ROC Cinema

957 S. Clinton Avenue,
Rochester, NY 14620

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ROC Cinema (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Jo-Mor Theatres

Functions: Movies, Movies (Classic), Special Events

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Clinton Theatre, Cinema Theater

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 585.271.1785

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News About This Theater

ROC Cinema

Originally built in 1914 as the Clinton Theatre, it had a dirt floor. The 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook gives a seating capacity for the Clinton Theatre as 540. It was renovated and reopened August 25, 1949 and was given an Art Deco style façade.

Now known as the Cinema Theater, it became the oldest, continuously run, single-screen theater in Rochester, NY. The lease came up for renewal in January 2021 and the operators decided to close permanently in February 2021.

New owners took over and following renovations it reopened in June 2022 as a dine-in theatre name ROC Cinema.

Contributed by Bill Wynkoop

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

JMAX
JMAX on February 23, 2008 at 9:58 am

Since the theatre business is stuggling we encourage the owner of the theatre to host more special events like Indian movie screening. I am in Rochester I tried to contact the owner of the theatre, she is very poor in communication. I called and left messages many times, emailed NO RESPONSE. This is not good. We need to try hard to keep this business going on.

Thanks

DavidDynamic
DavidDynamic on February 9, 2012 at 11:31 pm

Attractive simple deco but I could not tolerate the way that the titles are scrunched on the reader board—was almost to think that it was a limiting design fault except that there is a picture with proper spacing. Drivers should not have to try to decipher the marquee titles.

cmbussmann
cmbussmann on April 19, 2012 at 10:29 am

I lived down the street from The Cinema for almost two years while in college. It was easily my favorite place to see a movie in Rochester. Second-run, three-dollar double features were the main attraction. As well as the simple Art Deco design, comfy seats, house kittens who sat on your lap, and the fact that I could look down the street, see the Marquee, and decide if I wanted to venture down the block or not. I saw many memorable double bills here, easily ingratiating myself as a regular. The staff were always super-friendly with me and obliging with the free refills.

I haven’t made it back to The Cinema since I left Rochester but I am happy to hear this place is still up-and-running. In two years, it will hit the century mark, perhaps making it the longest running independent movie house in the Northeast? I don’t know for sure but I do know that The Cinema is a treasure and a bargain.

TivFan
TivFan on July 30, 2013 at 4:10 am

I have a letter dated September 29, 1927, typed on stationary with a Clinton Theatre letterhead. It details “specifications for Clinton Theatre main roof”. Below CLINTON THEATRE is: South Clinton and Goodman Streets. Below that, is: High Class Photoplays. In the upper left corner is: Office, 366 Main Street West. In the upper right: Phone, Main 6229.

linklonk
linklonk on August 4, 2013 at 8:18 pm

Hi tivfan, I work for the Cinema and would LOVE to see it, if possible.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 23, 2016 at 4:17 pm

August 25th, 1949 grand opening ad in photo section.

Buffer
Buffer on April 13, 2019 at 10:50 am

The Democrat and Chronicle website records that Audrey Kramer and husband Alex Chemavsky loved the cinema so much they married there in 2009. Businessman John Trickey owns the building but leased it the couple who manage it. They have introduced theater cats, the first being Bo and offer concession vegan meals

cmbussmann
cmbussmann on February 18, 2021 at 3:05 pm

Am gutted to read it has closed. I loved a block away from it in college and was a frequent patron of their double-features and loved when one of their “cinema cats” would sit on my lap.

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