That someone was me, fairly recently. I believe it’s also referenced in the other comments on this site which you have to access apart from the first hit. Lead says there are 24 comments.
Unfortunately there are a number of listings set up as, for example, UA Twin,without a clue as to where they are. But current CT logic gives you many ways of tracking down a theatre/theater.
It’s been announced that the Westbury Performing Arts Center will open in March 2012. After an 8 million dollar plus renovation the theatre will have approximately 400 seats in the orchestra and 300 in the balcony. There will be a Broadway sized procenium stage.
Ed, you’ll notice that the aka portion of this theatre lists it as Astor Plaza, not Loews. You’ll find a lot of inconsistencies on how the theatres were set up. There are some Century’s listed with the Century, some without. But the aka ability does give you the best crack at something which is listed by it’s most recent name.
What didn’t get any respect is the other Phantom musical. I’ve only seen it in local productions but found some really good stuff in it. The Carlotta part is a hoot.
The problem with this and other abandoned theatres is generally the ceiling particularly since, in order to achieve the effects they installed fabric on which they painted. Obviously, that would be the first to go and, hence, all the tatter that one sees in this and other pictures. However, wall murals and structural elements abound.
Interesting photo from 2010. Church is French not Spanish. Didn’t realize Century originated the Silver Screen Classic concept which is so popular with the General Amusment Multiplexes. When I lived in Farmingdale the classic usually sold out and it was in the largest auditorium.
Before they twinned it they used to have the movie times on the pylon. I was to meet a friend of mine, who was alway late there, so I told him the picture began 20 minutes earlier than the stated time. When he arrived, on time, because of my fib, he exited the car laughing because he saw the time on the pylon. He said, “You know me”.
On those rare occasions when the Radio City Music Hall, largely unknown, subway box office was closed spent time on line by the Guild to go in thru the main entrance.
amending my comment about theatres in Patchogue there was also the Star Palace at the time of the first Unique. But that was long gone before I came on this earth.
The Plaza was the only post world war II theatre built in Patchogue Village. It had no commercial functions. Alto originally a single screen it was twinned. It then closed and remained derelect for more than two decades. Despite attempts to repurpose it as a media center it was torn down this year. Of all the theatres that once existed in the village proper or on Sunrise Highway the Patchogue Theatre for the performing Arts is the only one in operation. The Sun Wave Twin is now retail, the Multiplex (and the previous All Weather Drive In originally in the space) and the Granada were demolished, the Rialto burnt down. The original Unique, precursor to the second one which became the Rialto was only demolished in the past two years having served as a retail space. The space occupied by the original Unique and the second Unique (aka Rialto) is now a housing complex.
And they’re not going to favor the photo of the facade. Here you have a fabulous theatre with a non-descript, ugly marquee. For all one knows it’s a hotel not a performance space.
Way back when Bloop mentioned the blue decor in the lobby. The large Century’s sign on the facade of the building was red with the theatre name in blue.
Noticed on another site that the facade of the York and the lobby, such as it was, was done in green and white glazed brick. The large Century’s sign was in green with the name of the theatre in white.
Read something on one of the other sites regarding the Morton Village. Facade has glazed black and white brick. Sinage was red and not the splashy sinage common to Century. Maybe a local restriction?
During the period when construction was suspended I was able to observe the structural steel and see how the theatres were actually nested over several levels. From the street the auditoriums did not appear to be large (I’ve never been inside), but the lobby takes up a significant portion of the footprint Another one of those times I wished I’d had a camera or a camera phone with me.
The address is a bit misleading. The Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway did not exist when the Drive-In was operationaly. I believe that the Drive-In was demolished as part of the Seaford-Oyster Bay construction project, if anyone has access to that data.
I wouldn’t say they had the same look, except for the official Century carpet, and the fact they dated to the 1930s,but they were well maintained.
That someone was me, fairly recently. I believe it’s also referenced in the other comments on this site which you have to access apart from the first hit. Lead says there are 24 comments.
The Fantasy and the Freeport always had the premiere bookings. The Grove and Queens were right up there, too.
Unfortunately there are a number of listings set up as, for example, UA Twin,without a clue as to where they are. But current CT logic gives you many ways of tracking down a theatre/theater.
It’s been announced that the Westbury Performing Arts Center will open in March 2012. After an 8 million dollar plus renovation the theatre will have approximately 400 seats in the orchestra and 300 in the balcony. There will be a Broadway sized procenium stage.
Ed, you’ll notice that the aka portion of this theatre lists it as Astor Plaza, not Loews. You’ll find a lot of inconsistencies on how the theatres were set up. There are some Century’s listed with the Century, some without. But the aka ability does give you the best crack at something which is listed by it’s most recent name.
What didn’t get any respect is the other Phantom musical. I’ve only seen it in local productions but found some really good stuff in it. The Carlotta part is a hoot.
The problem with this and other abandoned theatres is generally the ceiling particularly since, in order to achieve the effects they installed fabric on which they painted. Obviously, that would be the first to go and, hence, all the tatter that one sees in this and other pictures. However, wall murals and structural elements abound.
Interesting photo from 2010. Church is French not Spanish. Didn’t realize Century originated the Silver Screen Classic concept which is so popular with the General Amusment Multiplexes. When I lived in Farmingdale the classic usually sold out and it was in the largest auditorium.
Before they twinned it they used to have the movie times on the pylon. I was to meet a friend of mine, who was alway late there, so I told him the picture began 20 minutes earlier than the stated time. When he arrived, on time, because of my fib, he exited the car laughing because he saw the time on the pylon. He said, “You know me”.
On those rare occasions when the Radio City Music Hall, largely unknown, subway box office was closed spent time on line by the Guild to go in thru the main entrance.
The Granada was a retail site, still with the sloped floor. The entire block was demolished and is now the site of the courthouse complex.
amending my comment about theatres in Patchogue there was also the Star Palace at the time of the first Unique. But that was long gone before I came on this earth.
The Plaza was the only post world war II theatre built in Patchogue Village. It had no commercial functions. Alto originally a single screen it was twinned. It then closed and remained derelect for more than two decades. Despite attempts to repurpose it as a media center it was torn down this year. Of all the theatres that once existed in the village proper or on Sunrise Highway the Patchogue Theatre for the performing Arts is the only one in operation. The Sun Wave Twin is now retail, the Multiplex (and the previous All Weather Drive In originally in the space) and the Granada were demolished, the Rialto burnt down. The original Unique, precursor to the second one which became the Rialto was only demolished in the past two years having served as a retail space. The space occupied by the original Unique and the second Unique (aka Rialto) is now a housing complex.
Timing is right since the theatre was constructed 1960-61.
And they’re not going to favor the photo of the facade. Here you have a fabulous theatre with a non-descript, ugly marquee. For all one knows it’s a hotel not a performance space.
AXtel
Way back when Bloop mentioned the blue decor in the lobby. The large Century’s sign on the facade of the building was red with the theatre name in blue.
Noticed on another site that the facade of the York and the lobby, such as it was, was done in green and white glazed brick. The large Century’s sign was in green with the name of the theatre in white.
Read something on one of the other sites regarding the Morton Village. Facade has glazed black and white brick. Sinage was red and not the splashy sinage common to Century. Maybe a local restriction?
During the period when construction was suspended I was able to observe the structural steel and see how the theatres were actually nested over several levels. From the street the auditoriums did not appear to be large (I’ve never been inside), but the lobby takes up a significant portion of the footprint Another one of those times I wished I’d had a camera or a camera phone with me.
They’re starting to board up the front of the theatre.
The address is a bit misleading. The Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway did not exist when the Drive-In was operationaly. I believe that the Drive-In was demolished as part of the Seaford-Oyster Bay construction project, if anyone has access to that data.
The Meadows in Fresh Meadows also had an AX exchange.
A delayed comment to Ed’s 8/26 on the Green Acres. No, it was the big guy facing Sunrise.