No. The Huntington was located in the downtown village area, near Main Street (Rte 25A). This theatre was located between the LIRR station and downtown, in the Big H Shopping center, an outdoor strip mall that had a Sears, also long closed.
When it was a porno house in the early 1970’s, I believe the 42nd Street entrance led to a second screen located in the basement. But you could also access the main theatre, entering at the rear behind the screen. I think.
The Visitor’s Center is located in the beautifully restored auditorium, not the lobby (which is also beautifully restored), and is surely worth a visit from every movie theater lover. So go already!
I agree that Cineplex Odeon did a great job back in the 1980’s. The screens are big, the sound is loud and clear, the projection light is (usually) nice and bright. This is one of my local houses and I think it’s the best in the area…nicer than Loews RVC Twin, Oceanside, UA Lynbrook, Malverne or Long Beach.
It doesn’t seem like a divided single screen like Lynbrook, and I can’t even tell the layout of the original theatre. Anyone know?
Things are on the move in Darien. Here are excerpts from a New York Times story of 8/18/04, followed by a link to the entire article.
A full-service Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and an Ann Taylor Loft have leased space in the Darien Playhouse movie theater, a prime spot in the small downtown here.
Arthur Collins Sr., a developer of upscale office and housing complexes along the Eastern Seaboard, and Thomas E. Golden, president of the Thomas E. Golden Realty Company in Darien, are redeveloping the 21,500-square-foot theater building, built in 1926. Closed for seven years in the 1980’s, it was purchased by United Artists and reopened as a two-screen theater, but closed again before the two men took it over. Mr. Collins said, “We had to find a way to save it for the town, but movie rents are barely a break-even, so we had to get other income.”
While Mr. Collins and Mr. Golden have completely gutted the interior, they saved the red-brick colonial facade in compliance with the town’s wish. “We are a charming New England town, and we don’t want to lose that character,” Ms. Klein said.
By halving the two theaters' capacity, to 160 seats each, and adding 1,500 square feet to each side of the building, the developers made room for three new tenants. The third is a high-end linen shop, Sweet Dreams, which took 1,500 square feet on the ground floor facing the street.
The white-pillared theater entrance and lobby will be taken over by Ann Taylor, with a store that covers 6,500 square feet; moviegoers will now enter the theater at the back of the building. The marquee will remain, bearing the name Playhouse Square. The two stores and the theater are expected to open around Thanksgiving, Mr. Collins said.
Peter Vivien, a restorer, owner and operator of vintage theaters in New Jersey, will operate the theater on a 30-year lease. His plans for the interior include a swagged Austrian show curtain and pastel upholstery.
I’ve been to this house, and I’m surprised to read there’s not a true balcony. As I recall you have to climb a lot of steps to get upstairs, and then you’re only at the foot of the steeply raked seating. I know that in the Ziegfeld you go up a few steps to the first row of the “balcony” but here it seems like there’s plenty of steps before you reach the first row.
Sorry, I was there again tonight and there ARE six screens, number six being in a former retail space adjacent to the lobby and not part of the former auditorium. And it is a little shoe-boxy, though it’s wide and shallow rather than long and narrow.
No. The Huntington was located in the downtown village area, near Main Street (Rte 25A). This theatre was located between the LIRR station and downtown, in the Big H Shopping center, an outdoor strip mall that had a Sears, also long closed.
Wow.
When it was a porno house in the early 1970’s, I believe the 42nd Street entrance led to a second screen located in the basement. But you could also access the main theatre, entering at the rear behind the screen. I think.
Doreen, the ball is in your court! Let’s do it!
Vito, the ball is in your court! Let’s do it!
Wow! Excellent collection of ticket stubs. Neat graphic.
The Visitor’s Center is located in the beautifully restored auditorium, not the lobby (which is also beautifully restored), and is surely worth a visit from every movie theater lover. So go already!
I ran away from home once in the 1970s (for a few days!; I saw “The Way We Were” here, and I haven’t been the same since.
I agree that Cineplex Odeon did a great job back in the 1980’s. The screens are big, the sound is loud and clear, the projection light is (usually) nice and bright. This is one of my local houses and I think it’s the best in the area…nicer than Loews RVC Twin, Oceanside, UA Lynbrook, Malverne or Long Beach.
It doesn’t seem like a divided single screen like Lynbrook, and I can’t even tell the layout of the original theatre. Anyone know?
I’ve been to this theatre and it is truly lovely.
Here is the link directly to the Ellen. Nice marquee!
View link
Yes! Please try to link that photo.
Things are on the move in Darien. Here are excerpts from a New York Times story of 8/18/04, followed by a link to the entire article.
A full-service Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and an Ann Taylor Loft have leased space in the Darien Playhouse movie theater, a prime spot in the small downtown here.
Arthur Collins Sr., a developer of upscale office and housing complexes along the Eastern Seaboard, and Thomas E. Golden, president of the Thomas E. Golden Realty Company in Darien, are redeveloping the 21,500-square-foot theater building, built in 1926. Closed for seven years in the 1980’s, it was purchased by United Artists and reopened as a two-screen theater, but closed again before the two men took it over. Mr. Collins said, “We had to find a way to save it for the town, but movie rents are barely a break-even, so we had to get other income.”
While Mr. Collins and Mr. Golden have completely gutted the interior, they saved the red-brick colonial facade in compliance with the town’s wish. “We are a charming New England town, and we don’t want to lose that character,” Ms. Klein said.
By halving the two theaters' capacity, to 160 seats each, and adding 1,500 square feet to each side of the building, the developers made room for three new tenants. The third is a high-end linen shop, Sweet Dreams, which took 1,500 square feet on the ground floor facing the street.
The white-pillared theater entrance and lobby will be taken over by Ann Taylor, with a store that covers 6,500 square feet; moviegoers will now enter the theater at the back of the building. The marquee will remain, bearing the name Playhouse Square. The two stores and the theater are expected to open around Thanksgiving, Mr. Collins said.
Peter Vivien, a restorer, owner and operator of vintage theaters in New Jersey, will operate the theater on a 30-year lease. His plans for the interior include a swagged Austrian show curtain and pastel upholstery.
View link
Didn’t they play adult films for a while? I was always intrigued by this theater under the el.
And the Alpine, which I’ve been to many times, is the only one still flying the Loew’s banner.
Wow! Any links to photos?
I love those giant vertical signs. On 42nd Street both Loews and AMC have instlled them and they are pretty impressive.
Bryan K, that is an amazing site you linked us to. Thanks!
Better link: www.historictheatres.org
(Link above has an extra comma!)
Reading these posts here and for other showplaces makes me a litle nauseous over what we’ve lost.
The Walker made it to the 90’s and now a store sits inside…
Where this?
I wonder if the ceilings in the upstairs theaters are still painted dark blue.
I’ve been to this house, and I’m surprised to read there’s not a true balcony. As I recall you have to climb a lot of steps to get upstairs, and then you’re only at the foot of the steeply raked seating. I know that in the Ziegfeld you go up a few steps to the first row of the “balcony” but here it seems like there’s plenty of steps before you reach the first row.
What theater is that on the left with Movies written on a vertical sign?
Sorry, I was there again tonight and there ARE six screens, number six being in a former retail space adjacent to the lobby and not part of the former auditorium. And it is a little shoe-boxy, though it’s wide and shallow rather than long and narrow.