Midnight in Riverhead, Glitz and Glamour at the Grand Opening of the Suffolk Theater

Even Woody Allen would have to pick his jaw up off the floor had he seen the real life "Midnight In Paris" scene taking place on Main Street in Riverhead Saturday night.

The marquee flashed promotions for upcoming events, the lights flickered in rhythm, jazz music blared from the speakers and huge spotlights filled the night sky with exciting rays that foreshadowed the glamorous Hollywood evening in store for guests at the Suffolk Theater Grand Opening Gala.

I half expected Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to emerge from the vintage cars that lined the street in front of the theater; Dianne and Bob Castaldi left no detail to the imagination. Red carpets, velvet ropes, doormen with flat-topped hats, and photographers with cameras flashing made every moment a true Hollywood experience. And all this before we even walked through the doors!

Once inside my heart swelled and my eyes welled. I was Owen Wilson, transported back in time to my favorite era, bumping into celebrities like Charlie Chaplin and Marylin Monroe. “Cigarette girls” in fishnet stockings and short dresses walked around selling Suffolk Theater merchandise and comically large holders for candy cigs. Paperboys handed out issues of the Suffolk Theater Times. The color schemes of paint on the wall and murals are true to their original 1933 conception and all the art deco accents would make Gatsby drool. I did not see one guest out of character with the men in tuxedos and suits, and the ladies in glittery gowns, feather boas, and the very best in 1930s bling.

I could write a novel on the band, Vince Giordino and the Nighthawks. I stole a moment with Giordino to chat with him about how he began. He formed the band in the 1970s and named them after a favorite troupe of his from the 1920s. The original “Nighthawks” started as a nameless jazz combo that played late nights on the radio, and one evening the DJ got a call from an angry farmer complaining that at that hour the only things listening were a bunch of night hawks. They dug it, kept it and so did Vince! Vince Giordino and the Nighthawks played an amazing array of standards and lesser-known tunes and even some Cole Porter! (And yes I did expect to see Porter at the piano when I looked over.) The crowd adored them and the dance floor was filled with couples all night, so much so that they even extended their set a whole hour and we swung until 10 p.m.

Once the after party began at 10 p.m. it felt like a sad push back into reality. I would have been happy to swing the whole night away. The DJ did try to ease the guests from the '30s to present day by playing songs throughout the decades, and the crowd looked happy to be dancing and grooving to the mix. The only complaint I heard all evening was at the bar. The bartenders were fabulous but their numbers too few! I waited for 30 minutes before I was able to spend my Suffolk Theater poker chip for a drink and there were plenty of grumbles from those around me echoing their dismay at the wait. The food was delectable, passed hors d'oeuvres that gave us a true taste for the era. My favorites were the chopsticks and mini Chinese to go boxes filled with a spicy noodle and seaweed salad and meatballs with a marinara dip. Italian and Chinese cuisine might seem strange, but those foods were considered the epitome of exotic in the 1930s.

The Suffolk Theater is open for business, but this place is still a work in progress. I noticed the fabric missing from the panels on the walls and felt that they symbolize that while everything that night was glamorous and beautiful, this theater will only stay that way and open for business if the community keeps the enthusiasm and support going. The playbill that was distributed was filled with opportunities for businesses to sponsor items in the theater such as the ornate mosaic drinking fountain, to purchase advertising space in their quarterly playbill, and for the public to purchase memberships. One can even buy a brick and “pave the way” for the future of the space. Their March calendar is already packed with a diverse offering of shows, movies, and events. Let’s not let the party end this weekend, this space is one to be supported and celebrated every day of the year.

The evening was a roaring success, the theater is gorgeous, the guests had a fabulous time, and all the little details came together to create a true time capsule of an event!