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By Thomas Lin

Sick of Hollywood hype, overdone special effects and overpriced tickets?

Head to the Kew Gardens Cinemas and step into a different world of movie-making magic.

You won’t find the latest Harry Potter flick or Julia Roberts love story at the old-fashioned, viewer friendly theater. No, there aren’t any Hollywood blockbusters or big commercial pictures like the ones shown at the borough’s many multiplexes.

Instead, this cinematic jem shows artsy independent films like “Nowhere in Africa,” “Monsoon Wedding” and “Croupier” – films usually saved for the big screens in Manhattan.

“‘Croupier’ was great. It was like a little jewel,” said Harvey Elgart, owner and founder of the Kew Gardens Cinemas. He decided five years ago to buy the old Austin Theater in Kew Gardens and turn it into an indie palace, and it has grown in attendance to the point of profitability.

But even as the only all-art-film theater in Queens, living off indie flicks hasn’t always been easy.

“It took a long time,” Elgart said. “I bought the property and totally restored the theater – put in five new screens. The first two years were a real struggle to survive.”

A veteran of the movie theater business, Elgart didn’t quit, even when times were tough. “I’ve been operating movie theaters since 1972, the first owned in 1977. They were commercial theaters. This is my first exclusively art film theater.”

He clung to his baby, and, one day, it happened. “All of a sudden, there was a line outside.”

Elgart says he attends as many film screenings as he can before deciding which films to book.

“We just finished ‘Swimming Pool,’ which was excellent,” he said. “We are currently showing ‘Magdalene Sisters.’ It’s a great film, powerful film, great acting. It works because the story is so powerful.”

Other films currently on-screen include “Dirty Pretty Things,” “Lost in Translation,” “Mambo Italiano,” “So Close,” “Taking Sides” and “Thirteen.”

Elgart said he’s glad he didn’t give up on the Cinemas. “That many years later, obviously I made the right decision, because it is a success now. Every day there’s always new people coming.”

You can find the Kew Gardens Cinemas at 81-05 Lefferts Blvd. To hear a listing of films currently showing, call (718) 441-9835.

By Thomas Lin

When Glenn O'Brien and Henry Jagiello first decided to start a basketball league, they were just two friends looking for something new to do.

Now, the two friends incorporated themselves and, using previous experience running sports leagues and teenage basketball camps, are ready to get the ball rolling – or bouncing.

 The two have established the Bayside-based Old Style Leagues, Inc., a recreational basketball league for adults.

"We always thought about doing this," said O'Brien, the 38-year-old president of the league. "Little by little, it became a reality."

Games begin the week of Oct. 6 and will be officiated by licensed referees. Players 18 years and older may register for the 10-game season, which is to be followed by playoffs and a championship.

"We have a liberal playoff system. Most teams will make the playoffs," O'Brien said. Each night, he added, games will feature half-time shooting contests, with winner-take-all cash prizes.

Games will be held Monday through Thursday evenings at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bayside, located at 36-01 Bell Blvd. There is a $400 per team registration fee which covers 10 team t-shirts plus insurance. During the regular season, each team plays 10 games in nine weeks.

O'Brien said that seven teams have registered so far and seven more have said they will join. He added he would like to sign at least 12 teams and could accommodate up to 24. Registration will remain open until Oct. 16.

O'Brien is confident the league will be a slam dunk, saying he and Jagiello plan to grow the league year after year. "The future plan is to have our own facility. It's a grand plan. We will definitely have the best well-run league around."

For more information about Old Style Leagues, Inc., call (917) 669-2544.

The Boss is heading to Queens to play three concerts at Shea Stadium, and the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is rolling out the red carpet for his fans.

The LIRR announced this week that it will be adding stops to all Port Washington branch trains leaving Penn Station, Port Washington and Great Neck between 3:49 p.m. and 12:21 a.m. on the evenings of Oct. 1, Oct. 3, and Oct. 4 – the nights Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band are set to rock Shea Stadium.

For the final concert on Oct. 4, Shea Stadium stops will be added to all Port Washington branch trains leaving Penn Station between 3:22 p.m. and 12:31 a.m. The LIRR is also adding half hour service from Great Neck between 4:11 p.m. and 7:11 p.m.,  and Woodside stops on select eastbound trains from Penn Station between 10:25 p.m. and 1:20 a.m.

Westbound stops to Shea will be added leaving Port Washington between 4:39 p.m. and 12:39 a.m. There will also be half hour service added from Great Neck from 5:36 P.M. thru 8:36 P.M.

The LIRR will be providing special copies of Oct. 1, 3, and 4 “Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Shea Stadium” timetables from their local stations or at all LIRR Information Center. Customers can also get more information at www.mta.info.   

– Jostyn Hernandez