Pearl River Theater

23 Central Avenue,
Pearl River, NY 10965

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Additional Info

Functions: Housing, Retail

Previous Names: Granada Theater

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News About This Theater

1930's photo courtesy of John W. Vomvoris.

The Granada Theater was built in 1922 for use as a vaudville playhouse. On February 18, 1966 it was renamed the Pearl River Theater screening Hayley Mills in “That Darn Cat” and converted to a single-screened movie house. There was interest in reviving this theater for mixed-use venues (movies, shows, concerts and as a community center) but nothing happened.

It was demolished apart from the façade and retail & housing now occupy the site.

Contributed by Pearl River Theater Development Corp.

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on February 3, 2006 at 11:46 am

Listed in editions of Film Daily Yearbook; 1941, 1943 and 1950 as the Central Theatre, Central Avenue(the only theatre in Pearl River) with a seating capacity varying from 550 in the 1940’s to 644 in 1950. Could the Central Theatre be the Granada/Pearl River Theatre?

As a matter of interest, the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 lists a Carnival Theatre in Pearl River (no address given).

GaryChadwick
GaryChadwick on June 12, 2006 at 6:55 pm

The “Granada Theater” in Pearl River, New York, was renamed the “CENTRAL THEATER” at some time prior to 1959. The Central Theater remained its name till 1964, when a fire destroyed much of the structure. While the building was being reconstructed, another theater was built and opened up the street, stealing the “CENTRAL” name. When the “PR” or “PEARL RIVER THEATER” opened its doors in 1965, some changes had occurred to the structure. The original theater lost half it’s lobby to a Barber Shop. The concession stand moved from behind the loge to the front of the building. The stagewas rendered unusable due to a short sighted archetect, who placed
the major portion of the airconditioning unit behind the screen.
The dressing rooms were pretty much in tact,though only used for storage, when I worked there the summer of 1971. At the time that I was an usher there, the theater was owned and operated by the “TRU-DEB THEATER CORPORATION…they also operated the CENTRAL THEATER up the street. The NEW PEARL RIVER THEATER opened its doors to show Disney’s "That Darn Cat"starring Dean Jones and Haley Mills in 1965.

Syd
Syd on February 18, 2007 at 6:59 am

My grandfather Scott Falt owned a diner next to this theater it was called the Granada. He sold this diner to a family called the Marinos. The diner caught fire a damaged the movie theater. This theater and the newer one in town were owned by Mr. Sherman. Mr. Sherman also built another theater in the Spring Valley/Hill Crest area.

As a kid we would go to the movies for .14 cents to see an Elvis movie they would over sell the tickets and kids would sit on the stairs up in the balcony.

Mr.Sherman also owned the strip stores were Mel’s Army and Navy store is.I worked part time for Mel and sometimes he would have me take his rent to Mr. Sherman who had an office in the movie theater.

Mr.Shermans office was in the left hand front of the theater up by the movie screen.

Syd Smith
Pearl River, New York
2/18/2007

movieguy
movieguy on December 22, 2007 at 9:47 pm

After 3+ years for trying to re-open the Pearl River Cinema, the PRDC lost the fight and the theatre will be used for retail space.

Not good for Downtown Pearl River which has fallen on hard times since BOTh theatres closed in 2000.

A victim of the HUGE MEGA MALL!!

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 6, 2015 at 8:04 pm

1930’s photo added courtesy of John W. Vomvoris.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 1, 2016 at 4:13 pm

February 18th, 1966 grand opening ad as Pearl River in the photo section.

Moviefan333
Moviefan333 on December 7, 2022 at 1:16 pm

It was very unfortunate that the group that was trying to save and purchase the theater to do a mixed used venue of movies and other events never was successful. Those theaters have been closed the two theaters in Pearl River for about 20+ years now. It would’ve been nice if at least one of them could’ve stayed opened for something for the residence of Pearl River to do in the downtown besides eating and going out to bars

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