Imperial Theatre
Wappingers Falls,
NY
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The Imperial was a small town theatre that played second run double bills at least into the 1980’s.
Contributed by
Robert R
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The Imperial, with its huge cursive “IMPERIAL” backlit letters on the facade, was absorbed into the neighboring supermarket. It’s located on Route 9 just south of Poughkeepsie in a shopping center, on the east side of the street. If you look at the supermarket (which I believe is a ShopRite), you can see the outline curved roof of the Imperial. It closed as a twin, but it may have been open as late as 1984-5.
Wasn’t Shop Rite in the Nine Mall farther north where a Borders and Babys R Us now stands. Big V typically built their Shop Rite stores with the curved roof. The Imperial was, as I recall,in Imperial Plaza where a now empty Treasure Island replaced a Grand Union which was where the theater once stood. While the Imperial may have played second run shows at the end,I think it was a first run house with a 70mm capablity.
The Imperial closed around 1987 when the Poughkeepsie Galleria opened an 8 screen theater and of course South Hills Mall had 8 as well. The Imperial was showing first run movies in ‘87. I have an old copy of the Newburgh Evening News from 2/6/87- they had “From The Hip” and “Crimes Of The Heart”.
I saw many disney films on weekends there as a little kid. I believe it was once a 1 screen theatre but was later divided into two. I was lucky to explore it shortly before they tore it down and took a set of sign letters to spell my name. Plus I found some Imperial Theatre letter head. ah the memories. The Grand Union they built in its place wasn’t in business 10 years before it went under.
teamtruett is correct: the Imperial was a single screen, first run theatre through the ‘80’s. It was known for its huge lobby; a long, long walk from the front door to the actual b.o.; the aud was spacious, with “premium” seating toward the rear (oversized padded chairs, partial recline).
Films I remember seeing here: “Rocky 3”, “The Breakfast Club”, “My Favorite Year”, “Comes A Horseman”, “Arthur”
Would love to see more pictures of this theatre in its prime! Anyone have a shot, please send to … thanks!