Ritz Theater
107 Broadway,
Newburgh,
NY
12550
107 Broadway,
Newburgh,
NY
12550
4 people
favorited this theater
Opened on February 4, 1914 as Cohen’s Opera House. In 1926 it became the State Theater and showed vaudeville and movies. Renovated and renamed the Ritz Theater in 1933, it became exclusively a movie venue. In 1969 it was twinned and given the name Cinemas I & II. As downtown Newburgh deteriorated so did the cinema becoming home to B-movies and porn until it eventually closed in November of 1981.
In February 1999 James Deyo who owned the Hotel Newburgh next door reopened the Ritz Theater, which by this time had been carved up into four screens discount venue. Attempts to play second-run and Spanish language movies flopped. The theatre closed again in June 1999 after selling only 700 tickets in its 17 weeks in business.
The Hotel Newburgh next door is now supportive housing run by Safe Harbors of the Hudson. They began to restore the Ritz Theater back into a live performing arts space in 2009.
Contributed by
Roger Katz
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Recent comments (view all 41 comments)
How is the restoration coming along? The City of Newburgh seems to be in deep trouble: View link
I think it’s sad that someone has to bring up the article above. This thread was all about fond memories and the granduer that was Newburgh way back when, and how its slowly returning to that. Siting the article above has no bearing on the topic at hand (Cinemas), and only creates the image that Newburgh is a place you have to fear. There are a lot of wondeful things in Newburgh today, maybe you should point these things out instead of an article that conveys only reinforces the stereotype close-mindedness that plagues the area…
Well, theyove reopened while the restoration continues. They have concerts taking place and their website is http://www.ritztheaternewburgh.org/
It’s interesting that of the 17 Newburgh theatres listed on CT only two are open; both are single screen. One goes back to the beginning of the 20th century the other is in the beginning of the 21st.
Doesn’t Google Maps provide visual coverage of Newburgh, NY? I was suprised not to find a street view when opening this listing.
A disturbing article in the October 3 issue of New York Magazine calls Newburgh the “Murder Capital” of New York State. What’s the nearest cinema for the villains to attend? Here’s a link: nymag
2011-12 Tom Humphrey Guitar Series Dates Announced! Musicians to Honor Legendary Guitar Maker as Series Continues for Fourth Year
The Ritz Theater and La Bella Strings, in association with the Bardavon, are pleased to announce the lineup for the fourth season of the Tom Humphrey Guitar Series. Tickets are available beginning September 28 for $25 each, please call the Ritz Theater Box Office at (845) 784-1199. Seating is limited, purchase tickets to all five shows by October 5 and receive reserved seating in the first four rows! For more information please email
Anyone have photos looking up or down Broadway when the Ritz Theatre was Cinema I and II? Thanks
Many years of advertising for the Ritz and other Newburgh theatres can be found here: google
After extensive renovations by owner Eugene Levy, the State re-opened as the Ritz Theatre on Thanksgiving Eve, November 29th, 1933. The Ritz would have two program changes weekly, presenting a new movie with “Big Time” vaudeville from Thursday through Saturday, and a new movie with short subjects on Monday through Wednesday. In that era, Newburgh had a “blue law” requiring theatres to close on Sundays. The first film shown at the Ritz was Fox’s B&W El Brendel comedy, “Olsen’s Big Moment,” with singer Miriam “Babe” Miller and comedians Gene Gory and Fred Werner heading the stage bill. On opening night only, radio singer Johnny Marvin and film/stage star Bernice Claire traveled from NYC to add glitter to the stage proceedings. From Monday through Friday, the Ritz gave one afternoon show starting at 2:15pm, and two evening performances at approximately 7:00 and 9:00pm. On Saturdays only, performances were continuous from 2:00pm. From Thursday through Saturday, matinee prices were 30 cents for all seats, and 10 cents for children. Evenings were 50 cents for orchestra and mezzanine, 25 cents for balcony, and 15 cents for children. From Monday through Wednesday, when no vaudeville was presented, all matinee seats were 25 cents; in the evenings, orchestra and mezzanine were priced at 40 cents, and the balcony at 25 cents.