80-82 Beekman Ave.
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While certain aspects of the Tarrytowns,
such as the joint school district, often
brought residents of the two villages more
closely together, each village having its
own movie theater seemed to have quite
the opposite effect. I think it is fair
to say that many young residents of
the Tarrytowns in the ‘50s & ‘60s
grew up partial to their own village’s
cinema. Opening in 1915, No. Tarrytown’s
theater–the “Strand” of 80-82 Beekman
Ave. (above)–boasted 450 seats; not too
shabby, but well below the 800+ seats in
Tarrytown’s “Music Hall.” Notice below, the
custom-built alley entrances on either
side of the theatre. Now that’s class!
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Successfully making the transition to
‘talkies,’ things continued along gen-
erally well; that is, until the 1960s,
by which time its business model had
become hopelessly outdated. Directly
to the west lay “Stoller’s Dept. Store”
(below, to the right of the theatre), which
must have had an exclusive franchise to
sell those infamous girls’ P.E. uniforms.
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As for the Strand itself, it started
to pass through the hands of a succession
of theatre proprietors, over a period of
some 15 years.
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I have encountered an Urban Legend of
sorts, centering around the Strand: old-
timers recall the intermission raffle
which included a live-turkey giveaway
for Thanksgiving! Others recall similar
events on Wednesday nights, a different
dish or drinking glass being given away
each week. In the late 1970s, one cre-
ative owner--giving up entirely on films--
decided to level the floor, turning it into
a roller skating rink! It was next occupied
by the “Body Shop” and “Flex Fitness.”
Ultimately, it was converted into the
“Open Door Family Medical Center.” A few
years ago, but after the taking of the
bottom photo, a new, expanded facility
by the same name opened elsewhere
in Sleepy Hollow (No. Broadway
at New Broadway). It makes one ponder:
what other noble purpose might await
this historic building? Cinema, roller-
skating rink, gymnasium, place-of-healing:
those are hard acts to follow!
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