Downsville Theatre

The Downsville Theatre replaced the Downsville Opera House, which was destroyed by fire in January 1949. Local forces raised $30,000 in stock to convert a Quonset hut garage owned by D.W. Coulter. Frank Shaver was the contractor who oversaw alterations to the building.

The Catskill Mountain News reported that the Downsville Theatre opened on Friday, July 13, 1951 to a packed house. Friday the 13th opening notwithstanding, there is no further mention in the Catskill Mountain News on the fate of the Downsville Theatre. It closed no later than the mid-1970’s, as by 1977 it was occupied by a sporting goods store. At that time it was still recognizable as a former theater, with a flat marquee in front, the store occupying the former lobby area, and double doors leading into the auditorium area, which was not open to the public and used for storage.

This appears to be the same building currently occupied by an antique store on the east side of town, at the southeast corner where Bridge Street and NY 30/206 diverge, though it has been extensively remodeled and no longer bears any resemblance to a former theatre. The Quonset hut is easily discernible in aerial photos on googlemaps.

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