Oneonta Theatre
47 Chestnut Street,
Oneonta,
NY
13820
47 Chestnut Street,
Oneonta,
NY
13820
2 people
favorited this theater
The Oneonta Theatre opened as a single auditorium theater in 1897, and is on the National and State Register of Historic Places. By 1941 it was operated by the Schine Circuit. In the early 2000’s it returned to its roots to accomodate live performances after being sold to former employee Terry Mattison.
Mattison, who has worked at the theater since 1974, converted the twinned 105-year-old movie house into a live theater venue. He also made other modifications including repairing the theater’s roof and other touch-ups.
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Cinema Treasures
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Built in 1897 by Oneonta resident Willard E. Yager, the theater was host to a range of entertainers, including humorist Will Rogers in 1927. Movie screenings began in 1913, FOTOT officials said.
The Oneonta Theatre has 675 seats, plus about 200 in a balcony, an orchestra pit, a 60-foot fly space and three floors of dressing rooms.
The Oneonta Theatre is reopening Saturday July 31st 2010 as Central NY’s newest yet oldest national touring venue. The open house Gala is free to the public and will be celebrated with some central NY’s most talented acts and artists.
If anyone has pictures of the theatre or knows who has some, we would love to get copies , we are trying to compile everything we can for our history wall and website. the oldes phot we have is 1970
Does anyone know of any theatre still in operation that are older than the 1897 Oneonta Theatre. The only one I could find was the Walnut in Philidelphia.
An article about this theater’s renovation and reuse as a performing arts venue: View link
Nice article good luck to them.
Photos taken November 15, 2010 at the Oneonta Theater. It was great to meet Tom the owner and supporters Julie and Patrice.
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Their website is up, at http://oneontatheatre.com/
Good picture of theatre,Stories also interesting.
This is my hometown favorite theater I remember Harold DeGraw the owner at that time period as a person of controversial opinion.I remember him as my my referance good egg.I veiwed the first James Bond films at the at the time(1960s)at the. Chestnut street theater.Also the Beatles movies .The theater looks better now then ever. I recall army tank green throughout(a possable WW-2 surplus).The seats were replaced around 1979-80 with deco copy units.The second and third floor belconys were blocked off to add a new screen around that time .The owner Harold DeGraw very often had $.25 matinees and free saturday morning shows for children(in the 1960s) He was very public and often the ticket man tearing the tickets.Walking the floor conversing with coustomers he answered questions and loved his occupation he was a very large and out going man, children loved to talk to and see this big man.The showcase-cinema also his(Harlod DeGraw) theater opened on november 20 1970 and showed free (“Its a MAD MAD World movie)opening shows.The ultra modern Showcase -cinema had a large lobby left of the theater. The top belcony in the Chestnut street theater was reserved in earlyer times of segration as the N—-erhaven and olny used by blacks.(I have never seen it used as told )I am very ever pleased to see this theater of entertainment and learning is smiling and happy again .Kevin Bradon. Thanks!!
Although it has been much remodeled through the years, the Orpheum Theatre in Boston dates from 1852. It is listed here on CT.
In Troy NY, we have the Troy Music Hall which opened in 1875. It has never been a motion picture theatre so it is not listed on this site. It has spectacular acoustics and has only featured musical performances.
Near here is also the Cohoes Music Hall, which opened in 1874. Although it is restored and open today, it was closed for 69 years (1905-1974). It is used for live theatre productions today.
Hey AlbanyGregg – Theatre Historical Society is planning their Conclave for the Albany/Berkshire area in 2013 – sounds like you would have a LOT of ideas for us! Email me at if you’d like to start a dialog on the “don’t miss” locations in your region! (Troy & Cohoes are on the “must see” list along with, obviously, the Palace)