UA Lynbrook 6

well the heat is broken again, it was working for a few days…..anyway tonight was my last shift at this theatre. very sad

No heat in the winter… and on several occasions this summer, there was no A/C. Yup. Definitely not a top priority for Regal. All maintenance deferred until absolutely needed, it seems! What a shame. I guess I still have some emotional attachment to this old dump and still hope that if Regal ever does pay attention to this old work-horse, that it will honor its long history by preserving the facade.

Lynbrook only shows first run movies; new releases are split between the Fantasy in RVC and the Lynbrook. Art releases go to the Malverne.

I was here the other day to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. Full matinée prices ($8. adults, $7. kids) and there was NO HEAT in five of the six screens. “We’re waiting for the parts” said the young manager (not Mike) and yet they have the nerve to charge full price.

I love and want to preserve old theaters, but this is a shit-heap in need of some serious attention.

Mike, if I would have to do a video project could i possibly do it on the thearter, get a tour, etc..
is the closed down “Fantasy Play House” part of the theater?

Ed is also right if the building is structurally sound than some renavations could be done. also if they were to tear down the thearter and rebuild what would it do to traffic on Merrick Road?

If students can’t do the actual work than could they at least raise money for renevations? that is an equal opportunity for service hours.

Regal does not allow us to use community service workers. I would assume they consider it a liability if they aren’t on the books. Even so…the theatre needs to be a knockdown/buildup site…you can only go so long covering things up. It would be sad to see a historic theatre like the Lynbrook be torn down…I pretty much grew up there. However…it’s time to pull the plug.

Saps, sad to say a little bit of both!

Thanks, 7train… When I was in #1 to see “The Simpsons Movie” over the summer, I thought the room seemed a little tighter than I recalled from the 1980’s, when I frequented the Lynbrook with regularity. The removal of seats results in the aisle now being somewhat left of center in relation to the screen.

I assume #1 is the left side of the old orchestra and #5 is the backstage theater which would make #6 the tiny storefront conversion that is off the front of the lobby. What does “KS” stand for?

Also… Were seats lost along the left side of theater 1 to accommodate the passageway to get to theater 5?

I lived in Hempstead when I was a kid in the sixties and I can remember going to the Lynbrook Theatre on Wednesday, May 28, 1969, to see a double feature of “Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines” and “Planet of the Apes.” Someone at Fox must have thought that would make a good pairing, the ads called it “The Perfect Mates! Apes and Men!” Anyway, “Men” started at 7 P.M. and since it was over two hours long — and had an Intermission! — “Apes” didn’t start until after 10 P.M. I remember my father wondering how I and my siblings were going to get up to go to school the next day. Since I was only nine back then, I can’t now recall the next day. But I do remember the Lynbrook at that occasion. It had a nice lobby and was a big theatre with a balcony. I vividly recall sitting in the center/front of the balcony. “Planet of the Apes” was — and still is — my favorite movie, so to see it like that was a great thrill. I’m sorry to read that the theatre eventually got divided up and is now in such bad shape, but that’s been the fate of most movie houses. Actually I’m surprised the Lynbrook is still standing!

Well Ed I agree your right about the RVC Fantasy being the strongest competition. When the movies aren’t in Lynbrook me and my friends go to RVC. They usually have it if Lynbrook doesnt, we dont go to Green Acres cause of the shootings and stuff in the past, Malverne and Franklin Square are far for walking.

Mike I’m sure for some of the work such as painting possibly installing seats and whatnot can be done by students for community service hours. What ever happend to the Fantasy Playhouse? I don’t know how you could demolish that theartre. Like the Lynbrookteen dude pointed out it has alot of history. I too was up in the stage for some party years ago. The theatre has been around quite awhile. I’ve found pictures online www.lynbrookpba.org/OldLynbrook1.htm Check it out.

You do have a great staff Mike.

I often wonder if more locals would visit the Lynbrook if it were a more inviting and well kept place. Fixing that A/C will probably go a long way. Replacing the seats would be another. It’s not as if there are any more modern stadium-styled multiplexes in the area. I can’t imagine the Franklin Square theater being any more comfortable than the Lynbrook – and certainly its auditoriums are smaller than the Lynbrook’s four main rooms. Malverne is the same story – thought it has its own niche audience due to the more sophisticated offerings there. Sunrise Cinemas is a dinosaur from the late ‘70’s and both it and the nearby Green Acres likely suffer from an unfortunate racial stigma in the view of many Lynbrook residents.

The strongest competition to the Lynbrook probably comes from the Fantasy in RVC – which, again, offers no stadium-style comforts. The Fantasy probably has more parking spaces available, due to the large lot behind the stores across the street, so that gives it a definite edge. Is parking the big obstacle in gutting the Lynbrook for a stadium-plex refit?

My problem is the overall point of this website and what it should be and what it isnt. That blurb clearly is not needed in the sense that its vague. The problem as I have said with remodeling is the layout of the building. As well as the village of Lynbrook not willing to coperate with the needs of the theatre. Regal currently owns over 540 theatres…Lynbrook is not a prime location to take so much concern over. The industry itself isnt exactly thriving and the importance of building in other areas that would be more profitable should be the target for now. Granted I do agree that UA had negleted many of there theatres I believe Regal has a better idea of how to go about these older houses. Regal has closed the unproffitable Meadowbrook, sold Douglaston, closing Patchogue on 9/9/07, and the new Deer Park theatre will open soon. Lynbrook is still to some extent profitable and because of that I think they will do something with it. I respect you’re desire to keep open the older theatre’s and have them retrofitted…it just isnt as simple as it seems.