Scotia Cinema

117 Mohawk Avenue,
Scotia, NY 12302

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Related Websites

Scotia Cinema (Official), Mohawk Valley Library Association

Additional Info

Functions: Movies (Second Run)

Previous Names: Ritz Theatre, Scotia Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 518.346.5055

Nearby Theaters

Scotia Cinema

From the Mohawk Valley Library Association website: The Ritz Theatre was opened on January 26, 1929. “Lilac Time” was the first movie shown in the Ritz. Colleen Moore and Gary Cooper starred in it. Matinees were 10 cents, shows after 6:00 p.m. were 20 cents. In the early 1940’s, the Ritz Theatre got a new manager, his name was James F. LaFarr. In the 1950’s, Clifford L. Ritchey owned the Ritz.

The present owner acquired it after the bank foreclosed in December 1981. The name Ritz was changed when LaFarr was manager, and again with Ritchey, who gave it the name of Scotia Theater. It was changed once more, but it was changed back again. It now has about 300 seats.

Richard Adams is the current owner and manager.

Contributed by Roger Katz

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

rivest266
rivest266 on January 23, 2007 at 11:41 am

This cinema is going to get harder to find in Internet searches, The Paramounts in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary will be called Scotia Cinema or in Montreal Cinémas Scotia as Cineplex sold the nameing rights to the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Plantweed
Plantweed on July 18, 2007 at 6:14 pm

Check out some ads from its days as the Scotia Art Theatre:
http://plantweed.blogspot.com/search?q=scotia

gd14lawn
gd14lawn on June 13, 2010 at 11:42 am

This is one of the best run theaters I have attended. Prices are low, everything is clean, and the picture is great. The seats are more comfortable than the newest multiplexes.

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on June 30, 2010 at 10:47 am

This theater was recently shown on HGTV when they announced their Dream Home winner who lives in Scotia.

WSL
WSL on September 29, 2010 at 11:17 am

I stopped by this theater on a Monday afternoon on my way back home from Albany, NY when for some reason my Garmin sent me through Scotia, NY. It was locked, but I lucked out when the owner/manager came in to do some work and gave me a tour. This theater is GORGEOUS and is emblematic of what can be done with the “labor of love.” The auditorium and balcony sparkle, there is nary a sign of dirt anywhere, the screen is pristine and the projection booth is the cleanest one I have ever seen! I trust that the good people of Scotia know what a gem they have in their village and support the owner’s efforts. Every small town should have its own theater; this one is a model of how to do that and how to do it right.

gd14lawn
gd14lawn on December 29, 2011 at 12:59 pm

Visited this theater last night. They have moved the screen back about 22 feet from where it was. It seems that at some point the theater was made smaller and a laundromat was added in the back section. They have not yet added additional seating but it will be added soon. I hope they redo all the first floor seating and make it the same as the seats on the balcony, which are very comfortable.

NickyG
NickyG on June 17, 2015 at 12:05 pm

Ditto for the prior positive comments. If one can wait a few weeks you can see the same big movies for less money in a really cool, well run environment. Also, some excellent spots nearby for food and/or drink before or after the movie.

jjebersold
jjebersold on December 25, 2015 at 2:17 pm

We often drive over to the Scotia cinema as it is a great single screen theater with a very reasonable price – $5 in 2015. As other people have said it is clean and well run. They have an excellent digital projection system paired with a quality sound system. I hope it is around for a long time.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 12, 2024 at 12:42 am

Grand opening ad as Ritz posted.

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