Johnny All-Weather Drive-In

1001 Sunrise Highway,
Copiague, NY 11726

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Showing 1 - 25 of 59 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on October 4, 2020 at 12:29 pm

One of the ads in the photo section, “RETURN OF THE DRAGON”, shows the indoor theatre listed as the “Copiague Indoor”.

robboehm
robboehm on October 4, 2020 at 12:20 pm

All the Prudential “All Weather” Drive-Ins (Smithtown, Johnny, Patchogue) started out with one screen inside and one outside, both playing the same features and not differentiating the name. As time went on and business slowed the indoor and outdoor theaters showed different films. The Patchogue one shut down the drive in, added additional screens, and was rebranded as the Patchogue-Sunrise.

Except for the 100 in Melville which was operated by Century, the Sunrise in Valley Stream which was operated by Redstone and the Westbury which was operated by Skouras, the balance of the Long Island Drive-Ins were operated by Prudential: 5th Avenue (Bay Shore); Bay Shore – Sunrise; Rocky Point; Coram; Skyway (Greenport); Massapequa; Hempstead Turnpike (Bethpage); Flanders (Riverhead); Shirley; Hamptons (Bridgehampton); Commack.

Prudential built a hardtop theater, the Cinema, next to the Bay Shore – Sunrise but always showed separate films at the two venues. The Bay Shore – Sunrise was later twinned. The Westbury triplexed.

All are now history.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 3, 2020 at 11:50 pm

The site is now a shopping plaza anchored by Home Depot and Target. There is a Red Lobster on the site where the screen used to be. Why the name Johnny?

robboehm
robboehm on March 1, 2020 at 9:46 am

Home Depot now there.

74plymouth
74plymouth on February 29, 2020 at 7:08 pm

last listing from the new York magazine sep. 3 1984 bolero & tightrope

robboehm
robboehm on May 5, 2019 at 6:49 pm

NeonMichael that assumption is correct as verified by the opening ad which appears in the photo section.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on May 5, 2019 at 4:26 pm

According to the April 22, 1957 issue of Motion Picture Daily, the grand opening of the All-Weather Theatre was “Saturday,” making it April 20, 1957.

robboehm
robboehm on February 1, 2019 at 11:44 am

The overview is not totally accurate. When Prudential built this, and two other All Weather Drive Ins (the Patchogue Sunrise and the Smithtown, the same film played indoors and out, albeit at different times, regardless of the weather. It was only in the 1980s when operated by UA that it was not uncommon for two different films to be shown (actually three since the drive in portion always had a double feature).

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on May 12, 2017 at 4:58 am

Why was it called Johnny All Weather?

paul baar
paul baar on May 11, 2017 at 11:43 am

I WENT THERE IN THE EARLY 70’S AND SAW A LOT OF FRED WILLIAMSON,JIM BROWN,PAM GRIER,RON O'NEIL,BRUCE LEE KUNGFU’S MOVIES AT THE IN DOOR THEATER AND ONE AT THE OUT DOOR SCREEN IN 1968"HOW SWEET IT IS" A DEBBY REYNOLDS-JAMES GARNER FILM.I LIKED THE CONCESSION AREAS FOOD' THE PLACE WAS FUN.

ZZ
ZZ on March 22, 2017 at 11:27 am

I found this song which was written about the drive-in: http://menageatune.bandcamp.com/track/johnnys-all-weather-drive-in

RHfromCop
RHfromCop on March 7, 2013 at 9:01 pm

The only drive-in that had matinees! Oh man I saw so many movies there and at the theater at Wellwood Ave & Montauk Hwy Lindenhurst. My earliest memories of being at the movies are confused between the two, but it was probably Swiss Family Robinson which must have been in 1961. How many I watched from the back seat, sitting with my brother. And then (much) later (early ‘70s) drinking beer in the privacy of the car – hey it was 18 then, we were legal.

Bloop
Bloop on March 18, 2011 at 3:04 pm

View link

my tribute sign that I had painted to Johnny All Weather ! Enjoy

chunchma
chunchma on February 17, 2011 at 7:28 pm

I use to work at the drive in the the early to mid 80’s, I worked concessions with the Maryann, Linda and Alison Corbett. I would love to reach out the them if anyone here knows them or how to contact them.

markp
markp on December 10, 2009 at 8:37 am

And up til the mid 70’s they actually would run the same double feature at the drive-in and the indoor and just start them an hour apart, using 1 print of film.

markp
markp on December 10, 2009 at 8:36 am

We had 2 of these in New Jersey, the Plainfield-Edison, and the Turnpike. The original buildings had 1 projection room with the dual projectors almost back to back of each other. After they twinned both buildings, a seperate third booth was added downstairs.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on December 10, 2009 at 7:47 am

Thanks for the info rvb.

robboehm
robboehm on December 9, 2009 at 7:32 pm

There were a number of these on Long Island. Also Ct. The one I was in in Ct. they had a large garage door which they rolled up so you could see the Drive In Screen. Many other drive ins also had small indoor booths.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on December 9, 2009 at 5:21 pm

What a great idea a drive in and an indoor at the same place. I bet it only had one booth for both screens.Never heard of this concept before.

robboehm
robboehm on May 5, 2009 at 6:56 pm

I don’t know why there is so much confusion about Copiague and Babylon. The 1957 photo accessed by the 3/14/08 posting newspaper article said the theatre was in Babylon. Wrong. Up until recently the posting for the RKO Babylon twin had it located in Copiague. Even more strange figuring that between these two villages is Lindenhurst. Oh, well.

markp
markp on January 26, 2009 at 6:44 am

I remember when we had 2 of these here in new Jersey, the Plainfield-Edison Indoor/Outdoor and the Turnpike Indoor/Outdoor. What was great was after they twinned the indoors, they showed all different movies in and out. So if you went to an early indoor show, you could get out, move the car and watch the double feature showing outside. Great days, never to return again. How sad.

DonRosen
DonRosen on January 26, 2009 at 5:34 am

WOW, the back of the Johnny All-Weather screen tower brings back memories. I remember when it was sparkling clean!! When it was lit up at night, it was exciting, especially when approaching it on Sunrise Highway.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 22, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Michigian Drive-ins, Yes this is the drive-in in question.