As a twentysomething in Commack, I grew up going to the Commack Multiplex Cinemas a.k.a. the Commack Movie Theater. (Unfortunately I grew up a generation too late to enjoy the uber cool Commack drive-in.)
When I was just a tot I was enamored by the bright lights, colorful graphics, and theme park-like entrance into the Commack Movie Theater. There were fun claw games and photo booths scattered about that were screaming to be used. And the popcorn always made me drool a little as I waited for extra butter to be poured on top. It probably also helped that all the movie billboards and signage inside were twice the size of me—therefore making them even more lifelike and just plain awesome.
In more recent years, however, the Commack Movie Theater has gotten sketchier and sketchier. Everyone has heard stories of the friend of a friend while they watched a late-night showing of Shrek Two. Or stories of people being harassed or even beaten up by apparent gang members and equally troublesome individuals.
While in high school, these crazy stories did not stop me from watching the latest new releases; though I must admit that it did lead me to explore other cheaper options such as Elwood Movie Theater on a Tuesday night (how can you beat those prices!?).
Nowadays, people flock to the new Regal Cinema in the Deer Park Tanger Outlet. Though I’m pretty sure the ticket prices are up to $12 a pop by now, you just can’t compare the Commack Cinemas to that of Deer Park. The Regal Cinema has more than adequate cushiony stadium seating with seats that do not reek of stale popcorn and which actually recline. Regal also hosts an IMAX theater, which gives them an excellent excuse to charge $16 per ticket to a 3D movie.
Though the Commack Movie Theater has lower prices, it is mostly deserted compared to its bustling glory days of a couple of years ago.
Most of us Commackians heard that a Lowe’s will be moving in to replace the Commack Movie Theater… Besides the fact that we actually don’t need another hardware store in Commack right near , , , etc., I bet most people don’t realize that the Commack Theater is actually set to stay open for another year or so (When Lowe’s bought the Commack Movie Theater for $13 million back in May of 2010, part of the agreement was that movies will continue to be shown for up to two years.)
Suffice it to say that in a year or so, when the Commack Movie Theater closes its doors for good, it looks like no one will miss it much.
