Tower Theatre

After operating theaters on Long Island as early as 1908 in Hempstead, Patchogue and Bay Shore, Emil T. Rinas came to Roslyn and opened a tent (Airdrome) on Bryant Avenue in 1913.

Construction on his Tower Theatre began on July 13, 1915. He continued to operate the Tower Theatre until it was destroyed by a fire which began at 11:21 PM on November 13, 1931 after business hours. The loss was estimated at $20,000.

According to one source the Tower Theatre had a balcony in which the “colored” people sat.

Subsequently, Mr. Rinas formed the Roslyn Playhouse Corporation which constructed the present Roslyn Theater built in 1933 which has it’s own page on Cinema Treasures.

The information in this posting, and the accompanying image have been used “Courtesy of the Bryant Library Local History Collection”.

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