Lafayette Theatre
97 Lafayette Avenue,
Suffern,
NY
10901
97 Lafayette Avenue,
Suffern,
NY
10901
37 people
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Lafayette Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Majestic-Star Entertainment
Previously operated by: Boston Culinary Group, Galaxy Theatre Corporation
Architects: Eugene DeRosa
Functions: Movies (Classic), Movies (Film Festivals), Movies (First Run)
Styles: French Renaissance, Italian Renaissance
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
845.547.2121
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Mar 26, 2013 — Ramapo aims to keep the Lafayette a first-run movie theater
- Oct 18, 2011 — HorrorThon at the Lafayette Theatre this weekend
- Nov 4, 2010 — The "Horror-Thon" - November 5-7 at the Lafayette Theatre
- Oct 7, 2010 — Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) silent film at Grand Theater with Jeff Barker at Console
- Jul 1, 2009 — Classic Film Theaters in New Jersey and New York?
- Oct 30, 2008 — Lafayette Science Fiction Spectacular 2008 Begins 10/31
- Mar 6, 2008 — 6th Year of Classic Films at the Lafayette Theatre begins March 8th
- Oct 18, 2007 — Horror-Thon 2007 Film Festival comes to the historic Lafayette Theatre, October 19-20-21
- Sep 27, 2007 — Today's Newsreel
- Oct 19, 2006 — The Horror & Science Fiction Festival 2006 at the Lafayette Theatre
- Mar 9, 2006 — Salute To Movie Musicals at the Lafayette Theatre
- Feb 2, 2006 — Lafayette Theatre Announces 4th Big Year of Classic Film Entertainment!
- Nov 4, 2005 — The SALUTE TO FILM PRESERVATION comes to the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, NY - November 12 & 13
- Oct 19, 2005 — The HORRORTHON comes to the Lafayette Theatre October 22 & 23.
- Apr 8, 2005 — 3-Day Silent Film Festival At Lafayette Theatre Begins Tomorrow
- Mar 16, 2005 — Silent Film Festival at the Lafayette Theatre!
- Sep 10, 2004 — Sci-Fi Film Fest at Lafayette Theatre, September 10-12!
- Jul 23, 2004 — Science Fiction Film Festival Hits Historic Lafayette Theatre
- Dec 17, 2003 — 3-D Film Festival Comes to the Lafayette Theatre!
The history of the Lafayette Theatre, named for the Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette, began when the Suffern Amusement Company hired noted theater architect Eugene DeRosa to design a location on Lafayette Avenue in downtown Suffern, New York. DaRosa’s concept was a combination of French and Italian Renaissance influences, subtlety mixed in a “Beaux Arts” style. The theater was also equipped with a custom-designed Muller organ to accompany silent films and augment live performances.
The Lafayette Theatre opened its doors in 1924 with the silent film classic “Scaramouche,” and flourished through the rest of the 1920’s with live vaudeville shows and film presentations. A renovation in 1927 added the distinctive Opera Boxes along the side walls and, shortly thereafter, the projection equipment was updated to play the new miracle called ‘Talking Pictures’. During the mid-1930’s, an air-cooling system was installed which, unfortunately, forced the removal of the organ. It was during this renovation that the chandelier was also removed.
After World War II ended, movie-going habits changed with the advent of television. To keep pace with audience expectations, the Lafayette Theatre changed, too. Equipment to handle 3-D films was installed in early 1953 and, later that year, the Lafayette Theatre was the first theater in Rockland County to install CinemaScope to show widescreen, stereophonic sound movies. The premiere engagement was the Biblical epic “The Robe” and audiences flocked to the Lafayette Theatre to see it in the new widescreen process, modestly known as “The Miracle You See Without Glasses!”
The Lafayette’s star faded during the 1950’s and 1960’s as downtown populations moved further into the suburbs and television took hold as the popular entertainment medium of the day. Luckily, the Lafayette Theatre was spared both the wrecking ball and the multiplexing boom, where large single-screen auditoriums were divided up into several small theaters to accommodate playing several films at once. As part of a minor renovation in the late 1980s, the old stage was refurbished and the New York Theatre Organ Society installed a new pipe organ, the Ben Hall Memorial Mighty Wurlitzer.
In the late-1990’s, the Lafayette’s future as a single-screen neighborhood movie palace was uncertain until Robert Benmosche, a resident of Suffern and chairman of MetLife Insurance, saw the potential of the Lafayette Theatre and purchased the building that houses the theater, making necessary and immediate repairs to the roof and exterior in order to prevent any more serious damage from occurring.
Late in 2002, the Galaxy Theatre Corporation, under the leadership of Nelson Page, took a long-term lease to operate the 1,000-seat Lafayette Theatre as a single-screen movie house, erasing any lingering fears that the unique building would be converted to small auditoriums. Page and his team began immediately to refurbish the interior of the theater, bringing back its luxurious pre-war style while investing it with modern projection equipment and concession areas. In September of 2003, a chandelier was hoisted to the ceiling of the Lafayette Theatre, the first time an ornate lighting fixture had been there since the 1930’s, and it was a final signal of the rebirth and continued good health of Suffern’s downtown treasure.
The Lafayette Theatre thrives seven days a week as a first-run movie theater. From February 2003 to December 2008, a classic film series, especially on Saturday mornings, presented over 250 classic films. Boston Culinary Group became a partner of Page in 2007, and Page departed in January 2009, but later in 2009 Page bought out Boston Culinary Group’s interest and resumed control of the theatre. New owners took over in August 2013.
Contributed by
Pete Apruzzese
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Recent comments (view all 917 comments)
Here is a recent article about the renovation plans.
https://rcbizjournal.com/2020/10/19/pandemic-slows-but-has-not-stopped-lafayette-theaters-efforts-to-transform-from-single-screen-venue-to-entertainment-venue/
The owner of the Lafayette Theatre sent out an email yesterday to everyone on their emailing list, copied below.
An Announcement from the Owner:
Lafayette Theater
In response to the recent announcement by Governor Cuomo’s office for the opening of movie theaters, I felt it was important to reach out to our community regarding the future of the Lafayette. Although Rockland County was excluded in the first round of openings, we do not anticipate opening to the public once a Rockland County restriction is lifted. This is due to a number of factors including the in place 25% and 50-person capacity limits per screen. This 50-person limit on capacity would impact our entire single screen auditorium equating to a 5% capacity limit and not a viable option for exhibiting film. I don’t agree with this “one size fits some” restriction but I’m supportive of the administration for make a leadership decision. As you all know, we decided to close our doors before any state mandates and will remain closed until we feel it is safe for our patrons and employees to come back, and not sooner. This is the primary reason why we will remain closed for the remainder of the year and possibly longer. Fortunately, we believe in the future of our community and the future of the Lafayette is bright. I’d like to share some information about our plans.
Our family has owned the theatre for almost 20 years, and we have made the long-term commitment to seeing it succeed. It was in 2013 that I took over operations of the movie theatre and made best efforts to keep our film loving audience entertained. Unfortunately, in the age of digital streaming and over expansion of the multiplex cinema space, that business model alone will no longer survive. To make matters more challenging, large renovations will be needed in the lobby, restrooms and auditorium to continue operating the movie business as-is. That investment is not considered a viable alternative. The only path we see forward is a shift in the type of entertainment we provide to draw a larger audience.
This historic expansion project will transform the 1924 single-screen theatre into a state-of-the-art, ADA-compliant small capacity venue with the ability to host primarily live music, film, comedy, theatre, dance, educational programs as well as private and charitable events. These improvements will allow the nearly 100-year-old icon to entertain audiences for years to come.
The project’s initial scope of work will modernize and expand the theatre into an additional 3,000 square feet of first and second floor retail. On the ground floor, the former Allstate insurance office will operate as a full-service café and bar area. To provide access to this area, the walls between the current lobby and foyer will be opened up. With the existing candy stand removed and the lobby area expanded, patrons will have more space to move around. Two small storage rooms will be recaptured to provide upgraded ADA compliant restrooms, tripling capacity in the women’s restroom. A new accessible ramp is envisioned behind the men’s room to assist patrons around the 3 steps into the auditorium. The second floor is connected from the rear balcony with access to additional restrooms and a bar area.
In the auditorium, from the neck up the theatre will look virtually the same. Our improvements will be focused on a new sound and lighting system, restoring the stage area, installing bars within the venue and removing a majority of the seats to provide for both general admission and seated shows. Seats in the rear balcony will be either restored or purchased new. With the installation of a mechanical roll up screen for films and the preservation of the rear balcony seating, we feel the improvements will hold true to the old majestic charm of the theatre and attract a wider audience at the same time.
While practically speaking this project is on hold until we can all stand shoulder to shoulder again, we’ll continue to finalize our plans and approvals so we can hit the ground running. This project is expected to create multiple year-round jobs for residents and attract visitors from the surrounding NY and NJ counties to our downtown. The theatre has always been an anchor to Downtown Suffern and our investment is meant to enhance that relationship for decades to come. We love being part of the fabric of downtown and remain committed to seeing the Lafayette and our community get through these difficult times.
Stay safe.
Oy. A roll up screen. Im not saying anything else.
“…removing a majority of the seats to provide for both general admission and seated shows.”
Why would you remove seats? I’m hoping something was left out of that statement, otherwise you’ve got a raked floor with no seats.
PeterApruzzese, if they are removing the seats, they will also be leveling the floor. What I read in that email is they’re going to turn the Lafayette into a multi-use live venue. I suspect movies will no longer be the featured item.
I would assume as much, but that would really change the character of the place.
I assumed that “multi-use live venue” means concerts, plays, speakers. None of which would benefit from leveling the floor. I guess time will tell.
It’s now two years later and no changes to turn it into a live event venue have occurred. Guess the plan is off.
there showing movies
The Lafayette Theatre is currently showing Movies first run films Friday Saturday and Sunday. With a classic series on Saturday mornings. The plan to change it into a live event venue are still in process. Things are just taking longer than expected but the plan is still in place