Towne 1 & 2

Hellman’s Towne Theatre opened on Route 9 in Latham, next to the Latham Drive-In, on June 11, 1970 screening Yves Montand in “Z”. It featured plush seating, blue draped walls, and a lavish lobby with a large aquarium. United Artists leased the Hellman Theatre Chain (local Albany Operators) in the 1970’s. The others in the chain were the Hellman in Albany, the Center outside the Colonie Center Mall, Hellman’s Plaza 1 & 2 in Rotterdam, the Tri-City Twin Drive-In in Menands, the Mohawk Drive-In in Albany, and the Latham Drive-In.

On March 4, 1983 the Towne Theatre was twinned by UA. Very well maintained until the end, the theatre closed in 1986 as UA started to pull out of the Albany area. The final features were “Crocodile Dundee” and “Jumpin' Jack Flash”. I recall seeing “The House of Wax” in a 3-D re-release here, just before the theatre closed for twinning.

After sitting vacant for a short time, the building was gutted and became the Albany area’s first Acura dealer. The drive-in next door also sat vacant after closing around the same time, for many years, and was eventually leveled.

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