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 located on Fourth Street in Troy, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's an important building worth protecting because of its history and design. It is also part of the larger Central Troy Historic District.
The theater was built in 1914 by Frederick Freeman Proctor, a businessman from the Capital District. He was known for building theaters for vaudeville shows, which were popular live performances with different acts like music, comedy, and dance. Proctor also built another theater with his name in nearby Schenectady.
Proctor's Theater in Troy was designed by architect Arland W. Johnson. It had two balconies, which made it easy to change from live shows to showing motion pictures when movies became popular. The theater closed in the late 1970s. Since then, it has had several owners, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). There were different ideas for its future, like turning it into offices or reopening it as a theater.
By September 2018, the building had been changed into modern office spaces. Its beautiful front (facade) was kept, but the inside was updated. Today, the building houses the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a salon.
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Exploring the Building
Proctor's Theater is a five-story building. It stands out because of its very fancy front, or facade. This facade is made of brick and marble, covered with shiny glazed terra-cotta.
Outside the Theater
On the ground floor, you can see strong, rough-looking columns that reach up to lion's heads. Higher up, five smooth marble columns frame the upper floors. These columns go up to figures that look like gargoyles. Two towers rise above the roof at each end of the front. The tower above the main entrance has many detailed terra-cotta decorations.
Inside the Theater
The inside of the theater has been through a lot, but its main layout is still there. When you entered, you would find a lobby with tile floors and arched ceilings. This lobby led to staircases that went up to the two balconies. It also led to a foyer that opened onto the main orchestra floor. This area was once decorated with shiny gold leaf.
The stage area, called the proscenium, features a painting by David Lithgow. This painting shows Lafayette's visit to Troy in 1824. Many of these original features from when the theater was built are still there.
A Look at Its History
Frederick Proctor had already built successful vaudeville theaters in Albany and New York City. He hired Arland Johnson to design the Troy theater, hoping it would be his grandest project. It cost a lot of money 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.
From Vaudeville to Movies
From the start, Proctor understood that movies were becoming popular. He began changing his theaters to show films. The Troy Proctor's design, with its two balconies, worked well for movies. It brought the audience close to the stage, no matter where they sat. Even though it wasn't built for a projector at first, a projection booth was added by the 1920s. During that time, the theater showed both live acts and movies.
In the 1930s, when movies with sound became common, live acts were no longer needed. The large central chandelier was removed, and other parts of the theater were updated. Paintings were taken from the lobby, and the gold leaf in the orchestra area was painted over.
Closing Its Doors
After Proctor passed away in 1929, the theater continued to be a popular spot in downtown Troy. However, after the mid-1900s, it started to lose business. This was partly because of television and people moving to the suburbs. In 1977, Proctor's Theater finally closed. The last show was seen by about 170 people. A year later, the city took over the property. Proctor's Theater is the only old movie palace left in Troy, though it hasn't been used for movies since it closed.
Proctor's and RPI
Students from RPI often went to Proctor's Theater. They enjoyed movie screenings, live performances, and vaudeville shows. Ads for performances at Proctor's Theater were even in the RPI student newspaper, The Polytechnic, until the theater closed.
In the early 1900s, RPI students themselves performed vaudeville and musical acts at Proctor's Theater. The "RPI Nights" shows started in 1915. In March 1922, a group of RPI students brought back "RPI Nights" as a weekly show. After a successful first night, a group called the "Campus Five" was formed. This group had five RPI students and performed music with 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 too.
The RPI Nights shows were very popular with the public. The Polytechnic newspaper once said that the first performance had the largest audience ever at Proctor's. It's not clear if RPI students continued to perform after the Campus Five members graduated.
In later years, RPI hosted other events at the theater. In the 1970s, the Rensselaer Concert Board brought in music groups like Poco and McKendree Spring. They also hosted the comedy radio show National Lampoon Radio Hour 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 section. Later, a developer suggested using a state grant to change the inside of the building into office space, while keeping the historic front. Some local residents did not like this idea. They started a group and an online petition to stop it. They pointed out how successful the restoration of the Schenectady Proctor's had been. They believed the Troy theater could also be restored to its original use.
People who supported the office plan argued that the theater had not been successfully redeveloped for many years. They felt it was time to try something new to improve that part of downtown Troy. They also mentioned that the Schenectady Proctor's still lost money. They believed the office project would create needed jobs in the city.
Restore NY Grant
In March 2011, it was announced that the theater would receive $3.3 million from a "Restore NY" grant. This money was planned to help Columbia Development renovate the theater building and two nearby office buildings.
In October 2011, a $14.4 million project was announced. Columbia Development Companies would buy Proctor's Theater and begin a restoration. This project included the $3.3 million Restore New York grant.
Images for kids
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The facade in 2008. Note the theater marquee.
See also
