After 'Packed House,' More Movie Nights At Greenport Theater

GREENPORT, NY — Build it (or open it) — and they will come. The popular adage was overwhelmingly true as the Greenport movie theater opened its doors during the winter months recenly to offer free films to residents — and a crowd packed the house.

Tony Spiridakis, one of the co-founders of the Manhattan Film Institute, and his partner Lisa Gillooly teamed up to present the MFI Winter Film Series — a rare treat; the movie theater has long been shuttered in the winter months.

And based on the overwhelming response, a new lineup of films has been planned, as follows, for the Saturdays @ 7 Winter Series:

Best Picture Winners
Jan. 19: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest," 1975
Jan. 23 : "The Sting," 1973
Feb. 2: "The Apartment," 1960
Feb. 9: "Shakespeare in Love," 1998
Feb. 16 : "Unforgiven," 1992
Feb. 23: "An American In Paris," 1951

Films will be screened every Saturday at 7 p.m. through May 18, with additional films still to be added to the schedule.

The fruition of a dream lifted hearts, Spiridakis said: "It was an amazing feeling to see the lobby of our beautiful old movie theater fill up with happy faces right before showtime."

Well over 600 moviegoers came to the Greenport Theater over a three-day period, he said.

"We had to scramble to find seats for people during some performances, and could not have done any of this without our volunteers, or the generous donations from the public. Big thank yous to all of you," Spiridakis said.

One moment, in particular, crystallized why the film series is so meaningful, he said.

"It was at the screening of 'It's A Wonderful Life.' I saw a few teenagers texting before the show started. And, by the end of that film, one of those teens was crying, and another was singing 'Auld Lang Syne,' along with many in the packed theater. Experiencing film in a group, in a dark theater with a lot of strangers, is not something we do much anymore. Most of us have really cool smart TVs. But hearing a crowd laugh as we laugh, gasp when we gasp, or a laugh from the guy next to us when we're crying — it's really the point of why films exist. They were made for large audiences to experience together. It's a communal thing."

When the film series was first announced, Spiridakis said a lot of effort went into making the dream a reality; he first approached theater owner Josh Sapan about the possibility in September.

Reflecting on how the idea was born to bring Christmas magic to the Greenport movie theater, Spiridakis said, for so many years, seeing the lights off at the theater sparked his curiosity.

"When I asked the reason, I discovered it was that the heat didn't work," he said. "I have developed a wonderful working relationship with Josh Sapan, who has let MFI screen our short films on Sunday mornings for the past eight years."

After MFI's two-week program wraps up each year, all 25 original films are shown at the Greenport theater, Spiridakis said. "It's always packed."

In September, Spiridakis sent Sapan an email. "I said, 'Hey, this is crazy, but what if I take a shot at fixing the heat?'" he said.

Spiridakis had just moved from Orient to Greenport Village and knew great individuals who'd worked on his house and could help, he said.

Heating issues were resolved, Spiridakis said. "This is a heating system that hasn't been used in the winter in 16 years," he said.

Spiridakis thanked two men who, he said, he could not have done the project without — Sean Cambell of C&H Air Corp. and Joe Whitecavage of Vanetten Plumbing & Heating.

While the films are free, donations are gratefully accepted, Spiridakis said.

Sapan spoke to Patch about MFI's new winter film series: "The opening of the theatre is the work of the indefatigable Tony Spiridakis, coordinated by the extraordinary theatre manager John McCabe. Tony's love of film, his generous spirit and his tirelessness made it happen," Sapan said. "Though we all carry more screens than ever, there's nothing quite like the magic of watching great movies on the silver screen with an audience of friends and neighbors. I'm so glad the people of Greenport will get to do this."

Based on the huge response, Spiridakis is already putting together lists of "films we're really excited about. This is just about people coming, and utilizing the space — that's all that's left to discover. The more people turn out, show their excitement and love of this, the more chance we'll keep it rolling. The only thing stopping us, is us," Spiridakis said.

Concessions will also be available, he said.

So far, North Fork residents are thrilled with the idea. "The North Fork is seeing a large number of people transitioning from seasonal to year-round," said George Giannaris, owner of Hellenic Restaurant. "I'm excited to see the impact the theater will have in the winter. I believe it will take off. If it does, it's an indication of a turnaround for the North Fork, transitioning from a seasonal destination to a year-round destination."

Keeping the theater's doors open year-round, at least on weekends, is an idea that's been discussed over the past years.

In 2017, Sapan told Patch that he would love to keep the theater open year round, but issues, including heat and management, needed to be addressed.

Sapan agreed with residents who have enthusiastically embraced the idea on social media, stating that they'd love to have a movie theater to enjoy year-round.

"I have always dreamed of the theater being open all year," Sapan said. "The theater is a passion of mine and I love providing the theater at no cost to The Maritime Museum for their film showings, to the MFI student film program at no charge for their film exhibition, and working with East End Arts," he said. "We have an artist exhibit of their work each summer. There have been superb photography exhibitions."

Sapan, CEO of AMC Networks, said he's long has a love for movie theaters.

Completely as a personal project of the heart, Sapan, on his own, purchased the Greenport Village Cinema in 2004.

Since then, he said, the theater has been renovated completely, with the Greenport sign on the front originally designed and fabricated, and the metal facing and ticket booth designed. All four theaters and seats, he said, were refurbished, with an attempt to keep the original architecture and design intact. In addition, the theatre was converted to digital, with digital projectors installed and purchased, Sapan said.

Love for the big screen

From the first, the Village Cinema, with its walls echoing of days gone by, spoke to Sapan.

"Since I was a kid, I have loved movies and movie theatres," Sapan said. "The movie 'Cinema Paradiso' made an big impression on me, as it was an homage to movies and movie exhibition. Growing up, I paid $3 to watch four movies in a row in a beat up Times Square theatre. The movies were billed as 'Spend a Day with Clint Eastwood'. They were 'spaghetti westerns', three directed by Sergio Leone, with music by the great composer Ennio Morricone. It was a rare nine hours that crystallized my love of sitting in a dark theatre in front of a big screen."

That deeply ingrained love of film explained why he followed his heart and purchased the Village Cinema as a personal project, he said.

"I found the opportunity to continue that in a permanent home in Greenport irresistible, as the theater is historic and Greenport such a wonderful place," he said.

Film, and the movie houses that present them, touches the deepest part of Sapan's heart, he said.

"There is a song by Loudon Wainwright of Shelter Island called 'Movies Are A Mother to Me.' In it, he beautifully describes the healing qualities of going to the movies. I wanted to see the Greenport Theatre survive so Greenport had a theater. As so many historic theaters are disappearing, I thought the theater should not be torn down, but should be preserved and alive and vital," he said.

And, he said in 2017, the movie theater, dark in the winter, was just waiting for the chance to open its doors in winter. "Whenever the community is organized and ready, the theater is there," he said.

For additional information on MFI's Saturdays @ 7 Winter Film Series, or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit MFI's website at: www.ManhattanFilmInstitute.com or call (646) 653-2634.

Films are subject to change; check the website for any changes.

Patch photo by Zack Diesu, MFI alumnus.