In 1967, after Judy Garland was fired from a role...

In 1967, after Judy Garland was fired from a role in the movie adaptation of Jacqueline Susan's novel "Valley of the Dolls," Westbury owner Lee Guber took advantage of the situation. He met Garland at the airport when she arrived in New York and convinced her right there to perform at Westbury. Garland put on a one-day cabaret performance of her greatest hits on June 18, 1967, wearing a sequined pantsuit she took from the "Valley of the Dolls" set. Credit: NYCB Theater at Westbury

It opened its doors in 1956 as the Westbury Music Fair, housed in a circus tent on the grounds of an abandoned industrial site off Brush Hollow Road.

Ten years later, after finding success, the theater was rebuilt into a permanent indoor structure that stands today as the NYCB Theater at Westbury.

Marketing manager Dan Kellachan, who has worked there for 35 years, has seen it all. He shared with Newsday some little-known tidbits that make up the theater’s rich history.

(Mobile users: Click on the link to see the photo list.)

With everything from shopping small to the hottest gifts, even where to eat while you are on a mall marathon, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have it covered.  Credit: Randee Daddona; Newsday / Howard Schnapp

NewsdayTV's ultimate holiday shopping show With everything from shopping small to the hottest gifts, even where to eat while you are on a mall marathon, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have it covered. 

With everything from shopping small to the hottest gifts, even where to eat while you are on a mall marathon, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have it covered.  Credit: Randee Daddona; Newsday / Howard Schnapp

NewsdayTV's ultimate holiday shopping show With everything from shopping small to the hottest gifts, even where to eat while you are on a mall marathon, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have it covered. 

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