Staten Island Theater & Film

Before the advent of the huge megaplex theaters, many a movie theater were operating on Staten Island. In the 1930's there were as many as 13 theaters with 1000's of seats operating at the same time. They were not only movie houses but many were playhouses and some featured vaudeville acts. Old-timers can tell you about the many giveaways and contests that the movie theaters had. In 1948 the island opened the first drive-in theater in New York City, it was located on Richmond Avenue. Two movie theaters with the same names operated at different ends of the island. We also had two movie theaters on New Dorp Lane.