Pete, you are correct. The Opera House was “in town” on the west side of the road just south of Main Street. The theater by the water was the Playhouse. See elsewhere on CT.
The most impressive thing about this theater was the entrance. I was surprised at the tiny and low ceilings auditorium. Once would hope the long entrance will be preserved in whatever the iteration of the building takes.
CenturyBill do you have any Century memorabilia? I remember they used to print a movie guide. Wonder what ever happened to the comedy and tragedy masks at the Glen Oaks.
There was also the need to premiere something to be eligible for Academy Award nominations. That was often done in LA. Then NY and wherever would follow suit.
Century built the Prospect in Flushing and leased it to Loew’s. Loew’s built the Manor in Brooklyn and leased it to Century who renamed it Vogue. Century also built the Merrick in Jamaica and leased it to Skouras, and, goodness knows, what else between which parties. The Propect returned as Century after the breakup of Loew’s and the Merrick also. Then there is the matter of the Century castoffs that became Springer. Springer, supposedly, an in law of Al Schwartz the founder. If you look extensively on CT you will also see a number of other theatres built by Century, not only the Suffolk in Riverhead mentioned in my December 8, 2013. comment.
Then there is the Century Skouras relationship where advertisements list certain theatres under both names while, elsewhere on the same page, there are venues just listed as Century. Subsequently, the “joint” theatres are either or.
And were all of the Lamb theatres unique? Were there a number of designs repeated at various locations with just a change in the facade to reflect the name or to conform with local requirements?
In more recent years chains have built cookie cutter venues on Long Island.
Mike (saps. It seems to me they should not show the chain operating the theatre. They change so often. Meadows had Cineplex Odeon forever; Shore still does.
It was different when management was more permanent and you could have your RKO, Loew’s or Century.
Where the Fantasy is located you can see it from the LIRR. It would be good advertising. For something like the Shore it’s in Huntington but off the beaten path so it’s not really a factor. The original marquee on the original Shore just had the name, as did the Alan in New Hyde Park. In later years signboards were added to both.
Now, more than ever it’s time to try to get inside and take pictures. It was announced that The Village of Great Neck Estates Board will hold a public hearing on August 6 (2014)on a plan to raze the theatre to make way for a new apartment building with retail space and parking. The latter is something which is sorely needed.
There are attempts to have the building given Landmark status. At the minimum the Historical Society wants the facade preserved.
Anybody see the facade? Doesn’t look like anything, much less a theatre.
Flushing Meadow Park has acres of parking and subway service. Really more accessible than Astoria or Flushing proper. As far as Bobby’s racism comment, I think the US is becoming more racist every day.
According to an article on theatre in Northport, N.Y. in Newsday for July 13, 2014, the cost of the conversion from movies to stage cost $3.7 million. The 1950 renovation which I alluded to in an earlier posting, cost $100,000. The article quotes the current seating capacity as 400.
According to an article in the Sunday July 18, 2014 Newsday on the history of theatre in Northport, N.Y., the original Northport Theatre hosted vaudeville acts and was used as a community center for recitals, commencements and roller skating (the seats were removable). In 1918 the soldiers training to become World War I pilots at Brindley Field were entertained here.
In the 1920s it was only opened on weekends. In 1930 talkies were initiated. Two years later it burnt to the ground.
Like RKO had a presence in Queens and Long Island to protect. There was the Alden in Jamaica and the Albee in Brooklyn. Without checking I’m sure the Keith’s closed before RKO opened the four sets of twins, Commack, Babylon, Rockville Centre and Lawrence.
At a 1997 meeting on he history of Southampton, oral history given by one of the participants alludes to the fact that, at some point, a roof had been added. Then, to accommodate hot summer days, panels were removed from the outer walls to allow for the circulation of air. The seating capacity was also reduced, supposedly, considerably.
The presence of an additional theatre on Main Street, which was destroyed by fire in the mid to late 1920s was also mentioned. No name was given. Back to research.
Manager Polley was again in the news in February 1914 when he announced that he was going to build an 800 seat air-drome next to, and fully independent of, the Babylon. Matinees and performances in bad weather were to be held indoors. Didn’t happen.
Shortly after the closure of the Worlds Fair I saw a live production of Come Back Little Sheba with Jan Sterling.
Pete, you are correct. The Opera House was “in town” on the west side of the road just south of Main Street. The theater by the water was the Playhouse. See elsewhere on CT.
The most impressive thing about this theater was the entrance. I was surprised at the tiny and low ceilings auditorium. Once would hope the long entrance will be preserved in whatever the iteration of the building takes.
CenturyBill, an after thought. what was the seating capacity at the Glen Oaks?
CenturyBill do you have any Century memorabilia? I remember they used to print a movie guide. Wonder what ever happened to the comedy and tragedy masks at the Glen Oaks.
There was also the need to premiere something to be eligible for Academy Award nominations. That was often done in LA. Then NY and wherever would follow suit.
Well if the change to digital didn’t kill enough theatres this ruling should take out a lot more.
Century built the Prospect in Flushing and leased it to Loew’s. Loew’s built the Manor in Brooklyn and leased it to Century who renamed it Vogue. Century also built the Merrick in Jamaica and leased it to Skouras, and, goodness knows, what else between which parties. The Propect returned as Century after the breakup of Loew’s and the Merrick also. Then there is the matter of the Century castoffs that became Springer. Springer, supposedly, an in law of Al Schwartz the founder. If you look extensively on CT you will also see a number of other theatres built by Century, not only the Suffolk in Riverhead mentioned in my December 8, 2013. comment.
Then there is the Century Skouras relationship where advertisements list certain theatres under both names while, elsewhere on the same page, there are venues just listed as Century. Subsequently, the “joint” theatres are either or.
What gives? Both Seth and BigJoe have triple entries? How did that happen guys? You can remove the duplicates at your end.
Would be nice to actually have pictures of the theatres on Cinema Treasures.
And were all of the Lamb theatres unique? Were there a number of designs repeated at various locations with just a change in the facade to reflect the name or to conform with local requirements?
In more recent years chains have built cookie cutter venues on Long Island.
BigJoe- Anything other than 8th to Broadway and above 50th is off the beaten path for a go to destination. Music Hall being the exception.
Mike (saps. It seems to me they should not show the chain operating the theatre. They change so often. Meadows had Cineplex Odeon forever; Shore still does. It was different when management was more permanent and you could have your RKO, Loew’s or Century.
Where the Fantasy is located you can see it from the LIRR. It would be good advertising. For something like the Shore it’s in Huntington but off the beaten path so it’s not really a factor. The original marquee on the original Shore just had the name, as did the Alan in New Hyde Park. In later years signboards were added to both.
Now, more than ever it’s time to try to get inside and take pictures. It was announced that The Village of Great Neck Estates Board will hold a public hearing on August 6 (2014)on a plan to raze the theatre to make way for a new apartment building with retail space and parking. The latter is something which is sorely needed.
There are attempts to have the building given Landmark status. At the minimum the Historical Society wants the facade preserved.
Anybody see the facade? Doesn’t look like anything, much less a theatre.
Probably will be part of the $600 million reseating project mentioned on the CT home page.
William McQuade does 340 MP mean anything to you?
Flushing Meadow Park has acres of parking and subway service. Really more accessible than Astoria or Flushing proper. As far as Bobby’s racism comment, I think the US is becoming more racist every day.
According to an article on theatre in Northport, N.Y. in Newsday for July 13, 2014, the cost of the conversion from movies to stage cost $3.7 million. The 1950 renovation which I alluded to in an earlier posting, cost $100,000. The article quotes the current seating capacity as 400.
According to an article in the Sunday July 18, 2014 Newsday on the history of theatre in Northport, N.Y., the original Northport Theatre hosted vaudeville acts and was used as a community center for recitals, commencements and roller skating (the seats were removable). In 1918 the soldiers training to become World War I pilots at Brindley Field were entertained here.
In the 1920s it was only opened on weekends. In 1930 talkies were initiated. Two years later it burnt to the ground.
Like RKO had a presence in Queens and Long Island to protect. There was the Alden in Jamaica and the Albee in Brooklyn. Without checking I’m sure the Keith’s closed before RKO opened the four sets of twins, Commack, Babylon, Rockville Centre and Lawrence.
But there are also a goodly number of Koreans, correct? Bottom line, for most of Flushing proper, English is the second, if at all, language.
What then is right. Flushing is not an appropriate location for a performing arts center. Ethnicity of the area wouldn’t support it in any fashion.
I’ve added a photo dated 1935 of the interior of the original Southampton Theatre.
At a 1997 meeting on he history of Southampton, oral history given by one of the participants alludes to the fact that, at some point, a roof had been added. Then, to accommodate hot summer days, panels were removed from the outer walls to allow for the circulation of air. The seating capacity was also reduced, supposedly, considerably.
The presence of an additional theatre on Main Street, which was destroyed by fire in the mid to late 1920s was also mentioned. No name was given. Back to research.
Manager Polley was again in the news in February 1914 when he announced that he was going to build an 800 seat air-drome next to, and fully independent of, the Babylon. Matinees and performances in bad weather were to be held indoors. Didn’t happen.