Art Theatre
1204 Vestal Avenue,
Binghamton,
NY
1204 Vestal Avenue,
Binghamton,
NY
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Destroyed by an electrical fire in 2004.
Contributed by
Dave Bonan
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Originally known as the Grand. It was a porno house from the late ‘60s through early '80s, at which time it was painted hideous colors inside and out and turned into an art house. After the recent fire, the building was leveled, and art films are shown in a nearby school classroom on DVD as the “Art Theatre Pro Tem”.
Here is a photo of the fire being fought at the Art Theater.
The Art was a single screen theatre. See my photos from January 2004 of it (which are quite possibly the last photos ever taken of it before the fire in February 2004) at http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=7159
It’s sad that this theater was destroyed by fire. I was a college student in Binghamton from 1981 to 1985 and never visited the theater because it was a porno theater at the time, but in its later life, it showed some wonderful films, films that otherwise would not have found a commercial run in Binghamton.
A friend told me that it is possible this theater once had a photoplayer. If it did, the instrument would have very likely been manufactured by the Link Co. of Binghamton.
Wow… was doing some research and am dismayed to find out this great old building is gone. I was there for the opening and many years after and helped Richard put together his ads and programs. I drew a neat pen-and-ink drawing of the building that we used for promo items. I still have it, and should really scan it and add to my portfolio.
Boy I saw alot of good films there (and good music). It was the only place to see first-run art and foreign films in the area… and we’d see a new one every week.
I’m scared to look at the fire pix listed above.
Really sad.
D Vertino
I went to school in Binghamton University from mid to late 1990’s and lived walking distance from the Art Theatre. I remember seeing “Shakespeare in Love”, “Elizabeth”, and “Shine” in that theater. I also remember going up to the projection booth to check out the projectors. I can’t believe it’s been destroyed. It was a small but memorable arthouse for Cinema students at Binghamton. What a loss.
According to my research in the late ‘70s, the Art Theatre originally opened (under another name I believe) in 1911.
Here are two 1987 photos:
Photo1
Photo2