This theater came to mind today. Was there several times in the mid 70’s. A very comfortable modern single theater, with excellent sound. Theater had a different look to it with stadium like seating in the back instead of a balcony. I’m pretty sure the seats were grey in color as opposed to the standard red as well. I remember seeing “The Return Of The Pink Panther” here with one of the best movie audiences ever. People were all laughing so hard and long it made for a very memorable movie going experience. I wish I could remember the other movies I saw here. Possibly “House Calls”? IT would be nice if somebody were able to list the movies played in each theater on this site. I know a really tough task, but I’m sure other people would love to know this info.
I don’t remember the “North & South” aspect of this theater, but if you were facing the front of the theater early on, the larger theater was on the right and the smaller was on the left. The larger theater was much nicer and well decorated from what I remember with dark blue seats with a really nice gold & blue curtain that worked until the late 70’s early 80’s. The left side was not as nice & much smaller, and was very similar to the Lowes Georgetown theater in the area. The right side was then split up in the early 80’s. Does anybody know the original seat count for each theater? The theater entrance was located on the second floor, and I don’t believe they used any part of the first floor of the mall, but I’m not sure how they sloped the floor here. If anybody here knows how this worked I would be interested in knowing. I’m pretty sure that whatever space was utilized for the 2 original theaters, was then used for the splits at least for the theaters on the right side. Best Buy came in after the theaters closed and they utilized both floors from what I was told and can see in some of the online photos.
Since I just learned how to make links clickable I thought I would repost this Youtube video of the tag that was played before each film in this theater as well as many others from at least the early 70’s through the early 80’s ->
Youtube
Here is a Youtube video I found from 2020 that briefly mentions and shows the front of this movie theater. Start the video at the beginning and the segment ends at 3:44. If you then fast foward to 10:50 you can see the stores where the RKO Fordham used to be. If you then foward the video to 1 hour 1 min. you can see where the Savoy AKA Cinelli’s theater was. The rest of the video is a nice walk thru and disussion of the Fordham and Little Italy sections of The Bronx. Some people may find a few of the comments on this video “politically incorrect”. Please keep any comments you may have here to just the movie theaters and old memories. You can always comment about anything you want on the Youtube video page itself if you sign in. Enjoy! -> Youtube
I came across this Youtube video which briefly discusses this theater. Bring the video out to 15:12. The short segment about this theater ends at 16:21. The rest of the video is an interesting walk thru of The Bronx Little Italy today. The people being interviewd can be a little “politically incorrect” at times, please don’t comment about that here. You may comment on the Youtube video itself if you wish. Please keep the discussion on this page to this movie theater, or the stores in close proximity. I’ll try to make the link clickable, If I fail, just copy and paste the link below.
Youtube
Here is a much nicer virtual tour of this former theater than I had previously posted several years ago. I love that it looks like it can be easily turned back into a theater in the future. I’m not sure how to make links clickable here. If somebody knows how, please do so in another post, thanks! I’ll give it a try myself.
The sidewalk canopy of this theater can be seen in the movie Tootsie during the scene where Dustin Hoffman & Sydney Pollack are standing outside of The Russian Tea Room. The film must have been shot right before the theater closed, as it was released in 1982.
Thanks for getting back to me on this Dallas. I just looked at an historical overview of the area in 1979. If the theater was in that shopping center, it would have been in a stand alone building to the left of where the pizza store is now. The pizza place and whatever store is right next to it was not yet built in 1979. I can’t tell from the current street view what business occupies that stand alone building now, it’s too far in. If anybody out in Freehold remembers exactly where this theater was, and or the address, please let us know here! Thanks.
I’m not sure how long this real estate listing link will last, but here is a great pic of the Georgetown theater most likely taken in 2017. As of December 2018 half of the space is now a medical office. Copy & Paste link, then click on the photo for a full view. –> https://42floors.com/us/ny/brooklyn/2183-ralph-ave?listings=1262403
You can see part of the building and the marque of this already closed theater taken in 1940. You have to zoom in on the photo and it’s all the way to the right. –> http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/s/88ujc0
Just thought about this theater today. It looks like it’s now a nightclub / office building. Somehow the building with the stated address 1900 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY, does not look like the theater building I remember from years ago at all. Was it rebuilt? Nothing too special about this theater. I remember the theater on the left was red, and the one on the right was blue, a super 70’s look. The only film I can remember for sure seeing here was “Going in Style” with George Burns. It was sort of a family film and the theater was packed with kids and their parents. For whatever reason the theater decided to show a coming attraction for the movie “The Shinning”. It was a trailer of the bloody elevator scene in slow motion with some creepy music.It was more intense than the scene in the film itself, If I remember correctly. Let’s just say it did not go over well with most of the people and kids in the audience. I’m sure some of those young kids were quite traumatized, I’m still not over it, lol!
I don’t remember hearing any outside noise inside the theater. This might be why the theater was set so far back from the main doors, down a super long hallway. T.J Max is located in part of the area where the mini mall once was. A National Warehouse Liquidators store is now in the exact location of the former theater, or at least as of December 2017.
Hi Ed, and anyone else here curious as I about the stores at this theaters location. The above Youtube video is a commercial for the Fleaport Flea Market. This is the store that came in after Mays went out of Business. The video states 1981, but I’m almost certain that this is from 1983. You can see the Five Towns Plaza sign a few seconds into the video on the left. Is it still possible that TSS was at this location early on before Mays came there, that could still be. Mays was there from at least 1970 though as far as I can remember. The Theater & May’s once glass enclosed garden center are now both an “NWL”, The Household Warehouse store. Below is part of a post I found on another site, that talks about the mini mall that was at this location. The only mistake in this post is that the movie theater was not in the “mall” area of the shopping center, which was to the right of Mays. The Theater was to the left of Mays it’s own building next to the garden center. Playworld Toy Store was all the way to the left where Lowes is now. I believe the Lowes building was rebuilt since that time. Here is part of a post that I found elsewhere:
“Moving up the road a bit we have the Five Towns Plaza. It is now a motley assortment of stores(K Mart, Dress Barn, etc), but back in the day, hahaha. Pergament(now Conway). Mays(which became the Fleaport flea market which itself closed later). OTB(which became Nathan’s, now it’s something else). Pathmark(which is now an Applebee’s, of all things). But the stores that were in the little interior mall that has since been demolished…such as classics like the 4 Joker’s video arcade…Jahn’s Ice cream(they had the best shakes)…there was a duplex movie theater in there…also a Halloween supplies store…and a Radio Shack…but the best one of all was(drum roll please) Mr. Music, the baddest music shop around(until I found Slipped Disc in the 1990’s)– the walls were covered with wicked blacklight posters, it smelled like incense, and it seemed like every time I went in there they were rocking "We Are Family” by Sister Sledge."
I Have to laugh! It’s amazing that none of the members on here including myself can remember what stores were at this theater’s location and when. ChrisPlatt, Mays was at this Theater’s location for sure and TSS was at the location where Costco is now in Lawrence @ 605 Rockaway Turnpike. TSS was at the Costco location the whole time Mays was in business. Mays Closed around 1983. It’s very possible that TSS moved to the May’s location when Mays closed in 1983, but I really doubt that they then moved back to the Costco location after that. I just can’t place TSS at the Mays location at all. This theater closed around 1982. If TSS really was at this location they were for sure not there while the theater was still open. Can anybody here finally please clear this confusion up for good?
Thanks for the info. 1982 sounds about right. I’m pretty sure Mays closed in 1983. One thing I forgot to mention in my last post was that the movie theater was not part of the mall. I’m pretty sure that the only way to enter the theater was from the front on the outside. It did have a long lobby with mall like benches. I remember that you could see into the lobby from the garden greenhouse nextdoor. The entrance to the mall that was at this location was inside Mays and to the right of the store. I know it’s off topic, but does anybody remember this mini mall? There is no info anywhere online about it.
In The aerial shot that Ed Posted in 2007 the movie theater is the building with the black top to the right of Lowes. The small building to the right of The Theater was once a greenhouse which was part of J.W. Mays Department Store. Mays is now a K-Mart. TSS was never at this location, there were down the road and across the street. There was once an indoor mall to the right of Mays. I remember there was a really nice restaurant in there, which then became a liquor store. There was also a really cool “Old School” record shop in there. Many of the stores at that time could only be entered from inside the mall itself. As to the theater, I’m pretty sure it closed right before Mays did sometime in the early 80’s. Does anyone know for sure what year the theater closed?
Here is a link to a Youtube video of the inside of the Nostrand Theater as it appears today in 2012. It’s currently a Harbor Fitness Gym. Some of the original theater architecture is still there. Check it out! –>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALTOz91SKrw&feature=plcp
You can’t see the theater in the map above. The address is 2120 Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn, NY. Here is link. You have to zoom in to see it. It’s now a CVS.
http://www.vpike.com/?place=Store+%23+2443+2120+ROCKAWAY+PARKWAY%2C+brooklyn%2C+ny&submit=Street
Here I thought I was the only one who recognized that distinct smell! You might have something there Mike! Hey, the guys who make the “New Car Smell” air freshner, should work on a formula for the “Old Movie Theater Smell”! We can use it to spray in the new Multiplexes, which most I’ve noticed smell just like a dirty toilet!
The Nostand theater had that great old smell for sure! I wonder if it managed to hold up over the years as a gym. I’ll have to stop in there one day, if I can find parking, lol, and give a look and a sniff!
This theater came to mind today. Was there several times in the mid 70’s. A very comfortable modern single theater, with excellent sound. Theater had a different look to it with stadium like seating in the back instead of a balcony. I’m pretty sure the seats were grey in color as opposed to the standard red as well. I remember seeing “The Return Of The Pink Panther” here with one of the best movie audiences ever. People were all laughing so hard and long it made for a very memorable movie going experience. I wish I could remember the other movies I saw here. Possibly “House Calls”? IT would be nice if somebody were able to list the movies played in each theater on this site. I know a really tough task, but I’m sure other people would love to know this info.
I don’t remember the “North & South” aspect of this theater, but if you were facing the front of the theater early on, the larger theater was on the right and the smaller was on the left. The larger theater was much nicer and well decorated from what I remember with dark blue seats with a really nice gold & blue curtain that worked until the late 70’s early 80’s. The left side was not as nice & much smaller, and was very similar to the Lowes Georgetown theater in the area. The right side was then split up in the early 80’s. Does anybody know the original seat count for each theater? The theater entrance was located on the second floor, and I don’t believe they used any part of the first floor of the mall, but I’m not sure how they sloped the floor here. If anybody here knows how this worked I would be interested in knowing. I’m pretty sure that whatever space was utilized for the 2 original theaters, was then used for the splits at least for the theaters on the right side. Best Buy came in after the theaters closed and they utilized both floors from what I was told and can see in some of the online photos.
Since I just learned how to make links clickable I thought I would repost this Youtube video of the tag that was played before each film in this theater as well as many others from at least the early 70’s through the early 80’s -> Youtube
Here is a Youtube video I found from 2020 that briefly mentions and shows the front of this movie theater. Start the video at the beginning and the segment ends at 3:44. If you then fast foward to 10:50 you can see the stores where the RKO Fordham used to be. If you then foward the video to 1 hour 1 min. you can see where the Savoy AKA Cinelli’s theater was. The rest of the video is a nice walk thru and disussion of the Fordham and Little Italy sections of The Bronx. Some people may find a few of the comments on this video “politically incorrect”. Please keep any comments you may have here to just the movie theaters and old memories. You can always comment about anything you want on the Youtube video page itself if you sign in. Enjoy! -> Youtube
I came across this Youtube video which briefly discusses this theater. Bring the video out to 15:12. The short segment about this theater ends at 16:21. The rest of the video is an interesting walk thru of The Bronx Little Italy today. The people being interviewd can be a little “politically incorrect” at times, please don’t comment about that here. You may comment on the Youtube video itself if you wish. Please keep the discussion on this page to this movie theater, or the stores in close proximity. I’ll try to make the link clickable, If I fail, just copy and paste the link below. Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B5ZP2X7c8I
For the few who may not already know, this theater can be seen in the movie “Foul Play” in a scene with with Goldie Hawn.
Thank you for reposting a clickable link ken!
Here is a much nicer virtual tour of this former theater than I had previously posted several years ago. I love that it looks like it can be easily turned back into a theater in the future. I’m not sure how to make links clickable here. If somebody knows how, please do so in another post, thanks! I’ll give it a try myself.
-> https://youtu.be/PMfpJC-XOhg
(https://youtu.be/PMfpJC-XOhg)
Check out this Youtube video shot right before this theater was torn down. –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKl6QJbJazI
The sidewalk canopy of this theater can be seen in the movie Tootsie during the scene where Dustin Hoffman & Sydney Pollack are standing outside of The Russian Tea Room. The film must have been shot right before the theater closed, as it was released in 1982.
Thanks for getting back to me on this Dallas. I just looked at an historical overview of the area in 1979. If the theater was in that shopping center, it would have been in a stand alone building to the left of where the pizza store is now. The pizza place and whatever store is right next to it was not yet built in 1979. I can’t tell from the current street view what business occupies that stand alone building now, it’s too far in. If anybody out in Freehold remembers exactly where this theater was, and or the address, please let us know here! Thanks.
dallasmovietheaters Do you know the exact address / location for this theater, and what business if any is currently at its location?
I’m not sure how long this real estate listing link will last, but here is a great pic of the Georgetown theater most likely taken in 2017. As of December 2018 half of the space is now a medical office. Copy & Paste link, then click on the photo for a full view. –> https://42floors.com/us/ny/brooklyn/2183-ralph-ave?listings=1262403
You can see part of the building and the marque of this already closed theater taken in 1940. You have to zoom in on the photo and it’s all the way to the right. –> http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/s/88ujc0
Just thought about this theater today. It looks like it’s now a nightclub / office building. Somehow the building with the stated address 1900 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY, does not look like the theater building I remember from years ago at all. Was it rebuilt? Nothing too special about this theater. I remember the theater on the left was red, and the one on the right was blue, a super 70’s look. The only film I can remember for sure seeing here was “Going in Style” with George Burns. It was sort of a family film and the theater was packed with kids and their parents. For whatever reason the theater decided to show a coming attraction for the movie “The Shinning”. It was a trailer of the bloody elevator scene in slow motion with some creepy music.It was more intense than the scene in the film itself, If I remember correctly. Let’s just say it did not go over well with most of the people and kids in the audience. I’m sure some of those young kids were quite traumatized, I’m still not over it, lol!
OOPS, I meant to say the theater is a National Wholesale Liquidators store on my last post, not “Warehouse”.
I don’t remember hearing any outside noise inside the theater. This might be why the theater was set so far back from the main doors, down a super long hallway. T.J Max is located in part of the area where the mini mall once was. A National Warehouse Liquidators store is now in the exact location of the former theater, or at least as of December 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9j-eB8Ql4M
Hi Ed, and anyone else here curious as I about the stores at this theaters location. The above Youtube video is a commercial for the Fleaport Flea Market. This is the store that came in after Mays went out of Business. The video states 1981, but I’m almost certain that this is from 1983. You can see the Five Towns Plaza sign a few seconds into the video on the left. Is it still possible that TSS was at this location early on before Mays came there, that could still be. Mays was there from at least 1970 though as far as I can remember. The Theater & May’s once glass enclosed garden center are now both an “NWL”, The Household Warehouse store. Below is part of a post I found on another site, that talks about the mini mall that was at this location. The only mistake in this post is that the movie theater was not in the “mall” area of the shopping center, which was to the right of Mays. The Theater was to the left of Mays it’s own building next to the garden center. Playworld Toy Store was all the way to the left where Lowes is now. I believe the Lowes building was rebuilt since that time. Here is part of a post that I found elsewhere:
“Moving up the road a bit we have the Five Towns Plaza. It is now a motley assortment of stores(K Mart, Dress Barn, etc), but back in the day, hahaha. Pergament(now Conway). Mays(which became the Fleaport flea market which itself closed later). OTB(which became Nathan’s, now it’s something else). Pathmark(which is now an Applebee’s, of all things). But the stores that were in the little interior mall that has since been demolished…such as classics like the 4 Joker’s video arcade…Jahn’s Ice cream(they had the best shakes)…there was a duplex movie theater in there…also a Halloween supplies store…and a Radio Shack…but the best one of all was(drum roll please) Mr. Music, the baddest music shop around(until I found Slipped Disc in the 1990’s)– the walls were covered with wicked blacklight posters, it smelled like incense, and it seemed like every time I went in there they were rocking "We Are Family” by Sister Sledge."
I Have to laugh! It’s amazing that none of the members on here including myself can remember what stores were at this theater’s location and when. ChrisPlatt, Mays was at this Theater’s location for sure and TSS was at the location where Costco is now in Lawrence @ 605 Rockaway Turnpike. TSS was at the Costco location the whole time Mays was in business. Mays Closed around 1983. It’s very possible that TSS moved to the May’s location when Mays closed in 1983, but I really doubt that they then moved back to the Costco location after that. I just can’t place TSS at the Mays location at all. This theater closed around 1982. If TSS really was at this location they were for sure not there while the theater was still open. Can anybody here finally please clear this confusion up for good?
Thanks for the info. 1982 sounds about right. I’m pretty sure Mays closed in 1983. One thing I forgot to mention in my last post was that the movie theater was not part of the mall. I’m pretty sure that the only way to enter the theater was from the front on the outside. It did have a long lobby with mall like benches. I remember that you could see into the lobby from the garden greenhouse nextdoor. The entrance to the mall that was at this location was inside Mays and to the right of the store. I know it’s off topic, but does anybody remember this mini mall? There is no info anywhere online about it.
In The aerial shot that Ed Posted in 2007 the movie theater is the building with the black top to the right of Lowes. The small building to the right of The Theater was once a greenhouse which was part of J.W. Mays Department Store. Mays is now a K-Mart. TSS was never at this location, there were down the road and across the street. There was once an indoor mall to the right of Mays. I remember there was a really nice restaurant in there, which then became a liquor store. There was also a really cool “Old School” record shop in there. Many of the stores at that time could only be entered from inside the mall itself. As to the theater, I’m pretty sure it closed right before Mays did sometime in the early 80’s. Does anyone know for sure what year the theater closed?
Here is another link, to the gym’s main website with photos. They really did a nice job fixing up this place.
http://www.harborfitness.com/webnew/marinepark.html
Here is a link to a Youtube video of the inside of the Nostrand Theater as it appears today in 2012. It’s currently a Harbor Fitness Gym. Some of the original theater architecture is still there. Check it out! –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALTOz91SKrw&feature=plcp
You can’t see the theater in the map above. The address is 2120 Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn, NY. Here is link. You have to zoom in to see it. It’s now a CVS. http://www.vpike.com/?place=Store+%23+2443+2120+ROCKAWAY+PARKWAY%2C+brooklyn%2C+ny&submit=Street
Here I thought I was the only one who recognized that distinct smell! You might have something there Mike! Hey, the guys who make the “New Car Smell” air freshner, should work on a formula for the “Old Movie Theater Smell”! We can use it to spray in the new Multiplexes, which most I’ve noticed smell just like a dirty toilet!
The Nostand theater had that great old smell for sure! I wonder if it managed to hold up over the years as a gym. I’ll have to stop in there one day, if I can find parking, lol, and give a look and a sniff!