I believe the theatre was closed during the depression and only reopened at the end of WWII. I have a vague recollection of my father saying that during the depression he could have purchased the building for $8,000.
There were no observable structural changes since the procenium was already very wide. I remember, vaguely, that the curtains opened wider after the installation. This was a theatre where they always used the curtains, often to great theatrical effect.
The Bellerose also reopened after they did a Cinamascope installation. I believe “The Robe” was the first attraction. The Bellerose being a very wide theatre with a wide proscenium had one of the largest screens out there. In it’s last years the Bellerose was closed as the local dollar house with the honors going to the Floral. It then reopened as the local dollar house a short time later. I’m sure the reason was location. Jamaica Av/Jericho Tpk, Braddock Av and the Cross Island Parkway.
On October 9,2007 Long Island Memories mentioned (on the Mattituck 8 site that they had pictures of the interior of this theatre). Can they be posted here?
I figured it was something, not just me since there’d been no activity since the 14th. But it was my baby and I’m just as anxious to see it up as previously. Then I can pursue a couple of others in the works.
And I know for certain there was one in Moriches and where. The problem is I’m having difficulty getting enough material together for more than a skeletal posting. Also, they seem to have fallen behind on new theatres. I put up a posting on the 15th and the last newbies they show are for the 14th. On my three previous creations I saw results in 24 hours or less.
The Winter Garden is one substantial theatre. It boggles the mind to think that it’s atop another. According to my guide, there is actually a glorified crawl space between the two theatres. The only indication that there is a massive structure above it in the Elgin auditorium are a couple of substantial columns toward the rear of the orchestra. The current main lobby is actually more ornate than it was originally. According to the guide the way it is now is the way it was designed, but not executed.
You’ve got to be kidding Lost Memory. Lake Ronkonkoma and the village name for it go back to antiquity – Indian name you know. Glad you posted the picture. Despite the instructions you gave me previously I haven’t been successful. I actually looked at every theatre in New York at the image site and found this confirming my theory that the Lakeside was the former JL. There are a great number of other theatres whose images appear on this site which you frequently access. That’s why I devoted and hour plus listing them. Now all I have to do is move them over if they’re not already there. I was happy to see they had an image of the Floral with its new signage after they had to remove the old one because of the widening of Jericho Tpk. Unfortunately, it’s after the theatre closed and it is in disrepair. I also sent a letter to the webmaster at images about one image incorrectly labelled, the Playhouse, in what they show as Merrick but is actually Bellmore. When I last checked they had not made a correction. This could be a full time job just to get the LI theatres up to snuff. And there are at least a half dozen I’m working on. Love to chat and try to pool our efforts/interes/talents.
When I was stationed in Fort Dix in the early 60’s a bunch of the guys would venture into Philly. Some went to the Troc. My only burleque show during this period was “This Was Burlesque” with Ann Corio that was playing in New York.
When I was in Brussels decades ago I wandered thru the shops at the Agora. Interesting to learn of it’s previous life so many years later. At the time I was surprised by this modern expanse in a city of antiquities. Now I know why.
Despite being a Long Islander I actually attended the Studio One Thanksgiving Day, probably late 40s, after the Macy Parade, with my parents, killing time to go to my aunts for Thanksgiving Dinner. The whole program was comedy. Didn’t get thru the whole program before we had to leave. The movie we left during was a Laurel and Hardy and I remember there being a goat on a boat, or raft, drifting out to sea. Wonder whatever happened to the goat? Anybody know the name of the movie? Never actually saw the auditorium since we entered and left in the dark. That was usually the case with continuous performance theatres.
To miss the point and others. I’d like to get the hard top on the site. Anymore information about the where? East or West of Broadway? North or South on 25A? Stores other than Carvel?
I did my summers in Rocky point in the 40’s and early 50’s. No drive in then. We had to go into Port Jeff. Laterly when I summered in Sound Beach the Brookhaven opened and we went there; still no Drive-In. Hey I remember when the Long Island Railroad still went as far as Wading River, although by that time there was only freight service.
As far as the beach is concerned my father, several uncles and friends built a path down the bluff to the beach at around Queen. It was wild to go thru the poinson ivy, etc.. Last year after I moved out here full time I went to the beach entrance at Broadway and was easily able to gain access by mentioning my history to the guard. However, I did not make the trek west to see if any remnants or the path are visible. There are none from the street at the top of the bluff.
I somehow stumbled onto a Drive-In site and was looking for LI theatres. It’s pathetic how poor the site is. But one thing sparked my curiosity. They mentioned a Drive-In in Centereach. There was none to my knowledge can anyone confirm?
Lost Memory. There is also a problem with the address itself, not only the road. I was in the Melville area tonight and the building next to what used to be the Drive In was 200. As one travels north the numbers get even smaller (along with my theory about the Northern State, or maybe even Old Country Road being the divider between the Broadhollow and Walt Whitman designation). The theatre should only be about 300 or so.
Also, in retrospect I seem to recall another theatre in Buxton. I may be wrong. If I have a chance I’ll look at old photos to see if another one appears.
Looking at local maps one sees that as you travel north on 110 it goes from being Broadhollow to Walt Whitman. Since the map was not conclusive in showing a line of demarcation I checked the phone book listing for the Dunkin Donuts which is located at Old Country Road about one third of a mile north of the theatre. Broadhollow. The address of Waldbaums about a half mile up is Walt Whitman. My guess is that the Northern State Parkway is the line of demarcation. All of which confirms the theatre address should be Broadhollow Road.
Yes it was. On the west side of the road just north of the LIE north service road. The capacity was 2,500 cars making it one of the largest, if not the largest on Long Island. It was Century’s only Drive In. The Sunrise in Valley Stream was Redstone all the rest were Prudential.
I also remember one time they were resurfacing the screen. It was a windy day and whatever they used for the job was blowing onto traffice, including my car, on 100, aka Broadhollow Road.
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.
I believe the theatre was closed during the depression and only reopened at the end of WWII. I have a vague recollection of my father saying that during the depression he could have purchased the building for $8,000.
There were no observable structural changes since the procenium was already very wide. I remember, vaguely, that the curtains opened wider after the installation. This was a theatre where they always used the curtains, often to great theatrical effect.
The Bellerose also reopened after they did a Cinamascope installation. I believe “The Robe” was the first attraction. The Bellerose being a very wide theatre with a wide proscenium had one of the largest screens out there. In it’s last years the Bellerose was closed as the local dollar house with the honors going to the Floral. It then reopened as the local dollar house a short time later. I’m sure the reason was location. Jamaica Av/Jericho Tpk, Braddock Av and the Cross Island Parkway.
On October 9,2007 Long Island Memories mentioned (on the Mattituck 8 site that they had pictures of the interior of this theatre). Can they be posted here?
I figured it was something, not just me since there’d been no activity since the 14th. But it was my baby and I’m just as anxious to see it up as previously. Then I can pursue a couple of others in the works.
And I know for certain there was one in Moriches and where. The problem is I’m having difficulty getting enough material together for more than a skeletal posting. Also, they seem to have fallen behind on new theatres. I put up a posting on the 15th and the last newbies they show are for the 14th. On my three previous creations I saw results in 24 hours or less.
The Winter Garden is one substantial theatre. It boggles the mind to think that it’s atop another. According to my guide, there is actually a glorified crawl space between the two theatres. The only indication that there is a massive structure above it in the Elgin auditorium are a couple of substantial columns toward the rear of the orchestra. The current main lobby is actually more ornate than it was originally. According to the guide the way it is now is the way it was designed, but not executed.
True, but I wonder where the Drive In site got the info to begin with.
Never even noticed. Just happy to see the image.
You’ve got to be kidding Lost Memory. Lake Ronkonkoma and the village name for it go back to antiquity – Indian name you know. Glad you posted the picture. Despite the instructions you gave me previously I haven’t been successful. I actually looked at every theatre in New York at the image site and found this confirming my theory that the Lakeside was the former JL. There are a great number of other theatres whose images appear on this site which you frequently access. That’s why I devoted and hour plus listing them. Now all I have to do is move them over if they’re not already there. I was happy to see they had an image of the Floral with its new signage after they had to remove the old one because of the widening of Jericho Tpk. Unfortunately, it’s after the theatre closed and it is in disrepair. I also sent a letter to the webmaster at images about one image incorrectly labelled, the Playhouse, in what they show as Merrick but is actually Bellmore. When I last checked they had not made a correction. This could be a full time job just to get the LI theatres up to snuff. And there are at least a half dozen I’m working on. Love to chat and try to pool our efforts/interes/talents.
The posting from Al specifically mentioned a goat that chewed a rope so it floated out to sea.
Warren when you read the synopsis in Als posting it certainly sound right. How many movies have a goat drifting out to sea.
Definitely sounds like “Saps” from the description you posted Al. Thanks.
When I was stationed in Fort Dix in the early 60’s a bunch of the guys would venture into Philly. Some went to the Troc. My only burleque show during this period was “This Was Burlesque” with Ann Corio that was playing in New York.
When I was in Brussels decades ago I wandered thru the shops at the Agora. Interesting to learn of it’s previous life so many years later. At the time I was surprised by this modern expanse in a city of antiquities. Now I know why.
Despite being a Long Islander I actually attended the Studio One Thanksgiving Day, probably late 40s, after the Macy Parade, with my parents, killing time to go to my aunts for Thanksgiving Dinner. The whole program was comedy. Didn’t get thru the whole program before we had to leave. The movie we left during was a Laurel and Hardy and I remember there being a goat on a boat, or raft, drifting out to sea. Wonder whatever happened to the goat? Anybody know the name of the movie? Never actually saw the auditorium since we entered and left in the dark. That was usually the case with continuous performance theatres.
To miss the point and others. I’d like to get the hard top on the site. Anymore information about the where? East or West of Broadway? North or South on 25A? Stores other than Carvel?
I did my summers in Rocky point in the 40’s and early 50’s. No drive in then. We had to go into Port Jeff. Laterly when I summered in Sound Beach the Brookhaven opened and we went there; still no Drive-In. Hey I remember when the Long Island Railroad still went as far as Wading River, although by that time there was only freight service.
As far as the beach is concerned my father, several uncles and friends built a path down the bluff to the beach at around Queen. It was wild to go thru the poinson ivy, etc.. Last year after I moved out here full time I went to the beach entrance at Broadway and was easily able to gain access by mentioning my history to the guard. However, I did not make the trek west to see if any remnants or the path are visible. There are none from the street at the top of the bluff.
I somehow stumbled onto a Drive-In site and was looking for LI theatres. It’s pathetic how poor the site is. But one thing sparked my curiosity. They mentioned a Drive-In in Centereach. There was none to my knowledge can anyone confirm?
I’ll buy 288 but the number for the original Walt Whitman Road inaccuracy was in the thousands.
Lost Memory. There is also a problem with the address itself, not only the road. I was in the Melville area tonight and the building next to what used to be the Drive In was 200. As one travels north the numbers get even smaller (along with my theory about the Northern State, or maybe even Old Country Road being the divider between the Broadhollow and Walt Whitman designation). The theatre should only be about 300 or so.
Also, in retrospect I seem to recall another theatre in Buxton. I may be wrong. If I have a chance I’ll look at old photos to see if another one appears.
Looking at local maps one sees that as you travel north on 110 it goes from being Broadhollow to Walt Whitman. Since the map was not conclusive in showing a line of demarcation I checked the phone book listing for the Dunkin Donuts which is located at Old Country Road about one third of a mile north of the theatre. Broadhollow. The address of Waldbaums about a half mile up is Walt Whitman. My guess is that the Northern State Parkway is the line of demarcation. All of which confirms the theatre address should be Broadhollow Road.
Yes it was. On the west side of the road just north of the LIE north service road. The capacity was 2,500 cars making it one of the largest, if not the largest on Long Island. It was Century’s only Drive In. The Sunrise in Valley Stream was Redstone all the rest were Prudential.
I also remember one time they were resurfacing the screen. It was a windy day and whatever they used for the job was blowing onto traffice, including my car, on 100, aka Broadhollow Road.
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.