Syosset Theatre
7500 Jericho Turnpike,
Woodbury,
NY
11797
7500 Jericho Turnpike,
Woodbury,
NY
11797
20 people
favorited this theater
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A chronology of Long Island’s 70mm presentations history has recently been published. The Cinema 150 gets several mentions in the piece.
ridethetrain - I disagree. Last film was Miss Congeniality. Long after the theatre closed the poster appeared in the display at the entrance.
Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. The Cinema 150’s lengthy run is mentioned in the piece.
Please update, theatre closed December 14, 2000, at rivest 266 your date was 8 months off. Last film Unbreakable
Closed the week of April 7th, 2000.
Reopened as The Syosset on June 7th, 1990.
UA The Syosset reopening 30 Nov 1990, Fri Newsday (Suffolk Edition) (Melville, New York) Newspapers.com
Grand opening ad:
UA Cinema 150 opening 26 Mar 1970, Thu Newsday (Nassau Edition) (Hempstead, New York) Newspapers.com
“The Song Of Norway” played a 70MM Roadshow engagement from February 10, 1971 thru May 3, 1971. Opening ad in photo section with prices. Prices were reduced for final week and posted as “all seats $3.50 Evenings and $1.50 children at all times”. No listing for matinee price. A one week engagement of “Making It” starring Kristoffer Tabori followed.
Does anyone know the closing date of the Cinema 150’s roadshow run of “Song of Norway” (or know which booking followed it)?
FYI: there was a twin to this theater same name in Santa Clara California curved widescreen rockers and all. No balcony though. Lines for blocks usually. AMC opened a 20 screen (Mercado) a couple of miles away near Great America amusement park (also now Levi’s Stadium home of the 49ers) and that put an end to that Cinema 150. I loved that movie theater! Sight lines were outstanding.
When I was in my teens I was in a boys home called Melville house. One of the counselors had been an extra in the movie “The Way We Were”.We made a special trip to the Syosset theater to see it. He played a college student,he said Robert Redford on his breaks would throw the football around with the cast and crew.The movie was good, and they played the Barbara Streisand theme song a lot on the radio.
The first time I saw Gone With the Wind was here in the late 70s/early 80s, with a wretched 70mm print that cropped the image at the top and bottom and seemed to be terrbily out of focus, even after changing my seat several times and complaining to the manager (who stated that was because of the curved screen!)
I couldn’t believe that this was the number one box office attraction of all time. I was really disappointed, until I saw it again years later in the proper ratio and clarity. Of course it’s magnificent.
This theatre is actually located in Woodbury, just slightly east of Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway. By the way the building of the Westbury multiplex had nothing to do in the closing of the Cinema 150. (In 1976-7 when I worked the Syosset, we referred to the theatre as the D-150) The landlord didn’t renew the lease of the Cinema D-150 leading to its' closing. Two one time superior buildings destroyed in the greed of the almighty dollar. Olympus cameras and other businesses were also lost in the lease turmoil. But, I got the enjoyment of working at both of theatres and being a loyal patron of the D-150 until it closed.
I invite all that have worked at The Syosset Cinema 150 to join our group ‘Staff of The Syosset CINEMA 150" on FACEBOOK, it should be a hoot. We can share stories, photos, comments and get together once a year to eat, drink be merry and talk THEATRE.
It’s been documented that “Hello, Dolly!” was the first movie to play at the UA Cinema 150. What was the second movie to play there?
There was only one UA 150, that is the one on Jericho Turnpike. The gym is there now. Another one was announced for the Gardiner Manor Shopping Center on Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore but that was never constructed.
One of my all time favorite theatres , with the York theatre in Huntington … The best of the best movies played here lots in 70 mm!
Of all of the movie theaters on Long Island, this is the one I miss the most. In 1999, my senior year of high school, I was a part of a large group of die-hard “Wars-ies” who camped out for “The Phantom Menace” tickets. I waited in line for 17 hours. The experience was MUCH better than the movie.
The balcony was an added bonus. I saw a bunch of movies here through the years – “Back to the Future Part III,” “Batman Returns,” “Batman Forever,” the Star Wars Special Editions, “Air Force One,” “Contact” —– many others. The last movie I was able to see before this place closed for good was “Mission Impossible 2.”
I worked at the 150 for a few years. We took pride in our job and it was a fun atmosphere we were all friends and being a single theatre once the movie started we had little to do. so of course being 18-19 years old we had a blast and enjoyed our job. I agree with bobt that the seating was 98x seats. I worked the ticket booth for the entire time I was there and we would often have to stop selling tickets when we hit 920 or so because the remainder of the seats would be first few rows and people would often come back when the movie started to get their money back. I would remember all the patrons by face, some by name because they would come for each new movie. For me personally Terminator 2 stands out, the opening future wars scene would literally take people’s breath away. The theatre spoiled you, to this day i cant stand to step foot in these cookie cutter multiplexes.
I have nothing new to add, no insights and I thought I might have posted something on this theater years ago but all I can say is that I’m appalled that this theater was demolished the way it was. Protests likely would have led to nothing but what a loss!
I saw ‘True Lies’ there and it was magnificent!! Sitting in the first row of the second level, and watching the literal curtains open, was a great experience. People need to be wooed back into movie theaters and a price cut should be the way. We’re not refining oil here people…
Last movie to play here was Miss Congeniality. The poster remained in the display box many months after the theatre closed.
Rivoli157/POMOVIE2: “Hello, Dolly!” opened at the UA Cinema 150 on March 26, 1970.
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_1969.htm
POMOVIE2, the Encore’s page may be found here.
Rivoli, the theater opened with Hello, Dolly in 1969.