Added current photos of the exterior and interior. A second floor office space was created and the original ceiling supports boxed in. I don’t know what they looked like originally. The detail of the ceiling has been carefully recreated.
It has been announced that Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corp. will buy the 31 acre tract for $10.95 million on which they will construct a 1,000 electronic slot machine casino. Ground will be broken either in December 2014 or January 2015.
The third in a series of meetings to detail updated plans for the completion of the currently unfinished space inside the Playhouse is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22nd at 7 PM. The two main proposals are an Aquatic Center and a large, multiuse space for cultural events, conferences and more.
Although the kickstart program failed to raise enough money for the conversion to digital the manager hopes to keep the theater viable by renting/leasing digital equipment.
Was at Hampton Arts last night for the only evening screening of the new Jane Fonda film. 15 people. A number of seniors; only one popcorn sold. They haven’t gone digital and the kickstart program bombed. Keep reading about bad attendance. Long Island is sure to loose more venues.
More anticipation when you enter an auditorium with the curtains closed rather than just seeing a blank screen.
Back in the day the projectionist at my local theater often used the curtains in a deliberate manner. The speakers, at that time were behind the curtain. For a 20th Century Fox Cinemascope production he would play the opening drum intro without projections. Then he would go to the visual When the music would swell he would open the curtains, and this was a wide proscenium, adding to the volume.
FoU 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea he began with the sound of the Nautilus without the visual. Then he projected the ship on the curtain. Very effective.
At the time Bow Tie took over Clearview outlets I seem to recall not all made the transfer. Then, subsequently, at least one closed.
There is nothing to say that Bow Tie, or someone else, might choose to resurrect the Babylon for the period when the South Bay is down. Might be to their advantage to rebuild an audience for the house.
Some sources say that the theater was destroyed in that fire. Wrong. Unlike the, supposedly, fireproof Edwards (East Hampton) and Rialto (Patchogue), the Babylon survived it’s fire. For the other two the walls came down. The original Capitol/Babylon walls still survive. Only the street facing facade is different.
And re the South Bay again, if they knew they were going to tear down and rebuild why go digital now?
If the theater has not been profitable for 20 years why did Clearview keep it and why did Bow Tie take it over? And re the South Bay it has parking. Have they gone digital or can we expect their subsequent closure?
Regional demographics are a major influence and cannot be denied. If the product doesn’t appeal to the neighborhood, or if the neighborhood is not friendly to the exhibitor that’s it. Look at the CT stats. Only ¼ of the theaters are open, and not, necessarily showing movies. Why so few? TV and other options, the economy, the age factor and, demographics.
Apparently the theater is no more. A 15,000 feet gourmet Russian supermarket is due to open on the site offering 40 varieties of caviar. It’s called Gourmanoff. Foods of Bulgaria, Uzbekistan and Latvia will also be featured.
Nothing further on the demolition. The Village Trustees have requested a detailed timetable re the demolition because of the impact it will have on the village’s main drag.
Went to the Hampton Arts the day I saw the reference to the kickstart program. There were some black and white copies of an innocuous flyer. I only saw it because I was looking for it. Was it there when I was there previously? Didn’t see anyone else glance at it. They’re going to have to be more aggressive.
I see by the headlines on CT that the Hampton Arts must complete its $125,000 kickstart for digital upgrade by the end of the month. When I mentioned the upgrade to the manager in the fall there was no plan. After the winter hiatus I’ve been back about a half dozen times. Never saw anything about funding. Wonder who they’ve approached? Doesn’t seem like the general public.
They must be keeping it a secret from the general public. I go there at least once a month and have never seen anything about it. Last fall I asked the manager about converting to digital . No comment. Then they closed for the winter. Kind of late in the game. Most theaters were doing their kickstarting more than a year ago.
Current photo of the old girl.
Added front and rear photos of the theater as the Chase Bank.
Still better than when the pylon showed the golf range.
Finally uploaded pictures of the “new” signage which I actually took almost a year ago.
Added current photos of the exterior and interior. A second floor office space was created and the original ceiling supports boxed in. I don’t know what they looked like originally. The detail of the ceiling has been carefully recreated.
Took a lot of months but finally uploaded current photos of the exterior.
It has been announced that Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corp. will buy the 31 acre tract for $10.95 million on which they will construct a 1,000 electronic slot machine casino. Ground will be broken either in December 2014 or January 2015.
Just saw a piece on Mysteries at the Museum on the Travel Channel which mentioned this venue and showed some of the exhibits.
The third in a series of meetings to detail updated plans for the completion of the currently unfinished space inside the Playhouse is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22nd at 7 PM. The two main proposals are an Aquatic Center and a large, multiuse space for cultural events, conferences and more.
Although the kickstart program failed to raise enough money for the conversion to digital the manager hopes to keep the theater viable by renting/leasing digital equipment.
Looking at the stair is there a handicap entrance?
Was at Hampton Arts last night for the only evening screening of the new Jane Fonda film. 15 people. A number of seniors; only one popcorn sold. They haven’t gone digital and the kickstart program bombed. Keep reading about bad attendance. Long Island is sure to loose more venues.
More anticipation when you enter an auditorium with the curtains closed rather than just seeing a blank screen.
Back in the day the projectionist at my local theater often used the curtains in a deliberate manner. The speakers, at that time were behind the curtain. For a 20th Century Fox Cinemascope production he would play the opening drum intro without projections. Then he would go to the visual When the music would swell he would open the curtains, and this was a wide proscenium, adding to the volume.
FoU 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea he began with the sound of the Nautilus without the visual. Then he projected the ship on the curtain. Very effective.
Those were the days when you went to a THEATRE!
At the time Bow Tie took over Clearview outlets I seem to recall not all made the transfer. Then, subsequently, at least one closed.
There is nothing to say that Bow Tie, or someone else, might choose to resurrect the Babylon for the period when the South Bay is down. Might be to their advantage to rebuild an audience for the house.
Some sources say that the theater was destroyed in that fire. Wrong. Unlike the, supposedly, fireproof Edwards (East Hampton) and Rialto (Patchogue), the Babylon survived it’s fire. For the other two the walls came down. The original Capitol/Babylon walls still survive. Only the street facing facade is different.
And re the South Bay again, if they knew they were going to tear down and rebuild why go digital now?
If the theater has not been profitable for 20 years why did Clearview keep it and why did Bow Tie take it over? And re the South Bay it has parking. Have they gone digital or can we expect their subsequent closure?
Glad they went with Lyric. The remaining facade on 43 Street is what it’s all about.
Regional demographics are a major influence and cannot be denied. If the product doesn’t appeal to the neighborhood, or if the neighborhood is not friendly to the exhibitor that’s it. Look at the CT stats. Only ¼ of the theaters are open, and not, necessarily showing movies. Why so few? TV and other options, the economy, the age factor and, demographics.
Apparently the theater is no more. A 15,000 feet gourmet Russian supermarket is due to open on the site offering 40 varieties of caviar. It’s called Gourmanoff. Foods of Bulgaria, Uzbekistan and Latvia will also be featured.
Next hearing is September 8th.
Nothing further on the demolition. The Village Trustees have requested a detailed timetable re the demolition because of the impact it will have on the village’s main drag.
Waiting for someone to post photos of the current facade.
Went to the Hampton Arts the day I saw the reference to the kickstart program. There were some black and white copies of an innocuous flyer. I only saw it because I was looking for it. Was it there when I was there previously? Didn’t see anyone else glance at it. They’re going to have to be more aggressive.
I see by the headlines on CT that the Hampton Arts must complete its $125,000 kickstart for digital upgrade by the end of the month. When I mentioned the upgrade to the manager in the fall there was no plan. After the winter hiatus I’ve been back about a half dozen times. Never saw anything about funding. Wonder who they’ve approached? Doesn’t seem like the general public.
They must be keeping it a secret from the general public. I go there at least once a month and have never seen anything about it. Last fall I asked the manager about converting to digital . No comment. Then they closed for the winter. Kind of late in the game. Most theaters were doing their kickstarting more than a year ago.