The Riverhead Center sign announcing the forthcoming Regal Cinemas (see photo section) is no longer there. Did the sign meet with a problem or has the deal fallen through? This has been back and forth for over a year with Regal, the owner of the site and the town. Seemingly all the zoning problems had been overcome. In 2001 a deal to have a multiplex at the Riverhead Tanger Outlets also fell through. The town approved, but Tanger did not and chose a retailer to fill the space. The Tanger folk did allow a theater at the Commack outlet they subsequently built.
Many of the Broadway to film transfers also as they were able to “expand” them. Often ran longer than the Broadway which had applause and a 15 minute intermission. Think Barbara Streisand and Don’t let it rain on my parade.
According to “History of the Motion Picture Theatre in Lindenhurst”, published in conjunction with the fifteenth anniversary of the Lindenhurst Theater (see elsewhere on CT), the building was heated by steam, had a semicircular stage with two side wings with dressing rooms. The front vestibule and ticket booth were under the projection booth. Prior to the erection of the National movies were screened in public halls in two of the hotels in the village. Members of the orchestra which provided musical background for the silent movie on opening night were paid the nominal compensation of one dollar.
Supposedly seating was for 500 people, unlikely in a one story 30'X 100' building that had a stage. Wonder where the bathrooms were.
True, John. One full photo of the theater shows “The Pawnbroker” which was a big hit in the 1960s. What I also found interesting in this photo is that the entire theater is on Broadway. Generally, only the entrance would be on the main street and the auditorium in the back. Full Broadway frontage would cost a lot more taxwise than just a small entrance.
Things are looking up. The dumpster is gone. They took down the South Bay signage, covered the side marquee, repaired all the exterior cracks and applied some sort of primer. There are a number of units being installed on the roof, presumably to heat/cool the projected five auditoriums in the first phase of the renovation. See photos uploaded.
Of all the initial Prudential Drive Ins this was the largest until they built the three All Weather’s. Although the Cinema hard top was adjacent to the drive in it did not appear that they were trying to play catch up to the All Weather concept since the movies show in the two venues were always different.
I have uploaded a picture showing a portion of the signage for the Princess. I created the site indicating the theater was on Garnett because of a postcard image I found showing adjacent buildings to the Princess identified as Garnett Street.
According to Joe Vogel, in a comment on Henderson’s Stevenson Theatre site, the Princess was part of the small Stevenson Theaters Company which also operated houses in Burlington, Greenville, Mesane and Raleigh.
I determined that the Stevenson circuit was incorporated in 1925. It’s interesting that the company was “Theater” but their playhouses were “Theatres”.
Uploaded early photo showing the entire facade. Incidentally, Stevenson Theaters was an early operator of the theater, probably from the beginning, since Stevenson Theaters was incorporated in 1925.
It was a musical, for Pete sake.
The Riverhead Center sign announcing the forthcoming Regal Cinemas (see photo section) is no longer there. Did the sign meet with a problem or has the deal fallen through? This has been back and forth for over a year with Regal, the owner of the site and the town. Seemingly all the zoning problems had been overcome. In 2001 a deal to have a multiplex at the Riverhead Tanger Outlets also fell through. The town approved, but Tanger did not and chose a retailer to fill the space. The Tanger folk did allow a theater at the Commack outlet they subsequently built.
Mike that number just went on forever.
Many of the Broadway to film transfers also as they were able to “expand” them. Often ran longer than the Broadway which had applause and a 15 minute intermission. Think Barbara Streisand and Don’t let it rain on my parade.
The York will again be a theater, home to Bob Baker’s Marionettes. See artist’s rendering of the new facade I just uploaded.
Don’t forget the need for Valet parking, too.
David, my computer displays an icon of a pair of scissors. Click on that and follow the prompts.
Use the clipping tool feature on your computer to get around this.
According to “History of the Motion Picture Theatre in Lindenhurst”, published in conjunction with the fifteenth anniversary of the Lindenhurst Theater (see elsewhere on CT), the building was heated by steam, had a semicircular stage with two side wings with dressing rooms. The front vestibule and ticket booth were under the projection booth. Prior to the erection of the National movies were screened in public halls in two of the hotels in the village. Members of the orchestra which provided musical background for the silent movie on opening night were paid the nominal compensation of one dollar.
Supposedly seating was for 500 people, unlikely in a one story 30'X 100' building that had a stage. Wonder where the bathrooms were.
Uploaded copies of photos from the historical society of the marquee, the fire and as the National.
Recliners should be in the home, not a theater.
True, John. One full photo of the theater shows “The Pawnbroker” which was a big hit in the 1960s. What I also found interesting in this photo is that the entire theater is on Broadway. Generally, only the entrance would be on the main street and the auditorium in the back. Full Broadway frontage would cost a lot more taxwise than just a small entrance.
Building was replaced by a modern structure.
Building no longer stands as it was destroyed by fire.
Uploaded an early picture
Uploaded a wider range photo of the Plaza in the day.
Uploaded a picture of the marquee.
The theater now provides a spectacular venue for weddings and other events. See photos uploaded from their site.
Interestingly the theater was destroyed after the Easter 1947 show. The new theater opened (Lindenhurst, elsewhere on CT) on Christmas 1948.
Things are looking up. The dumpster is gone. They took down the South Bay signage, covered the side marquee, repaired all the exterior cracks and applied some sort of primer. There are a number of units being installed on the roof, presumably to heat/cool the projected five auditoriums in the first phase of the renovation. See photos uploaded.
John, new picture will not replace the old. At best it will be in a rotation schedule.
Of all the initial Prudential Drive Ins this was the largest until they built the three All Weather’s. Although the Cinema hard top was adjacent to the drive in it did not appear that they were trying to play catch up to the All Weather concept since the movies show in the two venues were always different.
I have uploaded several pictures of the facade of the Stevenson as well as a postcard image (incorrectly identified as Main Street).
I have uploaded a picture showing a portion of the signage for the Princess. I created the site indicating the theater was on Garnett because of a postcard image I found showing adjacent buildings to the Princess identified as Garnett Street.
According to Joe Vogel, in a comment on Henderson’s Stevenson Theatre site, the Princess was part of the small Stevenson Theaters Company which also operated houses in Burlington, Greenville, Mesane and Raleigh.
I determined that the Stevenson circuit was incorporated in 1925. It’s interesting that the company was “Theater” but their playhouses were “Theatres”.
Uploaded early photo showing the entire facade. Incidentally, Stevenson Theaters was an early operator of the theater, probably from the beginning, since Stevenson Theaters was incorporated in 1925.