Proctor's Theater (Troy, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Proctor's Theater
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front (west) elevation, 2021
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Troy, NY |
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| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Arland W. Johnson |
| Part of | Central Troy Historic District (ID86001527) |
| MPS | Movie Palaces of the Tri-Cities TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001623 |
| Added to NRHP | 1979 |
Proctor's Theater is a historic building in Troy, United States. It is located on Fourth Street. This theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is also part of the Central Troy Historic District, which was added in 1986.
The theater was built in 1914 by Frederick Freeman Proctor. He was a businessman from the Capital District area. Proctor built theaters for vaudeville shows, which were popular live performances. He also built another theater in nearby Schenectady.
Proctor's Theater in Troy had a special design with two balconies. This made it easy to show motion pictures when movies became popular. The building's design is credited to architect Arland W. Johnson.
The theater closed in the late 1970s. Since then, it has had different owners, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). There were many ideas for its future, like turning it into offices or reopening it as a theater. In 2014, a company called Columbia Development announced plans to renovate the building.
By 2018, the building was changed into modern office spaces. The beautiful front of the building was kept the same. Today, the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Christopher Brian Salon have offices there.
Contents
Exploring the Building's Design
Proctor's Theater is part of a row of buildings on Fourth Street. It is five stories tall. The front of the building, called the facade, is very fancy. It is made of brick and marble and covered in shiny terra-cotta.
Outside Details
On the ground floor, there are strong-looking columns that go up to lion's heads. Higher up, five marble columns frame the upper floors. These columns reach up to gargoyle-like figures. Two towers rise above the roof at each end of the facade. The tower above the main entrance has many terra-cotta decorations. These include small columns, tooth-like patterns, and shield shapes.
Inside the Theater
The inside of the theater has been neglected over the years. However, its main layout is still there. The lobby has tile floors and arched ceilings. Its walls are covered with panels. From the lobby, staircases lead up to the two balconies. Another area, called a foyer, leads to the main floor where the audience sat.
The arches in the main seating area were once decorated with gold leaf. The stage opening, called the proscenium, has a painting by David Lithgow. This painting shows Lafayette visiting Troy in 1824. Many of these original features are still there today.
A Look Back at History
Frederick Proctor had already built successful vaudeville theaters in Albany and New York City. He hired Arland Johnson to design the Troy theater. Proctor wanted it to be his grandest project. It cost $325,000 to build. When it opened in 1914, it was the largest theater in New York State. People praised it as one of the best theaters in America.
Movies and Live Shows
Proctor understood that movies were becoming popular. He started changing his theaters to show films. The Troy Proctor's design, with its two balconies, was great for movies. It made the audience feel close to the stage. At first, it wasn't built for a projector and screen. But by the 1920s, a special booth was added. During that time, the theater showed both live acts and movies.
In the 1930s, sound films became common. This meant live acts were not as needed. The large central chandelier was removed. Other changes included painting over the gold leaf in the main seating area.
Later Years and Closing
Proctor's Theater stayed a popular spot in downtown Troy even after Frederick Proctor died in 1929. But after the mid-1900s, it started to lose business. This was because of television and people moving to the suburbs. In 1977, the theater finally closed. About 170 people watched the last show, which was The Longest Yard starring Burt Reynolds. A year later, the city took over the property. Proctor's Theater is the only old movie palace left in Troy, but it hasn't been used as a theater since it closed.
Proctor's Theater and RPI
Students from RPI often went to Proctor's Theater. They watched movies, live shows, and vaudeville acts. Ads for performances at Proctor's Theater were even in the RPI student newspaper, The Polytechnic, until the theater closed.
Student Performances
In the early 1900s, RPI students performed vaudeville and music acts at Proctor's Theater. A show called "RPI Nights" started in 1915. It was led by C. F. Matthews, known as "Matty." When Matthews graduated in 1916, the weekly RPI Nights performances ended.
In 1922, a group of RPI students brought RPI Nights back. After a successful first night, a group called the “Campus Five” was formed. This group had five RPI students and was led by Mark Albert “Pete” Gerwig. They played instruments like the banjo, saxophone, and violin. They also did clog dancing, folk singing, and jazz. The Campus Five performed at many RPI events and other places.
The RPI Nights shows were very popular with the public. The Polytechnic newspaper once said that the first show had the largest audience in Proctor’s history. It's not clear if RPI students kept performing after "Pete" Gerwig and the Campus Five graduated.
RPI Events at the Theater
In later years, RPI used Proctor's Theater for other events. In the 1970s, the Rensselaer Concert Board brought in music and entertainment acts for the RPI community. For example, in October 1975, folk-rock bands Poco and McKendree Spring performed there. This event was organized by RPI's Union Programs and Activities Committee (UPAC). UPAC also hosted the comedy radio show National Lampoon Radio Hour at Proctor's Theater in 1975.
RPI bought Proctor's Theater in 2004.
Plans for the Future
In the early 2000s, RPI bought the building. They hoped to use part of it for offices and keep the theater space. RPI worked with a developer who suggested using a state grant. The plan was to remove the inside of the building and turn the auditorium into office space. Only the front of the building would stay the same.
Community Concerns
Some local residents were against this plan. They started a group and an online petition. They pointed out how successful the restoration of the Schenectady Proctor's had been. They believed the Troy theater was strong and could be restored to its original use.
People who supported the office plan said the theater hadn't been successfully redeveloped in years. They felt it was time to try something new to help downtown Troy. They also noted that the Schenectady Proctor's still lost money. They argued that the new project would create jobs, which the city needed.
Restoration Grant
In March 2011, it was announced that the theater would receive $3.3 million from a "Restore NY" grant. Columbia Development planned to use this money to fix up the theater building and two nearby office buildings.
In October 2011, a $14.4 million project was announced. This project involved both public and private money, including the $3.3 million Restore New York grant. Columbia Development Companies would buy Proctor's Theater and begin its restoration.
Images for kids
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The facade in 2008. Notice the theater marquee.
See also
