Sag Harbor Movie Theater in Ruins, Question of Demolition Swirls

SAG HARBOR, NY — Devastated residents expressed heartbreak Friday as the ruins of an iconic and historic movie theater sat smoking in Sag Harbor — and the question swirled of whether or not the skeletal remains of the theater, including its legendary facade, would soon face the wrecking ball.

The pre-dawn fire raced across the village's charming and well-known Main Street as firefighters, coated in ice, braved the frigid temperatures and fierce winds trying to save local businesses ravaged by flames and heavy smoke.

And late Friday afternoon, residents walked as far as they could on Main Street, struggling to get a look at what remained.

Photo by Tanya Malott.

The Sag Harbor Cinema sits "gutted," according to firefighters, with its roof and interior structure completely collapsed and only its walls and facade remaining; the fire also badly damaged neighboring businesses.

The question heavy on minds and hearts Friday night was whether the decision would be made to demolish the historic movie theater's familiar and beloved facade.

Chris Connor, who sits on the Sag Harbor architectural review board, said the future of the structure was uncertain. Connor said he has been in touch with the ARB chair, who is in talks with the Sag Harbor building department and Sag Harbor Village Mayor Sandra Schroeder.

"Rumors are spreading that they are taking it down tonight but I do not believe them to be true. Such a loss," Connor said, adding that if possible, the facade, with its familiar neon sign, needs to be saved. "We need to fight," he said.

The well-known neon sign, Connor said, is just 10 years old, "an exact replica of the original."

Resident David Falkowski, who lives across the street from the Sag Harbor Fire Department, said he heard the whistles and alarms early Friday and then, trucks responding. After speaking to a fireman, he said he knew the grim truth: "Main Street's on fire."

Born and raised in Sag Harbor, Falkowski said Friday's fire dealt a staggering blow. "What hurts most is that these are icons we lost today. The movie theater is iconic. What does the universe say when it's striking down the last of the iconic symbols of the small towns we grew up in? It's a strange feeling. It's a shame to have such iconic places damaged."

Reflecting on the day, Falkowski said, "We were all emotional this morning. This was our hometown on fire."

His life is colored with memories of the theater, Falkowski said, laughing fondly as he remembered the "world's most uncomfortable seats."

But the fire affected the livelihoods of small business owners who will now struggle, he said.

The holiday season, he added, is one of the busiest for small business owners, save the summer months.

"Iconic places like the movie theater give these towns their character and identity," he said. "People come here and remember the cool movie theater and the five and dime."

Tommy Stuckart said he grew up in Sag Harbor, and is now raising a family of his own in the village.

"The movie theater is iconic," he said.

Stuckart said he's also concerned for his family and other residents, regarding all the smoke they inhaled Friday. He's concerned about "asbestos and other hazardous building materials that were used when those buildings were built," back in the 1930s, he said.

While no word has been given on possible demolition of the theater, Stuckart said an excavating firm has heavy equipment on site to demolish buildings.

Lead photo by Tommy Stuckart was taken by drone and reveals the ravaged and gutted remains of the movie theater.

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