Early photo of the Mattituck, pre opening, from the Traveler – Watchman added. Have some current ones in my camera which, when I learn how to manipulate them, will also add.
Well, perhaps people adding photos should announce when they are adding photos (some do). Then the email notification would go out to all who have asked for an update. Probably easier than reprogramming. There seem to be minimal people adding photos.
Also applies to new theaters. The only listing that has all is the recent comments. That’s still restricted to the last 100 and doesn’t show a status. I’ve complained about that to no avail.
That should be it. I, personally, remember the signage being Old Town when my parents used to drive through Smithtown. Even then I was theater conscious. When I found CT in 2009 I started adding theaters I remembered. Fortunately I had been at an early on performance at what is now the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts and they had a brochure with some information about the Old Town. I then contacted the author and got more information. I’d really love to track down copies of the Yearbook and the other motion picture source to fill in some blanks on Long Island theaters and also to confirm a recollection I have of a distinct theater in Moriches (in addition to the one in Center Moriches). Used to be a set in the Patchogue Library but they were destroyed in a flood of the basement. Unfortunately I never saved Prudential flyers, only Century, as personal confirmation.
Theater is reopening Christmas Day having completed the transition to digital. They’ve also created a lounge area where wine and cheese will be available before and after the film. Reopening presentation is Nebraska.
If you do an online search for Rocky Point Drive In and scroll to a Topix site, the first four pictures are of the drive in when it was operational, including the illuminated pylon, cars in front of the screen and the back of the screen. I don’t think these can be linked.
They must have turned it around somehow. It lasted until the fire in 1984 as a single screen theater. Don’t know what it looked like “in the day”, but the pictures of the auditorium as a church (elsewhere on this site) show a spectacular space.
RidgewoodKen You had an interesting piece about Sunday performances at the Lyric in Rockville Centre in October, about which Ed Solero and I both commented, now deleted. Is it possible that you could restore it? If I see it there I’ll delete this. Had no other way of contacting you.
Glynn always specialized in large theaters, such as the Southampton, which Newsday always listed as “Glynns” in the movie time table long past the time when he was associated with it. But he also did acquire what is now the Sag Harbor, which is an intimate space. Odd.
The only lady I remember in the ticket booth was when the theater first opened. My parents and I were summering in Rocky Point and went to see an Esther Williams movie. The cashier had been a decided blonde at some point and was letting it grow out. It looked like she was wearing a skull cap. An image which has stuck with me all these MANY years.
Floor was sloped concrete. As a child I remember the marquee as being boxy with the name in red neon lights. There was also neon around the sign boards.
The theater was 30 x 100 and reported to seat 500. That figure is impossible considering the dimensions and the fact that there was a stage. A more realistic figure would be the 350 reported in the 1941 and 1943 Film Daily.
Despite all the discussion on the CVS project both the theater and the adjacent buildings are still standing. There is also no indication of CVS locating here.
The more I read the headings on these theaters the “curioser” the owner/management relationships seem. Loew’s builds theaters that go Century. Century builds and leases to Loew’s. And, oddly, before the Almi-Century and RKO Century Warner, Loew’s was trying to buy Century. Dentury built the Suffolk and it went to Prudential. Prudential built the Huntington Station and it went to Century. Calderone built and leased to Skouras and Century. Etc., etc.
I was speaking to the owner of the business just under the pylon for the drive in. He felt that Walmart or one of the other big box stores should have been permitted to build there to provide employment for the many graduating high school students along the 25A corridor. His opinion is contrary to the majority who want to prevent overdevelopment of the 25A corridor which is already the home to a dozen strip malls and a shopping center anchored by Kohl’s.
For some time the pylon has sported a new metal sign proclaiming “Rocky Point Drive In” in red and yellow which was erected by the owner to proclaim that this is a commercial site. Town of Brookhaven shot down that claim in a recent court case. To be continued.
markp- I really don’t think drive ins have a place in our area at this time. PS Have you seen that great book “The American Drive-In Movie Theatre” by Don and Susan Saunders? A nice resource. I’m almost, just almost, ready to check out every drive-in they’ve documented against CT. But I do have a life. Walmart has about the best price on it and, at this time of year, if you do it online, there may be free shipping.
Also on Drive-Ins. The site similar to CT lists a drive in in Centereach, Long Island. I’ve yet to find any source of confirmation on this. ?????
Early photo of the Mattituck, pre opening, from the Traveler – Watchman added. Have some current ones in my camera which, when I learn how to manipulate them, will also add.
Mighty big bucks in those days. Wonder how long the aggregate rental was for.
Building is obviously under renovation with all the “drapery” on the facade.
Well, perhaps people adding photos should announce when they are adding photos (some do). Then the email notification would go out to all who have asked for an update. Probably easier than reprogramming. There seem to be minimal people adding photos.
Also applies to new theaters. The only listing that has all is the recent comments. That’s still restricted to the last 100 and doesn’t show a status. I’ve complained about that to no avail.
That should be it. I, personally, remember the signage being Old Town when my parents used to drive through Smithtown. Even then I was theater conscious. When I found CT in 2009 I started adding theaters I remembered. Fortunately I had been at an early on performance at what is now the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts and they had a brochure with some information about the Old Town. I then contacted the author and got more information. I’d really love to track down copies of the Yearbook and the other motion picture source to fill in some blanks on Long Island theaters and also to confirm a recollection I have of a distinct theater in Moriches (in addition to the one in Center Moriches). Used to be a set in the Patchogue Library but they were destroyed in a flood of the basement. Unfortunately I never saved Prudential flyers, only Century, as personal confirmation.
Theater is reopening Christmas Day having completed the transition to digital. They’ve also created a lounge area where wine and cheese will be available before and after the film. Reopening presentation is Nebraska.
If you do an online search for Rocky Point Drive In and scroll to a Topix site, the first four pictures are of the drive in when it was operational, including the illuminated pylon, cars in front of the screen and the back of the screen. I don’t think these can be linked.
They must have turned it around somehow. It lasted until the fire in 1984 as a single screen theater. Don’t know what it looked like “in the day”, but the pictures of the auditorium as a church (elsewhere on this site) show a spectacular space.
What was the condemnation referred to in the heading?
The head of the Catholic church in RVC had approached the Lyric theater manager about not having Sunday viewing.
Originally a Glynn theater perpetuated in the Newsday Movie Timetables well into the 1950’s by which point it was Prudential.
RidgewoodKen You had an interesting piece about Sunday performances at the Lyric in Rockville Centre in October, about which Ed Solero and I both commented, now deleted. Is it possible that you could restore it? If I see it there I’ll delete this. Had no other way of contacting you.
Glynn always specialized in large theaters, such as the Southampton, which Newsday always listed as “Glynns” in the movie time table long past the time when he was associated with it. But he also did acquire what is now the Sag Harbor, which is an intimate space. Odd.
The only lady I remember in the ticket booth was when the theater first opened. My parents and I were summering in Rocky Point and went to see an Esther Williams movie. The cashier had been a decided blonde at some point and was letting it grow out. It looked like she was wearing a skull cap. An image which has stuck with me all these MANY years.
Floor was sloped concrete. As a child I remember the marquee as being boxy with the name in red neon lights. There was also neon around the sign boards.
The theater was 30 x 100 and reported to seat 500. That figure is impossible considering the dimensions and the fact that there was a stage. A more realistic figure would be the 350 reported in the 1941 and 1943 Film Daily.
Ground was broken for this theater on March 8, 1948.
The cost was $ 250,000.
Despite all the discussion on the CVS project both the theater and the adjacent buildings are still standing. There is also no indication of CVS locating here.
The more I read the headings on these theaters the “curioser” the owner/management relationships seem. Loew’s builds theaters that go Century. Century builds and leases to Loew’s. And, oddly, before the Almi-Century and RKO Century Warner, Loew’s was trying to buy Century. Dentury built the Suffolk and it went to Prudential. Prudential built the Huntington Station and it went to Century. Calderone built and leased to Skouras and Century. Etc., etc.
Filmed on location in the Coliseum I believe Urban was the Pope at that time. Nay. Just a typo 1959.
The Big Circus was released in 1059.
I seem to recall the manager of the Whitman saying it had 750 seats which would make this 650.
I was speaking to the owner of the business just under the pylon for the drive in. He felt that Walmart or one of the other big box stores should have been permitted to build there to provide employment for the many graduating high school students along the 25A corridor. His opinion is contrary to the majority who want to prevent overdevelopment of the 25A corridor which is already the home to a dozen strip malls and a shopping center anchored by Kohl’s.
For some time the pylon has sported a new metal sign proclaiming “Rocky Point Drive In” in red and yellow which was erected by the owner to proclaim that this is a commercial site. Town of Brookhaven shot down that claim in a recent court case. To be continued.
markp- I really don’t think drive ins have a place in our area at this time. PS Have you seen that great book “The American Drive-In Movie Theatre” by Don and Susan Saunders? A nice resource. I’m almost, just almost, ready to check out every drive-in they’ve documented against CT. But I do have a life. Walmart has about the best price on it and, at this time of year, if you do it online, there may be free shipping.
Also on Drive-Ins. The site similar to CT lists a drive in in Centereach, Long Island. I’ve yet to find any source of confirmation on this. ?????