Imperial Twin 1 & 2
U.S. 9 and New Hackensack Road,
Wappingers Falls,
NY
12590
U.S. 9 and New Hackensack Road,
Wappingers Falls,
NY
12590
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing 11 comments
I remember going here frequently growing up, often paired with a pre-movie stop at McDonald’s across the parking lot (with my dad and brother). I remember impressive, long, velvet curtains, I think draping over some of the plate glass windows, or possibly around the lobby. I had forgotten about the long walk to enter the theater.
I also remember frequently driving by their rather prominent Now Playing sign along Route 9, and taking note of the current shows. One I specifically remember for some reason was A View to a Kill. I remember movies sometimes playing there for long stretches, like maybe 8 weeeks, which seemed to happen more often then. I don’t recall the 2nd run phase for this myself (or maybe I didn’t know we were going to 2nd run movies at the time). Also nearby was the Majestic Diner.
I also remember coming here as a young child to see Disney films. Later I saw Ghostbusters, My Favorite Year, and Rocky 4. I remember that long walk to the back of the building to enter the theater
September 18th, 1980 grand opening ad as a twin also in the photo section.
August 10th, 1966 grand opening ad in photo section.
My first job I worked as an usher here from late 60’s into 70’s. Lots of good memories when it was only one big screen. The plush seating was called the Loge and smoking was allowed. I have no pictures. Just lots of memories.
Would love to see more pictures of this theatre in its prime! Anyone have a shot, please send to … thanks!
teamtruett is correct: the Imperial was a single screen, first run theatre through the ‘80’s. It was known for its huge lobby; a long, long walk from the front door to the actual b.o.; the aud was spacious, with “premium” seating toward the rear (oversized padded chairs, partial recline).
Films I remember seeing here: “Rocky 3”, “The Breakfast Club”, “My Favorite Year”, “Comes A Horseman”, “Arthur”
I saw many disney films on weekends there as a little kid. I believe it was once a 1 screen theatre but was later divided into two. I was lucky to explore it shortly before they tore it down and took a set of sign letters to spell my name. Plus I found some Imperial Theatre letter head. ah the memories. The Grand Union they built in its place wasn’t in business 10 years before it went under.
The Imperial closed around 1987 when the Poughkeepsie Galleria opened an 8 screen theater and of course South Hills Mall had 8 as well. The Imperial was showing first run movies in ‘87. I have an old copy of the Newburgh Evening News from 2/6/87- they had “From The Hip” and “Crimes Of The Heart”.
Wasn’t Shop Rite in the Nine Mall farther north where a Borders and Babys R Us now stands. Big V typically built their Shop Rite stores with the curved roof. The Imperial was, as I recall,in Imperial Plaza where a now empty Treasure Island replaced a Grand Union which was where the theater once stood. While the Imperial may have played second run shows at the end,I think it was a first run house with a 70mm capablity.
The Imperial, with its huge cursive “IMPERIAL” backlit letters on the facade, was absorbed into the neighboring supermarket. It’s located on Route 9 just south of Poughkeepsie in a shopping center, on the east side of the street. If you look at the supermarket (which I believe is a ShopRite), you can see the outline curved roof of the Imperial. It closed as a twin, but it may have been open as late as 1984-5.