Rosendale Theatre

The Rosendale Theater is a treat not to be missed.

While taking a trip by bus from New York City to walk on an old rail trail from Rosendale to New Paltz, I came across the Rosendale Theatre. What a nice theatre!! The venue opened on February 18, 1949 as a full fledged theatre by the Cacchio family after showing films in an old fireman’s hall a few years earlier. The exterior of the theatre looks like it had not changed much since it opened in 1949 with 270-seats. By 1950 it was operated by Liggett-Florin Booking Service. It currently shows first run films about two weeks after release. It is nice to see that an older movie house has not shuttered or given into the multiplex syndrome.

Anyone passing through the New Paltz / Rosendale area (Exit 18 off the NY Thruway, then 299 west to 32 north - -left on Main Street) should definitely see the exterior of the theatre. I hope to someday (before any unforeseen changes by management) view a film there.

Thanks to Pauline Uchmanowicz at Chronogram.com for the theater’s history.

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

shoeshoe14 on September 25, 2007 at 2:13 am

The facade of this theater is in Sunday’s New York Times Metro Section regarding a possible new resort being built in Rosendale, a small town of 6,000.

movieguy on December 23, 2007 at 4:24 am

This truly is a GEM! I discovered it back in 1989 when I went to SUNY New Paltz.

Movies at that time were only $2.50! Inside when you walk in there are old style candy machines that STILL WORK! Just pop in your $$$ and PULL on the handle and out pops a Milky Way!

The screen is large the floors wood and seats leather.
Popcorn is good and very inexpensive.

Admission is now a very reasonable $6.00

The town is also charming and like a trip back in time to the 1950’s

movieguy on February 20, 2009 at 2:20 pm

This Sunday 2-22-09 The Rosendale Theatre will celebrate it’s 60th Anniversary!! The BIG DAY will begin at 2pm and for $15.00 you can eat drink and mingle with other theatre buffs.

This also includes a screening of a classic western!

Blood On Moon the acclaimed 1948 western staring Robert Mitchum will light up the big screen. It was the debut film way back in 1949!

If you are a fan of Movie Palaces then COME DOWN TO ROSENDALE THIS SUNDAY!

shoeshoe14 on August 15, 2009 at 5:06 am

Saw it the other day while on a bike trip through town. The area (7 miles north of New Paltz and not too far from Kingston), feels like a miniature Fort Collins, CO; truly a quirky mountain town. The theater is cute and small, can’t imagine more than 250 seats. I have plenty of pix if the function on here gets turned on.

academy133 on April 21, 2010 at 3:51 pm

A wonderful story on efforts to preserve the Rosendale Theatre.

View link

More about the nonprofit organization at:
http://rosendaletheatre.org

ridethectrain on April 30, 2023 at 3:00 pm

Please update, theatre opened February 18, 1949 and the total seats 212 according to the website