Valley Stream, Park (New Hyde Park)and Suffolk (Riverhead). Valley Stream closed when Green Acres opened, the Park closed when the Park East opened.
The beginning of the end was all the mergers with Almi and RKO as well as picking up former Prudential Theaters and the Merrick (Jamaica).
In August the matter was deferred until September 7th. On that date it was deferred until October 10th. The building will fall down from neglect before they vote to demolish it.
You’re forgetting the New Victory, which is intimate and used for family faire. The current owners of the Lyric (the combined space of the Apollo and Lyric) are now working to retrofit the Hudson a bit further uptown and on the other side of Broadway. There is talk of the Shubert’s building a new theater on Eight Avenue between 45 and 46. There is also the matter of the Times Square on 42nd which is still idle despite plans to develop it and the Liberty, whose auditorium is still in tact and used for various events.
Certainly more relevant to the site than people recalling that they saw such and such at a certain theater just to put their names in print rather than actually contributing something to the actual site.
Also came upon a NY Times review of November 30, 1936 for “Ember a Hid Alatt” (Man Under the Bridge) and one from November 6, 1939 for “Toprini Nasz”) Wedding in Toprini.
At some point the theater must have been enclosed since I came upon a reference to them beginning their 1918 winter season.
Also uploaded two more ads. The one is quite a departure for it’s time showing a photographic illustration for a Marion Davies picture.
Opening and a later ad uploaded. One of the many owners had proposed building an airdrome on Gillette directly across from the theater. It would seem that this theater was killed by bad management. There were breakups, lawsuits other brushes with the law.
Uploaded a 1914 ad.
Re my 2014 comment the name of the theater on Main Street which was destroyed by fire was the Crescent. Back to research.
Mike Glynne, who built the Southampton acquired the Garden in 1928.
The theater was originally constructed in 1932 by Mike Glynne. The demolition of all but the facade and the creation of four new auditoriums probably occurred in the 1990s.
Chandeliers from the original (see photo section) reportedly found a home in a night club when the auditorium was twinned.
They hung in past Labor Day this year. Warm weather.
Would be nice if someone could find and post a photo of the theater.
I have some specific remembrances of the theater:
Saw Sweet Bird of Youth opening night. Long line. Not everyone got in.
Although one could wear civvies, there was a dress code. I was turned away one night because I was wearing a sweater with no observable shirt underneath. A buddy loaned a fresh one he had in his car.
They could contact you in an emergency by projecting a message to the left of the proscenium.
Can’t remember if there was a concession stand or whether admission was 50 cents or a dollar. I think the latter.
From the style of the theater I believe it was erected in the 1950s. It was not new when I was there in the early 1960s. At that time there were two other post theaters, Numbers 2 and 3. They were your typical military base type structures. Timmerman was sometimes referred to as Theater 1.
Uploaded a current picture of the interior. When I was there in the 1960s the walls were a tan/beige. Also uploaded an exterior photo showing most of the theater. The box office was on the left.
Would somebody explain to me how this is the same theater as the Cinema 37, the address for which is 4759 Sunnyslope Drive?
After Jericho Turnpike was widened the marquee took several hits. All of the front detail shown in the Grove photo was covered over by an aluminum panel as were the lights surrounding the actual display board. Haven’t been able to find any intact photo of the Bellerose. Also can’t find one of the original marquee which it replaced and one I remember vividly. My mother always had to pull me across Jericho Turnpike because I would stare at the illuminated marquee.
If you look at the 1949 photo of the Grove Theater in Freeport you can see what the marquee of the Bellerose looked like when it was first installed, probably around the same time.
Uploaded a tax photo of the De-Luxe in the day.
Orlando, were that you had also lobbied for retention of the facade on the Lynbrook. The rendering of the new looks worse than the current Shore.
Uploaded a picture from the American Classic images collection.
rivest, you uploaded a photo of the Paramount in Alexandria on CT. You may not be aware of it but the Saenger was next door to the left. You can barely see the marquee. So, since you have the photo, please upload it on this site, too.
Was up that way today. Pylon is finally gone. Went back to the photo section to make sure there was a picture of it. Also read the opening ad which said the Whitman was the 37th theater. Century had a lot and got rid of a lot before the “final curtain”. Back in the 1930s the Bellerose was number 37. In my lifetime they built the Meadows, Shore, 110 Drive-In, York, Whitman, Glen Oaks, Park East, Green Acres, Kings Plaza, Roosevelt Field, Five Towns, Richmond (on Staten Island), Paramus (NJ), one in Dayton, OH, assumed the Oceana, Sheepshead and Tuxedo (all in Brooklyn from one chain) and the Plaza (Corona) and Prospect (Flushing) from Loew’s. They had actually built the Prospect but leased it to Loew’s. Among the dropped over the years were the Parkside (Brooklyn), Town (Flushing), Huntington Station (aka Station) Valley Stream, Park (New Hyde Park)and Suffolk (Riverhead). Valley Stream closed when Green Acres opened, the Park closed when the Park East opened.
The beginning of the end was all the mergers with Almi and RKO as well as picking up former Prudential Theaters and the Merrick (Jamaica).
The photo dates from the time just after the fire when the facade was in an Art Deco mode using cream and maroon tiles.
I’ve moved WAY out east so I’ll never get to see it.
In August the matter was deferred until September 7th. On that date it was deferred until October 10th. The building will fall down from neglect before they vote to demolish it.
Why is this listed as the Strand. I thought policy was the last name used.
You’re forgetting the New Victory, which is intimate and used for family faire. The current owners of the Lyric (the combined space of the Apollo and Lyric) are now working to retrofit the Hudson a bit further uptown and on the other side of Broadway. There is talk of the Shubert’s building a new theater on Eight Avenue between 45 and 46. There is also the matter of the Times Square on 42nd which is still idle despite plans to develop it and the Liberty, whose auditorium is still in tact and used for various events.
Certainly more relevant to the site than people recalling that they saw such and such at a certain theater just to put their names in print rather than actually contributing something to the actual site.
Also came upon a NY Times review of November 30, 1936 for “Ember a Hid Alatt” (Man Under the Bridge) and one from November 6, 1939 for “Toprini Nasz”) Wedding in Toprini.