UA Quartet
16006 Northern Boulevard,
Flushing,
NY
11358
16006 Northern Boulevard,
Flushing,
NY
11358
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 113 comments
Please update, UA Qaurtet Cinema open on July 14, 1971 It was UA first quad theatre built
Please update, theatre closed October 2, 1997
Hello everyone! what has braught me here was many many years of looking online to see if I could find any old pictures of this place, I had my best years of my life and fondest memories in and around this theatre, can anyone help me find any more pictures of the Quartet? from 1988-1998? thank you!
Saw many flicks during the UA era of this theater. I remember seeing “Network” and “Invasion of the body snatchers” and during the screening of “Snatchers” I vividly recall the film snapping at a pivotal moment. The collective groan of the crowd was quite memorable. It was still quite pleasant even after its quadplexing in the early 70s
Photo of opening marquee uploaded.
The supermarket was in the theater building (in the present Street View it’s got a “For Lease” sign on it.) Street View is stranded in the parking lot, but give it a couple of clicks and you can see the theater’s former emergency exit doors on the back of the building. The marquee is still on the front of the building, too, but covered with a plain surface.
Trying to figure if this still stands. The google map takes us to a parking lot but immediately next to it is a building that looks like a theatre from the air (very tiny stagehouse) which is now a Chinese supermarket.
When the Quartet was about to open they had an “open house” for the public.
Boxoffice of August 30, 1971, has two pages about the UA Quartet. It includes a cutaway drawing showing how the four small auditoriums and new foyer had been arranged inside the gutted auditorium of the Roosevelt Theatre. There are also a few photos.
First page
Second page
Remember the Roosevelt well from growing up in the neighborhood in the sixties. Saw Lilies of the Field there on a double bill with Pocketful of Miracles over the Christmas holidays in 1963. I think it was mostly a second run theater in those days. Interesting to read that it was built before the Keith’s and the Prospect in downtown Flushing.
My name is Michael Hochstein, I worked at the Quartet from 1971 to 1978 first as an usher, than as a assistant manager than as the Manager. There was more than 700 seats. There actually was close to 1100 seats. The 2 big theatre 1 and 2 had 300 seats each and theatre 3 and 4 had 250 seats each.
I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m one of the people in that photo.
Ha! Those were the days…
I grew up a few blocks from the Roosevelt and saw my first James Bond and Jerry Lewis films there. It was close enough that my mother would let us go alone to Saturday matinees; she was happy to get us out of the house for a few hours.
My mother never let us buy popcorn or soda at the theater because it was so expensive. She’d give us some cookies to take along in our pockets. I envied the children with popcorn and big iced sodas.
In 1963 I went with my sister and some young friends to see PT-109 at a 4:30 p.m. Saturday showing. The ticket-seller warned us that all children unaccompanied by someone at least twelve years old had to leave at 6:00 p.m.; we didn’t really understand what he meant, and bought the tickets. Promptly at 6, while the film was still in progress, an usher went up and down the aisles, kicking out unaccompanied children. My friends and I scrambled, and each of us sat next to an adult, so we escaped the 6 p.m. purge. I remember it as quite an exciting adventure.
I worked for Kurt around the time the concession stand was moved from the middle to the side until his last day which if i remember correctly we all, or most all of us, quit protesting his move. Kurt you are certianly right about the stories from that place. And even though my name is among the list of those you thanked, im almost insulted you didnt name me first or last. This site has really brough the memories back. Would love to see more pictures, Kurt.
All four auditoriums were at the rear of the lobby. #1 and #2 directly under the numbers coming down from the ceiling. #3 was to the right of #2 behind the new concession stand (installed 1985). #4 was to the left of #1, just follow the 4’s along the wall.
After carefully reviewing fred1’s response, I cannot make heads or tails out of where the four theaters were actually located! (There’s no mention of #3, and from the photos #4 seems to be opposite the concession stand…)
Theater 1 and 2 are facing the lobby. Theater entrance islrft of theater#1 and goes to the entrace of theater. #4 is back of the concessions stand.
After carefully reviewing the photo section, I cannot make heads or tails out of where the four theaters were actually located!
Please help! I am trying to remember the name of the music/concert club that was located two or three doors down from The Quartet Movie Theatre. I went to this club twice in 1971. I first saw the band CANDY at this club and next saw the band Lighthouse at this club. This club used to give handout flyers with names of forthcoming shows and used to advertise in the local music publication called “The Island Ear.” Mike’s Comic Hut was on the other side of the Quartet while this music club was on the side of the Quartet that was closer to the Long Island Railroad Station.
Does anyone remember the name of this Music Club ? Have a logo or handout flyer from this Club ? Have any stories about seeing shows at this club ?
Thanks!!!!!! Tricia (Bayside, NY)
I just learned today that the landlord is wanting $60,000 monthly for the UA Quartet. There is no way he is going to get that number in today’s economy.
Fred1, your comment is barely in English! Sorry, couldn’t resist…
I just saw the pics that Kurt uploaded. Awesome !!! Thanks for sharing.
Also, as a word of note – at the end of this month, the Asian market that has been occupying the UA Quartet is closing down, so the final chapter in this landmark has not yet been written. I will miss my $1.00 coffee’s and discussing business and politics in aisle 5 next to the moon cakes and tea herbs :(
Somehow I have a feeling the UA Quartet will be knocked down and an apartment complex will be erected
I worked at the quartet from july 1977-august 1979..Mike Hochstien was the manager and there were several assistants(Kevin Kilkenny, Frank Nardi)..It was one of the best experiences of my youth…we would hit the Gable Inn after work on weekends…Nearly all the kids in my niehgborhood worked there in the mid-late 70’s-Loretta B.Patricia B, David B, Arlene L, Jodi P, Linda P,Craig B. Kenny M.,Sue G….It was a time I will cherish in my heart forever as I will the friends I made there. It seems like 100 years ago. Scott M.
Wow! Talk about Memories… I remember I believe in 1989 me and my 2 Best Friends went on a Saturday and watched 3 movies and got home late and got in trouble from all our parents. We had no cell phones back then and got scolded on pay phones… We still talk about it till this day. We saw Major League, Skindeep (with Jack Tripper from Three’s Company) and I forgot the 3rd movie. I also do remember Mike’s Comic Hut, Hobby Dens, Etc… I remember a Sporting Goods store where I used to order my Little League Uniforms… I forgot the name.