Lily Theatre

212 Jericho Turnpike,
Floral Park, NY 11001

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Playhouse Operating Co.

Functions: Retail

Previous Names: Lilly Arcade Theatre

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Lily Theatre

The Lily Theatre seemed an appropriate name for one of Floral Park’s early cinemas. It opened on Tulip Avenue by 1914 as the Lilly Arcade Theatre. By 1927 it was operated by Playhouse Operating Co. The Lily Theatre did not survive into the sound era, but was converted into retail space that retained some of its exterior decor. For many years, the tenant has been a Firestone auto supplies agency.

Contributed by Warren G. Harris

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on April 25, 2011 at 3:59 am

Here’s a brief article from examiner.com, noting the vestiges of Floral Park’s cinematic heritage that remain in the Firestone tire shop and Floral Terrace catering hall on Jericho Turnpike. The article also notes that theater seats from the famous and long lost Roxy Theatre in Manhattan are now located in a former meeting hall at the old Masonic Temple, built in 1929 at 29 Tulip Avenue!

This small photo of the Lily appears in the article, along with a slightly large image of the nearby Floral Theatre.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on April 25, 2011 at 4:12 am

The title on the banner under the Lily’s canopy in the above photo is “Bella Donna,” starring Pola Negri. According to IMDB.COM, that romance was released April 1, 1923.

robboehm
robboehm on March 24, 2013 at 9:18 pm

The Lily was still operating in 1928 according to a business reference I found.

robboehm
robboehm on February 28, 2014 at 3:31 pm

According to a reference in the September 22, 1928 Brooklyn Eagle the Lily was acquired, along with the Park (New Hyde Park), Floral(also Floral Park) and Bellerose theaters, for $1,000,000 by a new corporation. Century?

robboehm
robboehm on March 1, 2014 at 6:36 pm

After posting the above reference to the million dollar purchase I came upon another article indicating the Floral had been built at a cost of $ 100,000. The Floral had stage and film capabilities and a balcony. The other theaters in the purchase were strictly for motion pictures, did not have balconies and had smaller seating capacities. So the one million tab for the four seems inflated. Or, perhaps, one or both articles were incorrect.

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