Plaza 1 & 2

1400 Altamont Avenue,
Rotterdam, NY 12303

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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

No theaters found within 30 miles

After the theater closed, early 1990's

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

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

anonymoususerguy
anonymoususerguy on May 24, 2008 at 4:43 pm

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.

Jim1reed
Jim1reed on May 8, 2009 at 7:08 pm

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

rivest266
rivest266 on May 12, 2024 at 11:49 am

Opened by Hellman’s Theatres on December 26th, 1973, taken over by UA in 1974-1989 and closed in 1993. Grand opening ad posted.

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