Cineplex started the project in 1988 but didn’t finish it—National Amusements opened it in 1990. Cineplex lobby with NAI auditoriums…it never operated as a Cineplex Odeon.
Theater 7 (403 seats) is equiped with Century JJ 35/70MM projectors with a magnetic penthouse soundhead. We’re combining 1-4 back into 1 & 2, putting it back to its original configuration.
We are still building Brandywine—ground work starts very soon! It will be a 15-plex with a large format auditorium.
As of Friday, 4/1, Bow Tie Cinemas will assume operation of the Reston Town Center 13. A phased top-to-bottom reconstruction will soon begin (allowing the theater to remain open during construction), which will include all stadium seating, bigger screens, all digital projection with 3D capability, brand new concession stands, all new amenities and decor, and brand new rest rooms. The theater originally opened as an 11-plex, and National Amusements later ‘twinned’ theaters 1 & 2. In the reconstruction, Bow Tie will ‘de-twin’ the theaters, turning the facility back to an 11-plex.
Article and video from The Troy Record on demolition: View link
I was inside a few weeks ago—there really was nothing left except one pair of entrance doors, and remnants of two murals on the side walls of the auditorium that were extremely deteriorated and moldy.
Sad to see this one go—this theater’s marquee had great neon animation and I’ll always remember watching it fondly as a child from a nearby restaurant that my family patronized frequently.
The Town of Colonie encompasses the Village of Latham, where this drive-in was located. It was on Route 9, on the site of a shopping center that contains a Price Chopper supermarket. The Latham Drive-In (the Town of Colonie’s third—the other being the Mohawk) was located about 1/10 mile north on Route 9.
The Lafayette is the star of an upcoming film, “White Irish Drinkers”. One of the movie’s main characters is an usher at the theater and works to bring The Rolling Stones to the Lafayette (the film takes place in Brooklyn, so those in the know will have to pretend the Lafayette is in Brooklyn). Many scenes filmed there, both exterior and interior. The theater looked great!
The City of Cohoes voted to demolish this theater on 8/23/10. It is now in derelict condition with holes in the roof and nothing inside worth saving as it’s been totally gutted.
In John Waters' fine film “Hairspray”, this theater served as the venue for the “Corny Collins Record Hop” and the front is clearly visible in the film.
The auditorium portion of the State was demolished in the late 80’s for a parking lot. The entrance arcade and marquee are still standing. The marquee is rented out to local businesses to advertise their wares.
I was in the Essex a couple of times in the late 80’s when the lobby functioned as Jimmy’s News Room. The doors to the auditorium were partially opened on one of my visits. There was a huge amount of storage/debris covering the seats and isles, but for some reason that day the house lights were on. It seemed like it once was a nice small-town theater. The building has since been converted to apartments. I believe this was a Kallet operation at one point.
I visited the Apple Store now open in the former theater building. They’ve completely gutted it—the balcony, proscenium, and stage are gone. There is nothing left to suggest it ever was a theater.
Here you go again, Mr. Kent. Please be gentlemanly enough to contact me directly and air your complaints— I’ll happily chat with you over the phone or will meet with you. I think you may be a former disgruntled employee with the initials T.K…
The other “Community” Theater locations that I know of are in Hudson, NY and Morristown, NJ. The NJ location was definitely one of Reade’s, not sure about Hudson, NY, but it is similar in style to the other two houses. I believe Hudson was designed by William Hohauser, who also designed the Avon in Stamford, CT among other locations.
I was the manager of the Oakdale Mall Cinemas from 1990-1993. Theater 1 (333 seats) had a curtain that opened from the center, and theaters 2 (294) and 3 (289) had curtains that opened from left to right. It was the Bighhamton area’s busiest theater until Loews built the Town Square 9 which opened in November 1993. The Oakdale Mall Cinemas first opened in 1975. Loews was not the final operator of this house—when they gave it up in the late 90’s, and independent operator ran it for a bit as a subrun before giving up. The theater is still sitting there empty, used for storage by the mall. It is located inside the mall and is not a freestanding building.
The Post was run by Brandt Theatres, then was sold at some point to Nutmeg, which became CinemaNational/USA Cinemas/Loews. Loews closed it around 1990. The theater was on the left side of the center, which is now Pompanoosic Mills Furniture.
The Rialto’s auditorium is already down. Torn down about 10 years ago. Last time I drove around back, you could still see the aisles imbedded in the concrete where the auditorium once stood. The lobby building was saved for retail space.
Shoeshoe—thanks for the kind comments! Were you the guy on the bike? I was the guy standing with the manager who asked if he could help you when you were looking at the capacity signs! Wish I knew it was you—would have loved to chat ‘theater stuff’!
The last Griswold Theater burned down in the 50’s, and was demolished. A Woolworth Store replaced it, which in turn was demolished for the Uncle Sam Atrium Mall.
Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas in New Haven, CT hosts “Movies & Mimosas” every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00AM, and “Insomnia Theater” every Friday and Saturday nigth at 11:30PM. Seats are $5; $4 if you’re a Criterion Club Member.
Schedule available at: View link
Cineplex started the project in 1988 but didn’t finish it—National Amusements opened it in 1990. Cineplex lobby with NAI auditoriums…it never operated as a Cineplex Odeon.
Theater 7 (403 seats) is equiped with Century JJ 35/70MM projectors with a magnetic penthouse soundhead. We’re combining 1-4 back into 1 & 2, putting it back to its original configuration.
We are still building Brandywine—ground work starts very soon! It will be a 15-plex with a large format auditorium.
As of Friday, 4/1, Bow Tie Cinemas will assume operation of the Reston Town Center 13. A phased top-to-bottom reconstruction will soon begin (allowing the theater to remain open during construction), which will include all stadium seating, bigger screens, all digital projection with 3D capability, brand new concession stands, all new amenities and decor, and brand new rest rooms. The theater originally opened as an 11-plex, and National Amusements later ‘twinned’ theaters 1 & 2. In the reconstruction, Bow Tie will ‘de-twin’ the theaters, turning the facility back to an 11-plex.
The Forum is listed under the last name it operated as…Movieland:
/theaters/2925/
Also if you’re ever in Cohoes, be sure to visit the Cohoes Music Hall, although not a cinema it’s certainly a treasure!
Article and video from The Troy Record on demolition:
View link
I was inside a few weeks ago—there really was nothing left except one pair of entrance doors, and remnants of two murals on the side walls of the auditorium that were extremely deteriorated and moldy.
Sad to see this one go—this theater’s marquee had great neon animation and I’ll always remember watching it fondly as a child from a nearby restaurant that my family patronized frequently.
The Town of Colonie encompasses the Village of Latham, where this drive-in was located. It was on Route 9, on the site of a shopping center that contains a Price Chopper supermarket. The Latham Drive-In (the Town of Colonie’s third—the other being the Mohawk) was located about 1/10 mile north on Route 9.
The Lafayette is the star of an upcoming film, “White Irish Drinkers”. One of the movie’s main characters is an usher at the theater and works to bring The Rolling Stones to the Lafayette (the film takes place in Brooklyn, so those in the know will have to pretend the Lafayette is in Brooklyn). Many scenes filmed there, both exterior and interior. The theater looked great!
The City of Cohoes voted to demolish this theater on 8/23/10. It is now in derelict condition with holes in the roof and nothing inside worth saving as it’s been totally gutted.
In John Waters' fine film “Hairspray”, this theater served as the venue for the “Corny Collins Record Hop” and the front is clearly visible in the film.
The auditorium portion of the State was demolished in the late 80’s for a parking lot. The entrance arcade and marquee are still standing. The marquee is rented out to local businesses to advertise their wares.
I did walk around the building—it’s locked up tight!
This theater, the DEERFIELD Triple, was last operated by Carmike in the mid 90’s. It sat vacant for about 12 years and has since been torn down.
Status should be ‘closed’. Current use – retail.
This building has been converted into a medical facility.
I was in the Essex a couple of times in the late 80’s when the lobby functioned as Jimmy’s News Room. The doors to the auditorium were partially opened on one of my visits. There was a huge amount of storage/debris covering the seats and isles, but for some reason that day the house lights were on. It seemed like it once was a nice small-town theater. The building has since been converted to apartments. I believe this was a Kallet operation at one point.
I visited the Apple Store now open in the former theater building. They’ve completely gutted it—the balcony, proscenium, and stage are gone. There is nothing left to suggest it ever was a theater.
Here you go again, Mr. Kent. Please be gentlemanly enough to contact me directly and air your complaints— I’ll happily chat with you over the phone or will meet with you. I think you may be a former disgruntled employee with the initials T.K…
The other “Community” Theater locations that I know of are in Hudson, NY and Morristown, NJ. The NJ location was definitely one of Reade’s, not sure about Hudson, NY, but it is similar in style to the other two houses. I believe Hudson was designed by William Hohauser, who also designed the Avon in Stamford, CT among other locations.
I was the manager of the Oakdale Mall Cinemas from 1990-1993. Theater 1 (333 seats) had a curtain that opened from the center, and theaters 2 (294) and 3 (289) had curtains that opened from left to right. It was the Bighhamton area’s busiest theater until Loews built the Town Square 9 which opened in November 1993. The Oakdale Mall Cinemas first opened in 1975. Loews was not the final operator of this house—when they gave it up in the late 90’s, and independent operator ran it for a bit as a subrun before giving up. The theater is still sitting there empty, used for storage by the mall. It is located inside the mall and is not a freestanding building.
The Post was run by Brandt Theatres, then was sold at some point to Nutmeg, which became CinemaNational/USA Cinemas/Loews. Loews closed it around 1990. The theater was on the left side of the center, which is now Pompanoosic Mills Furniture.
The Rialto’s auditorium is already down. Torn down about 10 years ago. Last time I drove around back, you could still see the aisles imbedded in the concrete where the auditorium once stood. The lobby building was saved for retail space.
Shoeshoe—thanks for the kind comments! Were you the guy on the bike? I was the guy standing with the manager who asked if he could help you when you were looking at the capacity signs! Wish I knew it was you—would have loved to chat ‘theater stuff’!
The last Griswold Theater burned down in the 50’s, and was demolished. A Woolworth Store replaced it, which in turn was demolished for the Uncle Sam Atrium Mall.
Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas in New Haven, CT hosts “Movies & Mimosas” every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00AM, and “Insomnia Theater” every Friday and Saturday nigth at 11:30PM. Seats are $5; $4 if you’re a Criterion Club Member.
Schedule available at:
View link