Community Theatre
373 Main Street,
Catskill,
NY
12414
373 Main Street,
Catskill,
NY
12414
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The theater has been closed since March 2020 they have not reopened. Only a few movie screenings from another organization upstate films showed a few movies during Halloween time. There’s now works in the process to get a grant to reopen the theater
The October 2, 1948 issue of Boxoffice noted that the Community Theatre in Catskill was then being operated by the Fabian circuit.
My research indicates the Community was built on the site of the former Nelida Theater which was destroyed by fire, along with a half dozen other buildings, on January 1, 1918. Only a portion of the value of the Nelida was covered by insurance so subscriptions were sought to aid in the rebuilding. Probably inspiration for the name Community.
In 1976 there was also a fire which destroyed the lobby. Unclear whether the twinning also occurred at the same time.
Photos of the downstairs auditorium and the staircase to the balcony level uploaded.
Ironically, The person walking toward the theater in the picture is Dominic Cornelius, whose father of the same name worked at and ultimately managed the Community from 1935-1960
Above comment says Community was built after the theater down the street burnt down. However, the Community is the only theater listed in Catskill on Cinema Treasures. More info so some research can be done. Or somebody create the site.
Hello all! If you would like to know anything more about our theatre, please feel free to contact us using any of the following methods:
Voicemail for showtimes: (518) 943-2410
E-mail address:
Website: http://www.thecommunitytheatre.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thecommunitytheatre
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/catskilltheatre
Our theatre is alive and well, and has seen many recent improvements since changing hands in 2005, including:
– The installation of new digital equipment & surround sound
– Installation of a credit & debit card system
– Brand new carpeting throughout the entire theatre
– A brand new letterboard and new neon for our marquee (following two accidents that left us with a damaged marquee and destroyed letterboard)
– Roof & ceiling work
– New paint in various areas, and more!
The new link from 7/16 works fine. As he pointed out, the link in the related sites is defunct.
Btw, Lost Memory, the link for the above-mentioned theatre doesn’t seem to work.
This is from Boxoffice magazine, January 1960:
Continuing his theater expansion, Paul Marcelli, who served as a projectionist at the Leeds Drive-In in 1958, took over the Communnity in Catskill. He previously acquired the Leeds, then the Vanderbilt in Greenville, the latter from Mrs. Harry Lemont. Marcelli reportedly did good opening business at the Community with “A Summer Place”. That 1200-seater was under the management of Brandt Theaters for about nine years.
I just attended the “Independent Film” showing on wednesday night. the theatre is now under new management and is part of a city wide revival in Catskill New York. Nice old town struggling to come back from many rough years.The town was used as a major location in the film “Cake Eaters ” . Nice theatre with positive and creative owner. robbie dupree
Is this theatre still up for sale? This posting says the theatre is a movie theatre…yet the link points to pictures and a description that says it is a live theatre. I would assume that it is both, but would rather hear it from someone who is familiar with the theatre. While I am interested in this building, the $450k price tag seems a bit pricy for a theatre building in a predominately seasonal area. Being that that website is old, hopefully the price has been ‘adjusted’ by now…if it is still for sale.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thank You,
JG
driveindaughter, please contact me. i have some questions regarding that theatre. Thank you,
The Community theater was bult in 1920 after a fundraising campaign as the theater down the street burned in a fire. It was run as a Fabian theater until 1960 when the Maselli family bought it. in the early ‘60s it was again sold to George Thornton the father of the present owner Thomas Thornton. This theater used to have a fly screen as it was also used for vaudville. The dressing rooms in the back are used for storage. In 1968 there was a fire which resulted in a huge amount of smoke damage which is why a lot of the decorative work was covered. Gangster Legs Diamond had a favorite seat in the balcony. Franklin Rooservelt then Governor of NY State once spoke there. My father Dominic J. Cornelius began his employ there in 1935 and became manager when he returned from WWII he continued to work ther until 1960 when he went with Klein Theaters. I know quite a bit if you have any questions let me know
Yes, the Community theatre is still operating. It has been twinned between the balcony and auditorium. The theatre is owned by the same person that owns the Orpheum in Saugerties. I know the theatre was still for sale just a few months ago. A good portion of the original plaster has been covered over but there’s still a reasonable amount of original detailing still visible. I’ll add more details soon.