The day was not too long ago that a night at the theatre was a very special thing. When a young man wooing a lady friend would take her to the vaudville house, or the latest opera from france. They would be decked out in tails and flowing gowns. Theatre was a social event. As much a place to be seen as to see a show. The theatres built during this time were a testament to that aura of occasion. The 20's saw a surge in large houses going up with ever increasing granduer. The major chains, especially, grew ever larger. Orpheums and Paramounts, amoung others, sprang up all over the country, and 'the circut' was institutionalized. The theatre was a major part of the town's life. It was in a theatre in Schenectady, NY, that TV was introduced to the public. After the great depression, many of the grand old houses fell into a kind of sleep. Mimicing in many ways the downtowns that they occupied. Some were revived in the 70's as movie theaters. Others were knocked down. The late 80's held a sort of reintroduction of these old friends. Millions were spent on restoration, grand reopenings were held. These Grand Dames still hold the power to awe. And they know how to put on quite a show.

I would like to add a special thank you to Jim Rankin a member of www.historictheatres.org since 1976. You will find his extremely informative and educational remarks through out these pages. His knowledge of Theatres and architecture appears to be boundless.