Herman Melville mentioned it in his book Moby Dick. Writers John Steinbeck and E.L. Doctorow lived there. The first custom house in the United States was built there, and New York State’s first volunteer fire company called it home. It was also a hub of the whaling industry in the 18th century. Sag Harbor, positioned between East Hampton and South Hampton on Long Island, has a rich history. Resting on Main Street with its iconic red neon sign is a historic place that many have enjoyed. The Sag Harbor Cinema is one of the only remaining single screen cinemas in the area, however, its legacy came to a halt last December when a fire raged through the building. In order to preserve its legacy, Billy Joel donated money to help rebuild and preserve the historic theater.
The Sag Harbor Cinema has been a staple in Sag Harbor for over 100 years and has provided an eclectic fair of entertainment to audiences. The building was originally used for vaudeville and in the 1920s began running silent movies. By the thirties, the cinema was running movies all the time. The single screen cinema is unique not only for its continued use of a single screen, but also for its legacy to provide an eclectic mix of entertainment. Audiences can find everything from a foreign film to a documentary to an independent film(sagharborcinema). It is also one of the remaining theaters to have 35mm film capabilities alongside its digital fair. With its long-standing history, the cinema has impacted many throughout its time, however, its history is now in jeopardy.
Last December, the Sag Harbor Cinema was damaged by a fire and the extent was devastating. Its owner, Gerald Mallow, originally purchased the cinema in the 1970s and kept its traditions. The cinema has been a life-work for him according to Robby Stein, deputy mayor of Sag Harbor (pagesix.com). The entire front of the building was damaged to a point it had to be demolished. The theater screen and seating area appeared to be in good condition, but they will need to inspect it to see the extent of damage. Thankfully, they were able to save the iconic neon red sign that lit up Main Street and welcomed audiences.
(Sag Harbor fire on Main Street in December 2016. Footage courtesy of CBS New York)
Welcoming audiences with its neon glow, the cinema has impacted many including Billy Joel. Joel, who is a part-time resident of Sag Harbor, along with Martin Scorsese and Harvey Weinstein have donated money to the Sag Harbor Partnership’s campaign to restore the theater. Nick Gazzalo, President of the Sag Harbor Partnership explained, “Billy has spent a lot of time in Sag Harbor. He knows exactly how much the sign and the cinema mean to all of Main Street. It’s so encouraging that he answered the call to help restore this landmark with such a generous gift (billyjoel.com). ” The partnership needs to raise six million by the July 1, 2017 to ensure that the theater can be rebuilt and Joel’s donation has helped them get almost halfway there with $2,255,655.00 in donations to date. Once fully funded, the partnership plans on making the cinema a year-round center focused on education, outreach and programming.
The historic Sag Harbor Cinema sits on Main Street in Sag Harbor, Long Island. With its red neon sign welcoming people from far and wide, the cinema has enjoyed over 100 years of entertainment. However, its legacy is in jeopardy after a fire caused extensive damage to the building. Part-time Sag Harbor resident Billy Joel has donated to the rebuilding campaign in hopes to save the iconic and historic theater. His donation will help ensure the theater will continue to entertain people for years to come.
~Jenna Jakes, WOGB
Related Links:
Joel Advocates for Music Education
