First opened in 1911, Sayville Theater has since established itself as a community treasure and a generational family tradition.
Originally titled the Novelty Theatre and situated on the adjacent property after a fire, it was rebuilt afterwards in 1951 when two architects, John Eberson and Drew Eberson, designed the present-day structure.
As one of the few historic downtown cinemas that survive to this day, it has been noted for its beautiful marble features and has been described as a “trip down memory lane” for its classic American movie theater vibes.
Beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a global shutdown of gathering spaces for safety, with Sayville Theater being no exception. Twenty months later, the theater reopened its doors again but had already become insolvent, at which point Landmark Plaza Properties Corp. began absorbing a large portion of operational costs until the theater operator’s bankruptcy proceedings concluded on February 10th, 2023 and ownership was finally transferred to the Fickling family.
Just six days later, on February 16th, 2023, the Sayville Theater held its widely announced grand re-opening with the premier of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and began the process of restoring the theater to its original condition, which had fallen into disrepair during the pandemic and was reduced to just one fully operational screen. The Sayville Theater has since begun a period of new revitalization, with significant renovations and modernization of equipment, including with new premium laser projectors, new screens, and online ticket purchasing options, with even more improvements expected through 2024.
With the overwhelming and continued show of support from our community, we are thankful to be able to continue selling adult tickets for just $8.00 to this day, bringing the traditional magic of cinema into the lives of a new generation of visitors.
We are a fully independent, family-owned and operated business, and a proud equal opportunity employer.
In the News
- Stankovich, Jordan. “The history of theatres in Sayville.” The Long Island Advance, 5 April 2023.
- Ledda, Brianne. “Rebranded Sayville Theater has reopened under new ownership.” Newsday, 8 March 2023.
- Desmond, Sam. “Sayville Theater to Be Restored.” The Islip Bulletin, 15 Feb. 2023.
- Borruto, Ana. “Sayville Cinemas Reopens.” Greater Sayville, 13 Nov. 2021.
Memory Gallery
