Reference is made to a comment made by Ken Roe on October 31, 2004 and those made by Orlando the same year. The original Babylon closed in 1922(see elsewhere on CT) the same year the current theatre, then called the Capitol, opened. After the Capitol went bankrupt in 1924 it was reopened under new ownership in February 1925. Presumably the name was changed to Babylon at that time because there is reference to theatre magnet Mike Glynne being injured in an automobile accident on the way to the opening of the Babylon theatre in February 1925.
According to one source, Glynne only acquired this Babylon, together with the Regent and Carlton in Bay Shore and the Garden in Southampton, in 1926. According to another, those four theatres were acquired by B.S. Moss from the Brewster circuit in 1926 never mentioning Glynne.
Really. I notice it’s not listed on the NY Drive In site. As a Drive In person have you ever crossed checked all the Drive Ins mentioned in The American Drive-In Movie Theatre by Don and Susan Sanders to see if they’re all on Cinema Treasures? I checked the ones from the Lost Broadway Theaters book.
Tried phone books, newspapers the public library, people who lived there. Needless to say some of the information on that site, or any other, can be questionable.
If you look at the photos section in the reference made by Drive-in 54 there is information from the Peconic Bay Shopper. They did a subsequent followup article, too. That site shows a drive In in Centereach, NY. I, a theatre nut, do not remember it nor can I find reference to it anywhere else.
When I was in the Army back in the 1960’s there were three theatres on the Fort Dix post, The Timmerman, which was a modern venue which could have been a focal point of any town, and two others, of the military type. Would be nice if someone could get info on these.
Re my May comment. Two unique films on the same subject.
Also, while doing research on the Unique Theatre in Patchogue came upon a reference that the 400 seat Unique Theatre opened in Sayville on July 29, 1913 under the management of Walter Smith. Oddly enough the theatre was just north of the Crescent at the intersection of Gillette and Main. Sayville historical never heard of it.
As seen in the news for the funeral service of Tracey Morgan’s associate. Surprised to see the seating isn’t all that large since it has a very broad street presence.
I would have thought it was named because of the proximity to the park rather than any actual relationship. Always remember looking towards it while waiting to get on some of the rides in the park.
It’s interesting that this building survived over a hundred years until it was demolished for the condo project, but it’s successor was subjected to three fires over the years and only rebuilt twice.
Approximately a year after he opened the Patchogue Theatre in May, 1913 Mike Glynne acquired the Unique from Nathan Goldstein for a reported $65,000. The theatre was to be named the Rialto and would operate 6 days a week from May to October, Fridays and Saturdays the balance of the year.
As is currently the case when a new theatre opens an old one closes. When Mike Glynne opened his $250,000 Patchogue Theatre on May 23,1913 it spelled he end to the Palace which closed eight weeks later. At that time the Palace and the Unique(later Rialto) were operated by Nathan Goldstein. The following March Goldstein sold the Unique to Glynne and it was renamed Rialto.
I recently posted information that the manager of the original Babylon Theatre (Babylon, NY) had been arrested when he tried to exhibit a five reel film on white slavery entitled “Traffic in Souls” in March 1914.
Yet, in May 1914 the Crescent was showing a five reel exposure of white slavery called “Trapped in the Great Metropolis”. Really? Two five reel features on the same subject in 1914? Renamed?
In a very poor picture obtained from the Babylon Historical Society one can see that this is a one story building, the name “Babylon” on the facade and an arcade entrance.
In March 1914 Manager Polley incurred the wrath of Babylon Village President Edward S. Alley when he wanted to exhibit a five reel film entitled “Traffic in Souls” which depicted methods of white slave traffic. A private showing with the film representative and members of clergy was scheduled so Polley could present his case. Alley stormed out. When Polley tried to show the film he was arrested. He subsequently brought a $10,000 suit for damages against Alley which was eventually settled out of court for several hundred.
On November 7, 1935 there was a breakin at the theater.
Thieves didn’t get much but they used lighted newspapers as a light source, the charred remains of which were found. Fortunately no fire resulted.
The 1925 photo posted by Ken Roe shows the Bablyon with a very “home town” facade. This is a far contrast to the current modern one.
Reference is made to a comment made by Ken Roe on October 31, 2004 and those made by Orlando the same year. The original Babylon closed in 1922(see elsewhere on CT) the same year the current theatre, then called the Capitol, opened. After the Capitol went bankrupt in 1924 it was reopened under new ownership in February 1925. Presumably the name was changed to Babylon at that time because there is reference to theatre magnet Mike Glynne being injured in an automobile accident on the way to the opening of the Babylon theatre in February 1925.
According to one source, Glynne only acquired this Babylon, together with the Regent and Carlton in Bay Shore and the Garden in Southampton, in 1926. According to another, those four theatres were acquired by B.S. Moss from the Brewster circuit in 1926 never mentioning Glynne.
Land for the theatre was purchased in December 1926 for a reported $100,000. That was pricey. $100,000 was more usually the cost of the building.
But I trust you are familiar with the book. I actually ordered mine online from Walmart.
Really. I notice it’s not listed on the NY Drive In site. As a Drive In person have you ever crossed checked all the Drive Ins mentioned in The American Drive-In Movie Theatre by Don and Susan Sanders to see if they’re all on Cinema Treasures? I checked the ones from the Lost Broadway Theaters book.
On the Drive In site. I think they said 600 cars.
Tried phone books, newspapers the public library, people who lived there. Needless to say some of the information on that site, or any other, can be questionable.
If you look at the photos section in the reference made by Drive-in 54 there is information from the Peconic Bay Shopper. They did a subsequent followup article, too. That site shows a drive In in Centereach, NY. I, a theatre nut, do not remember it nor can I find reference to it anywhere else.
According to a Greenport time line the Sky Way opened in 1950.
The Army Entertainment site indicates the Fort Sam Houston is the second oldest of the military theaters. Didn’t specify which was the first.
When I was in the Army back in the 1960’s there were three theatres on the Fort Dix post, The Timmerman, which was a modern venue which could have been a focal point of any town, and two others, of the military type. Would be nice if someone could get info on these.
As you can see, telliott, it now is. But the last name used it not always the case on CT, for whatever reason.
And, remember, they did a major reno on the St. George which is just down the road and has parking and access to Manhattan via the ferry.
Re my May comment. Two unique films on the same subject.
Also, while doing research on the Unique Theatre in Patchogue came upon a reference that the 400 seat Unique Theatre opened in Sayville on July 29, 1913 under the management of Walter Smith. Oddly enough the theatre was just north of the Crescent at the intersection of Gillette and Main. Sayville historical never heard of it.
As seen in the news for the funeral service of Tracey Morgan’s associate. Surprised to see the seating isn’t all that large since it has a very broad street presence.
I would have thought it was named because of the proximity to the park rather than any actual relationship. Always remember looking towards it while waiting to get on some of the rides in the park.
It’s interesting that this building survived over a hundred years until it was demolished for the condo project, but it’s successor was subjected to three fires over the years and only rebuilt twice.
The absence of patrons is often the topic on the Long Island Theatres. Not all of them have made the conversion to digital which is not a good sign.
Just recently saw an old Century Theatres ad from 1931. At that time is was part of that chain.
Approximately a year after he opened the Patchogue Theatre in May, 1913 Mike Glynne acquired the Unique from Nathan Goldstein for a reported $65,000. The theatre was to be named the Rialto and would operate 6 days a week from May to October, Fridays and Saturdays the balance of the year.
As is currently the case when a new theatre opens an old one closes. When Mike Glynne opened his $250,000 Patchogue Theatre on May 23,1913 it spelled he end to the Palace which closed eight weeks later. At that time the Palace and the Unique(later Rialto) were operated by Nathan Goldstein. The following March Goldstein sold the Unique to Glynne and it was renamed Rialto.
I recently posted information that the manager of the original Babylon Theatre (Babylon, NY) had been arrested when he tried to exhibit a five reel film on white slavery entitled “Traffic in Souls” in March 1914.
Yet, in May 1914 the Crescent was showing a five reel exposure of white slavery called “Trapped in the Great Metropolis”. Really? Two five reel features on the same subject in 1914? Renamed?
In a very poor picture obtained from the Babylon Historical Society one can see that this is a one story building, the name “Babylon” on the facade and an arcade entrance.
In March 1914 Manager Polley incurred the wrath of Babylon Village President Edward S. Alley when he wanted to exhibit a five reel film entitled “Traffic in Souls” which depicted methods of white slave traffic. A private showing with the film representative and members of clergy was scheduled so Polley could present his case. Alley stormed out. When Polley tried to show the film he was arrested. He subsequently brought a $10,000 suit for damages against Alley which was eventually settled out of court for several hundred.
On November 7, 1935 there was a breakin at the theater.
Thieves didn’t get much but they used lighted newspapers as a light source, the charred remains of which were found. Fortunately no fire resulted.