Rivoli Theatre (South Fallsburg, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rivoli Theatre
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West elevation and north profile of front block, 2008
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | South Fallsburg, NY |
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| Nearest city | Middletown |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | Emil Motel |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001691 |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 2001 |
The Rivoli Theatre is a historic movie theater and playhouse. It is located in South Fallsburg, New York. The theater was built in 1923. It was updated in the late 1930s and still looks much like it did then.
The Rivoli was a very popular place for fun. People watched both live shows and movies there. This was especially true when many Jewish summer resorts were busy in the Catskills. Today, a local theater group still performs plays there each summer. In 2001, the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical building. On July 6, 2012, the Rivoli Theatre started showing movies again. The Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, which owns the theater, used a special projector. The first movie they showed was Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.
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About the Rivoli Theatre Building
The Rivoli Theatre building has two main parts. There is a front section with the entrance and lobby. The other part is a large auditorium where shows are held. The building is made of concrete blocks. It is covered with light brown bricks. Red bricks are used for lines and decorations.
The sides and back of the building have a special plaster finish. Brick pillars divide the different sections. The front part of the roof is hidden behind a low wall. The back part of the roof has a pointed shape. Both roof sections are covered with asphalt shingles.
Outside the Theater
The front of the theater has a cool three-sided sign. It is a neon sign that glows brightly. This sign is held up by chains. There is also a tall, glowing neon sign on the front.
Inside the Theater
The lobby and entrance area are still the same size. But they have been updated with newer materials. The auditorium is about 160 feet (49 meters) long. It still has its original Art Deco style. This style uses lots of geometric shapes.
The ceiling is flat, and the walls curve. They are covered with panels that have different patterns. A large, original light hangs in the center of each wall panel. A new automatic movie screen was put in during June 2012.
The second floor of the theater is used for storage. It holds props and costumes for plays. Part of the second floor is being fixed up. It will be used as rehearsal rooms for actors. Many of the original finishes are still there.
History of the Rivoli Theatre
Around the early 1900s, many Jewish immigrants moved to South Fallsburg. Many had visited local resorts for summer vacations. They decided to stay and open their own resorts. These resorts served other Jewish people. By the early 1920s, most people in the town were Jewish. The local synagogue grew quickly and welcomed new members every week.
Opening and Early Success
Israel Kaplan and his son Arch opened the Rivoli Theatre in 1923. They wanted to provide fun for summer visitors. They are often said to have designed the theater. However, it looks a lot like the Rialto Theatre in nearby Monticello. Emil Motel designed the Rialto. He also redesigned the Rivoli later. This makes some people think he might have designed the Rivoli from the start.
The Rivoli was very successful. It showed both movies and live stage shows. In 1937, the Kaplans made the theater bigger. It could then hold 600 people. They also updated it in the popular Art Deco style. The theater stayed popular during the time of the Catskill resorts. Many famous performers started their careers in this area, known as the "Borscht Belt." People who went there remember long lines to get in.
New Owners and Restoration
At the end of 1997, Alice Rosenshein Manzi closed the theater. She was a descendant of the Kaplans. She had been renting the theater out as a fruit stand to earn money. The Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, a local theater group, bought it for $55,000. They wanted a new home for their shows. They fixed it up to use as a theater again.
The next year, the inside was repainted. A new heating and cooling system was added. The group puts on movies and plays every summer. A local music promoter also holds concerts there. In 2011, the group started raising money. They needed to match a state grant to fix the marquee.
Famous Visitors
Before they formed the famous hard rock band KISS, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley played at the Rivoli. This was in the early 1970s. They were with their band Wicked Lester/Rainbow at the time.
Movies Return
On July 6, 2012, the Rivoli Theatre started showing movies again. The Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, Inc. owns the theater. They used a Christie 35-mm projector to continue the tradition of showing films. The first movie shown was "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted."
Building Changes Over Time
The original building on the Rivoli site was built in 1910. Its foundation is still under a part of the current Rivoli. The Rivoli Theatre we see today was built in two main stages. The first part was built in 1923. Emil Motl, who did the 1937 remodel, might have designed the original building too. The big expansion and remodel happened in 1937.
The 1923 marquee was a simple iron canopy. It had decorations and glass tiles. In 1937, this was replaced by a square neon sign. The current three-sided sign is from the 1950s. All three signs were held by metal chains. The tall vertical neon sign is original.
The entrance area also changed over time. The first ticket booth was rectangular and stuck out into the lobby. The 1937 lobby is still mostly the same. It has a tiled floor and shiny metal siding.
The lobby and lounge areas are still the same shape. But they have been updated with newer materials. The auditorium was also built in two steps. The first space was 124 feet (38 meters) long. In 1937, a 36-foot (11 meters) addition was built at the back. This added six more rows of seats and a stage. At the same time, the auditorium was completely redecorated in the Art Deco style. The 1937 look of the auditorium is still completely there.
When the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop bought the theater in 1998, they made some changes. Seats were removed to make the stage bigger. New heating and cooling systems were put in. More recently, a sound and lighting booth was built. Dressing rooms and extra restrooms were also added.
See also
