ROC Cinema
957 S. Clinton Avenue,
Rochester,
NY
14620
957 S. Clinton Avenue,
Rochester,
NY
14620
4 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
ROC Cinema (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Jo-Mor Theatres
Functions: Movies, Movies (Classic), Special Events
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Clinton Theatre, Cinema Theater
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
585.271.1785
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- May 14, 2014 — Cinema last to switch to digital projectors in the area
- Jan 28, 2012 — Rochester independent cinemas buck trends
Originally built in 1914 as the Clinton Theatre, it had a dirt floor. The 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook gives a seating capacity for the Clinton Theatre as 540. It was renovated and reopened August 25, 1949 and was given an Art Deco style façade.
Now known as the Cinema Theater, it became the oldest, continuously run, single-screen theater in Rochester, NY. The lease came up for renewal in January 2021 and the operators decided to close permanently in February 2021.
New owners took over and following renovations it reopened in June 2022 as a dine-in theatre name ROC Cinema.
Contributed by
Bill Wynkoop
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Since the theatre business is stuggling we encourage the owner of the theatre to host more special events like Indian movie screening. I am in Rochester I tried to contact the owner of the theatre, she is very poor in communication. I called and left messages many times, emailed NO RESPONSE. This is not good. We need to try hard to keep this business going on.
Thanks
Attractive simple deco but I could not tolerate the way that the titles are scrunched on the reader board—was almost to think that it was a limiting design fault except that there is a picture with proper spacing. Drivers should not have to try to decipher the marquee titles.
I lived down the street from The Cinema for almost two years while in college. It was easily my favorite place to see a movie in Rochester. Second-run, three-dollar double features were the main attraction. As well as the simple Art Deco design, comfy seats, house kittens who sat on your lap, and the fact that I could look down the street, see the Marquee, and decide if I wanted to venture down the block or not. I saw many memorable double bills here, easily ingratiating myself as a regular. The staff were always super-friendly with me and obliging with the free refills.
I haven’t made it back to The Cinema since I left Rochester but I am happy to hear this place is still up-and-running. In two years, it will hit the century mark, perhaps making it the longest running independent movie house in the Northeast? I don’t know for sure but I do know that The Cinema is a treasure and a bargain.
I have a letter dated September 29, 1927, typed on stationary with a Clinton Theatre letterhead. It details “specifications for Clinton Theatre main roof”. Below CLINTON THEATRE is: South Clinton and Goodman Streets. Below that, is: High Class Photoplays. In the upper left corner is: Office, 366 Main Street West. In the upper right: Phone, Main 6229.
Hi tivfan, I work for the Cinema and would LOVE to see it, if possible.
August 25th, 1949 grand opening ad in photo section.
The Democrat and Chronicle website records that Audrey Kramer and husband Alex Chemavsky loved the cinema so much they married there in 2009. Businessman John Trickey owns the building but leased it the couple who manage it. They have introduced theater cats, the first being Bo and offer concession vegan meals
Am gutted to read it has closed. I loved a block away from it in college and was a frequent patron of their double-features and loved when one of their “cinema cats” would sit on my lap.