Pontiac Theatre
11-13 Broadway,
Saranac Lake,
NY
12983
11-13 Broadway,
Saranac Lake,
NY
12983
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I saw the Pontiac Theatre only once and only the exterior, prior to its demise on December 19, 1978. The week that the Pontiac burned down it was screening the movie, “Foul Play” and even more ironic was that next week it was to screen, “Up In Smoke”.
The theatre was designed by architects Scopes and Fuestmann and was built in 1917. Originally the theatre building was comprised of two storefronts, a bowling alley and a billard room. In 1926, the owners, the Pontiac Theatre Corp. did like most of the independents in that area did— they sold to the Schine chain. After the dismantling of the Schine chain, the theatre was purchased by the Pontiac Entertainment Corp. Their ownership continued until the theatre burned.
I remember the marquee had a painting of an Indian at the top of the triangle. I also thought the theatre was closed when I saw it probably around 1977, but the archives mention no closing prior to its fire. I probably thought it was closed because a huge chandelier was lying on the floor in the foyer. I learned from archive photos that this was not the chandelier being used at the time I saw the theatre. The one on the foyer floor was probably just waiting to be removed by someone.
Another highlight during the Pontiac Theatre’s existence was the world premiere showing of the 1954 release, “The Silver Chalice”. Much of the movie had been filmed on location in Saranac Lake.
Contributed by
Richard Grows
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
The Pontiac did have a balcony and judging from the photos which I viewed in the Saranac Lake Free Library’s, Adirondack Room, I estimate seating at somewhere betwwen 800 and l000. The renovation which took place during the early years of the Schine ownership, in my opinion, vastly improved the interior appearance of the theatre. I have a nice interior photo of the Pontiac from 1941. If I ever get my website going, I’ll put add a link.
This is a vintage photo of the Pontiac Theater.
A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1812 style 190 was installed in the Pontiac Theater on 12/13/1927.
I think this is the place where I snuck in to see Spartacus. It was the summer 1962 and I was
working at the Syracuse Boy scout Camp at Sabattis. Went there with a couple of guys on my work crew when we had a day off. We walked in—no one was at the ticket booth and watched the movie.
The Pontiac Theater had 797 seats in 1955.
Around 1970 or so the Pontiac set aside every Wednesday night as “buck night” — all seats $1.00. They attracted a large crowd from nearby Paul Smiths College, a culinary school that managed the dining room of the Hotel Saranac, next door to the Pontiac Theater.
Trivia fact: The village of Paul Smiths was the last place in the United States to have old crank-style telephones where you turned the crank to get the operator on the line and gave her the number you wanted to call. That was also as late as 1970, I believe.
An article in the February 20, 1920 Plattsburgh Sentinel mentions that the Pontiac Company of Saranac Lake is negotiating for the purchase of the Colonial Theatre in Saranac Lake. I don’t know if this is the same theatre or not.
Gregg: The Colonial was a different theater, not yet listed at Cinema Treasures (I’ll submit it tonight.) It was located at 55 Broadway, and opened in 1912. About 1929 it was converted into a grocery store, and the building was demolished in 1974.