Plaza 1 & 2
1400 Altamont Avenue,
Rotterdam,
NY
12303
1400 Altamont Avenue,
Rotterdam,
NY
12303
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Firms: Einhorn-Yaffee, Architects
Previous Names: Hellman's Plaza Theater
Nearby Theaters
The Hellman Theatres chain of Albany, NY, opened the Plaza Theatre on December 26, 1973. It was a 750 seat house free standing as part of a shopping plaza. The chain was leased to UA from 1974 and they twinned it in the late-1970’s, with each screen having around 350-seats.
UA alternately ran this theater as a first-run and second-run house, switching formats for years. It would be first-run during the summer and holidays, and a dollar house on the off-season. United Artists left the building in 1989 and it was taken over by an independent operator.
The theater was closed in 1993 and sat vacant for a few years until it was demolished for parking after the shopping center was renovated.
Contributed by
Joe Masher
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
I filled in as manager of this theater in the summer of 1988 — its last stint as a first-run house. In 1989-1990, UA sold the place to (if I remember correctly) Bob Shannon, who showed independent films. Shannon was likely the last operator before the place was demolished. While there, I met a wonderful man by the name of Fred Brush. Fred, who kept the projectors in running order, was over 80 and had worked as a projectionist since the time of hand-crank projectors (literally). One of the major industry magazines (can’t recall the name) did an article on Fred around this time.
I managed this for a short time around 84-88, shortly after United Artists decided to go manager / operator. While I was there we went from full price to $1.00 tickets showing older movies. We did okay selling tickets and quite well in the concessions. I remember Fred as great guy to work with, but hated changes. He was completely against the upgrade to the platters and didn’t believe it would work. After a few hundred miles of film on the floor we got the bugs worked out. It was a great place to work and if anyone remembers me, please contact me. Jim reed
Opened by Hellman’s Theatres on December 26th, 1973, taken over by UA in 1974-1989 and closed in 1993. Grand opening ad posted.