Madison Theater

The Madison Theater is for sale at http://www.loopnet.com/profile/propertyprofile.asp?LL=true&LID=13718398&STID=cbre

The Madison Theater did reopen in 2002, but closed down again in 2003.

This should be listed as a 7-screen multiplex. It seats 715.

While in a closed movie palace in Pennsylvania, I ran across several clippings about movie theatres. One clipping was from the local newspaper with an A.P. article about the Madison. The last film it showed before the closing and "plexing" was "Exit to Eden". The theatre sat 700 patrons and boasted a hugh 54ft by 26ft screen covered with retractable curtains. Barry Rosenblatt was the owner and the theatre has been in his family since 1976. Sorry, no date was visible on the article

Does anyone have any ideas on whether it would or would not be a good idea to buy the Madison Theater and renovate and reopen it?

The Madison could be a profitable operation, in my opinion (having grown up in the area), if it were reopened as a second-run house, with "ALL SEATS $2.99" or something similar. The Hoyts chain ran their Cine 10 as a very successful $2.99 house, but did not continue its operation beyond its lease. The Madison should still be in very good shape. It's located practically across the street from St. Rose College and the University at Albany. I don't believe it would be a very successful first run (unless you were able to deep-discount it-$5 for adults) because Regal operates 30 screens about 3 miles up the road, and there is a successful Art/Upscale operation (The Spectrum 8) a couple of miles on the other side.
There is quite a bit of buzz going on upstate that some developer is wanting to demolish the Madison and replace it with a CVS Drug Store. So hurry!

What a great theater the Madison was! I spent a lot of time there as a child, my Great Grandfather managed it for a long time! Not only the Madison but (throughout his career) the Strand (long gone), the Delaware (now the Spectrum) and the Palace (now owned by the city). My siblings, cousins and I just had the best times there, serving ourselves from the candy counter and visiting the projection booth! What memories!

The Madison Theater has been purchased by a developer who plans to reopen as a first run theater. Details here.

Any word on any progress?

Things are moving ahead, slowly but very well. The theater opened for Star Wars III, and we've gradually been adding more features as we complete work on the theaters. As of today, we have four theaters up and running, the two largest houses (both DTS equipped, one with a brand new screen that looks FANTASTIC) and two of the midsized theaters (currently in analog, soon in SDDS) and a 5th will be done by next week.

I will be glad to post some links to pictures when I get a chance. If you are in the area, feel free to drop in!

The words "Norma Jean" should be removed from the name of this theatre.

While the name is being changed, it would be a good idea to also change the address:
1036 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12208

At least this theater has been saved. It came close to being a CVS pharmacy which we could always use more of......NOT!

"Former Madison Theater gets a new owner"

"Along with several partners, Joe Tesiero, who operates a movie theater in Amsterdam, N.Y., has purchased the former Norma Jean Madison movie theater in Albany, N.Y. for $225,000 from No Frills Inc. of Newburgh, N.Y. The partnership group 1036-1040 Madison LLC plans to reopen the theater as a first-run movie house this summer.

The seven-screen movie theater has been closed since mid-2003 and has significant damage from a flood while it was vacant, Tesiero said. The partners have not yet determined how much repairs will cost.

No Frills is an arm of the New York City-based Bank of New York, which had taken possession of the theater in 2003. The deal was brokered by Ann MacAffer and John MacAffer of CB Richard Ellis Albany.

Tesiero last year had a deal to develop a movie theater in downtown Schenectady fall apart over financing and parking issues. The then-proposed 14-screen Diamond Cinema was to be one of the cornerstones in the development of Schenectady's arts and entertainment district.

Tesiero said he's not gun shy about proposing another theater project. The difference this time is that 1036-1040 Madison is not asking for public money for the project.

We have the equipment we bought for Schenectady. We're ready to try again. We're going to take our time and open when we're ready, Tesiero said.

An attempt last year by the CVS pharmacy chain to buy and demolish the building to make room for an expanded pharmacy had met with resistance from members of the community. CVS already has a store next door, but wanted the new location to include a drive through window".

It seems that currently they are only running shows on four of the seven screens.

In January of 1970 this was the RKO Madison:
http://gravediggervideo.com/ads/oz7001.jpg

Does anyone have a way to contact Joe Tesorio or the Madison's office? Their box office number just gives show times and doesn't give out an administrative number.

A Wurlitzer organ Opus 2041 Style 190 was installed in the Madison Theater on 4/17/1929.

While recently in Albany I was not told about this other Lamb theatre so unfortunately did not locate it so I would love to see a photo.

It's currently open. There's nothing left of the original interior, but very little was left before the multiplex was done- in the 1980's it had a large open auditorium that was very plain- draped walls and a little deco on the ceiling. The facade still has nice deco terra cotta though.

There was a fire in 1996, if the reference is to this Norma Jean. Am I correct in that there was only one Norma Jean in the city of Albany?
http://tinyurl.com/2wdsbq

There was only one theater by that name in Albany (thank God) and the fires did superficial cosmetic damage so the owner could close the building. Currently it's up and running.

This is a recent close-up of the Madison Theater marquee.

Does anyone here know anything about the former theater on Clinton Ave? For a brief time during its recent rebuilding a bit of the modest spanish/moorish facade reappeared. Now it's housing a black community organization and a SEFCU branch. I think it might have been a Paramount theater.
Eric- estott at localnet.com

Just felt I had to make a comment here.

I have been going to the Madison since I was a little kid. Saw many movies there and remember the original interior.

Since 1998 I have been the technician for the projection and sound equipment. First for Paul Feidler, who chopped it up and gave it the name Norma Jean. I rehabbed the equipment for BCG when they took it over.

When they left all the equipment was pulled.

In the spring of 2005 I was working on a booth install in California and got back with less than two weeks to get the new equipment running in one theater for Star Wars.

We then went on, one screen at a time getting them open. All 7 screens have been open for over a year.

I must confess that I am also one of the partnership that owns the theater and as of the summer of 07, the manager too.

The building has suffered from quite a bit of neglect over the years. With it open I hope to continue the improvements as the business will permit.

We have digital sound on 3 screens with the possibility of more as my time permits. Another dream is to get the 70mm sound working. I’m really just short a lens and the time.

We may not have all the state of the art wiz bang that the malls have to offer but I promise that you will enjoy yourself with a personal touch as everyone is appreciated.

Oh yea and I noticed that my head projectionist has already posted a while back too.

The new web site is www.madison-theater.com

My email is jaytp@capital.net if you can’t reach me through the web site.

Jay

The name of this theater should be changed back to Madison Theater. The Norma Jean operation has been disassociated with this theater for some time.

jay pregent came into my theater today and gave me his card so i looked up the madison. very cool

Here is a recent night view of the Madison.