Crandell Theatre
A historic nonprofit single-screen cinema and community arts venue in Chatham, New York.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Crandell Theatre is a nonprofit community cinema in the Village of Chatham, New York, and is regarded as Columbia County's oldest and largest single-screen movie theater. The venue opened on Christmas Day in 1926 with a screening of the silent film Michael Strogoff. It was commissioned by Walter S. Crandell, a Chatham native who worked as a New York stockbroker and later became a local banker. The theater was built on property associated with Crandell's family and cost approximately $100,000 in pre-Depression dollars. The building is notable for its Spanish Renaissance architectural design, pink brick-and-stucco exterior, historic stage, balcony, orchestra pit, and organ lofts. Its 26-foot-wide stage and dressing rooms reflect the building's origins in the era of silent cinema, although the venue was conceived primarily as a movie house rather than a vaudeville theater. The balcony retains 36 original 1926 seats. In 1929, as synchronized sound became central to commercial film exhibition, the theater installed an RCA Photophone system to present talking pictures. For almost five decades, the theater was connected with the Quirino family. Anthony Quirino acquired it in 1960, and his son Tony subsequently operated it until his death in 2010. The theater had also become an important venue for independent and international cinema. The Chatham Film Club was formed in 1998 by local film enthusiasts and arranged regular Sunday screenings at the Crandell. In 2000, the club joined with the Columbia County Council on the Arts to establish FilmColumbia, a film festival that grew into one of the theater's signature programs. Tony Quirino's death placed the theater's future in doubt, and it temporarily closed. Community members, led by the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Lael Locke, and Judy Grunberg, organized a campaign to acquire the building and fund essential repairs. Approximately $600,000 was raised for the purchase and initial rehabilitation. Work included a new roof, heating and climate-control improvements, a steam boiler, repairs to the facade and marquee, and the installation of digital projection and modern sound equipment. The Crandell reopened on July 9, 2010, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, community-based theater. The organization formally adopted the name Crandell Theatre in August 2018, consolidating its cinema, festival, educational, and community activities under one identity. Its programming combines first-run and second-run films, family screenings, independent and foreign-language works, filmmaker and actor discussions, and special community events. FilmColumbia uses the theater as its principal venue and has developed into an annual October festival lasting approximately ten days. Other programs include Farm Film Fest, which focuses on agriculture and the Hudson Valley, Crandell Kid Flicks, a children's series introduced in 2023, and Sonic Sundays, a music-oriented program launched after the theater's later renovation. The Crandell was listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 2017. It has also received public attention as a symbol of small-town cultural life, including a 2016 TODAY Show segment in which Al Roker demonstrated the work of the theater's ticket, concession, and projection operations. A major restoration and state-of-the-art renovation was completed in October 2025. The theater remains a cultural anchor for Chatham, Columbia County, and the wider Hudson Valley, combining historic preservation with contemporary film exhibition and community programming.
History
The Crandell Theatre was built in Chatham, New York, for Walter S. Crandell, a local native whose professional career included work as a New York stockbroker and later as a banker in the area. The building occupies the site of a residence formerly owned by members of Crandell's family. Designed in a Spanish Renaissance style, the theater uses pink brick and stucco and retains architectural elements associated with early twentieth-century movie palaces, including a balcony, stage, dressing rooms, orchestra pit, and organ lofts. The theater opened on December 25, 1926, showing the silent film Michael Strogoff. Although the building included a substantial stage, its original purpose was the exhibition of motion pictures rather than vaudeville performances. As sound cinema developed, the Crandell installed an RCA Photophone sound system in 1929, allowing it to show talking pictures using contemporary technology. Anthony Quirino purchased the theater in 1960. The Quirino family remained associated with the venue for almost fifty years, with Tony Quirino operating it until his death in 2010. During this period, the Crandell continued as a local movie theater while also becoming increasingly important to the region's cultural programming. The Chatham Film Club was established in 1998 by film enthusiasts who wanted regular access to independent and foreign films. The group rented the Crandell for monthly Sunday matinees. In 2000, it partnered with the Columbia County Council on the Arts to create FilmColumbia, a festival that expanded the theater's role beyond routine exhibition. FilmColumbia became an annual event and developed a reputation for presenting pre-release films from the United States and other countries. The theater closed after Tony Quirino's death and faced an uncertain future. A broad community campaign, supported by the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation and organized in part by Lael Locke and Judy Grunberg, raised approximately $600,000 to purchase the property and address urgent building needs. The first round of work included roof replacement, HVAC and boiler upgrades, repairs to the facade and marquee, and the conversion to digital projection and modern sound standards. The Crandell reopened on July 9, 2010, under a nonprofit 501(c)(3) structure. In 2017, the property was placed on both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. The listing recognized the theater's architectural character and its continuing role in the history of Chatham. In August 2018, the nonprofit officially adopted the name Crandell Theatre, bringing its different activities under a unified institutional identity. The modern Crandell presents first-run and second-run movies, independent and international titles, family programming, and special events. It serves as the primary venue for FilmColumbia, now described as an annual ten-day festival held in October. The theater also hosts Farm Film Fest, a program centered on farming and land stewardship in the Hudson Valley, and Crandell Kid Flicks, a children's series launched in January 2023 with themed activities. Sonic Sundays was introduced after a later reopening and renovation as an additional program combining film-related community use with music. The Crandell has been promoted as a model of community-supported cultural infrastructure. Its funding mix includes admissions and other earned revenue, contributions from members and supporters, and public and private grants, including support connected with the New York State Council on the Arts. A major restoration and state-of-the-art renovation was completed in October 2025, extending the building's usefulness while preserving its historic identity. The theater continues to function as a cultural anchor for Chatham, Columbia County, and the Hudson Valley.
- 2025
Major restoration is completed
[1]A comprehensive restoration and state-of-the-art renovation of the historic theater is completed in October.
- 2023
Crandell Kid Flicks launches
[4]The theater introduces a seasonal children's film series paired with themed activities.
- 2018
The organization adopts the Crandell Theatre name
[1]The organization formally changes its name to Crandell Theatre to unify its exhibition, festival, and community programs.
- 2017
Historic-register recognition
[1]The theater is added to the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places.
- 2010
The theater reopens as a nonprofit
[6]Following a community fundraising and rehabilitation effort, the Crandell reopens with digital projection and updated sound equipment.
- 2000
FilmColumbia begins
[5]The Chatham Film Club and Columbia County Council on the Arts produce the first FilmColumbia festival at the Crandell.
- 1998
Chatham Film Club is organized
[1]Local film enthusiasts establish the Chatham Film Club to bring independent and foreign films to the area.
- 1960
Anthony Quirino acquires the theater
[1]Anthony Quirino purchases the Crandell, beginning the family's nearly five-decade association with the venue.
- 1929
Sound-film equipment is installed
[1]The theater installs an RCA Photophone system as synchronized sound becomes an essential part of commercial film exhibition.
- 1926
The theater opens
[1]Crandell Theatre opens on Christmas Day in a Spanish Renaissance-style building with a screening of the silent film Michael Strogoff.
Products and positioning
A historic, nonprofit, community-oriented cinema that combines contemporary film exhibition with independent and international programming, film festivals, educational activities, and preservation of a 1920s theater building.
Cinema programming · 1926
Main-screen film exhibition
The theater presents a mix of first-run and second-run feature films. Its programming includes mainstream releases, independent productions, foreign-language cinema, and films selected for their cultural, educational, or artistic value. The single-screen format and historic interior distinguish the experience from multiplex exhibition.
Film festival · 2000
FilmColumbia Festival
FilmColumbia is the Crandell's signature festival program and uses the theater as its principal venue. The annual October event presents films from around the world, including pre-release titles, and has expanded into a roughly ten-day cultural program with a strong emphasis on serious, independent, and international cinema.
Community film program
Farm Film Fest
Farm Film Fest is a day-long program focused on farming, food systems, land, and rural life in the Hudson Valley. It is associated with the Chatham Agricultural Partnership, the Crandell Theatre, and the Columbia Land Conservancy Programming Committee, connecting film exhibition with regional agricultural and environmental concerns.
Children's cinema program · 2023
Crandell Kid Flicks
Crandell Kid Flicks is a seasonal children's series pairing family-oriented films with themed activities. The program broadens the theater's educational and community role by making filmgoing an event for children and families rather than only a conventional screening.
Music and community program
Sonic Sundays
Sonic Sundays is a newer program associated with Executive Director Mirissa Neff and introduced after the theater reopened following its major restoration and renovation. It extends the Crandell's use beyond standard movie exhibition through music-centered programming and community gatherings.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016TODAY Show community-theater feature
United States
A TODAY Show segment featuring Al Roker presented the Crandell's ticket booth, concession stand, and projection room as part of a typical operating night.
Outcome. The segment increased national visibility for the theater and portrayed it as an important local cultural institution.
- 2010Save and reopen the Crandell campaign
Chatham · Columbia County · Hudson Valley
Following Tony Quirino's death and the theater's closure, community supporters worked to purchase the building and restore its operations. The effort involved the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Lael Locke, Judy Grunberg, and local residents.
Outcome. Approximately $600,000 was raised for acquisition and urgent repairs, enabling the nonprofit theater to reopen within the same year.
- 1998Chatham Film Club programming initiative
Chatham · Columbia County
Area film enthusiasts organized the Chatham Film Club to create a regular local outlet for independent and foreign films. The club rented the Crandell for monthly Sunday matinees, helping establish the theater as a venue for art-house and international programming.
Outcome. The initiative developed into a durable partnership with the theater and led to the creation of FilmColumbia.
Brand decisions
2025
Complete major restoration and renovationGeneration changeBackground
The historic building required substantial preservation and technical work to support its long-term use as a modern cinema and community venue.
Action taken
The theater completed a comprehensive restoration and state-of-the-art renovation.
Aftermath
The project extended the building's operating life while preserving its historic character and supporting expanded programming.
2018
Unify programs under the Crandell Theatre identityStrategyBackground
The nonprofit operated a range of cinema, festival, educational, and community activities that had developed over time.
Action taken
The organization formally changed its name to Crandell Theatre.
Aftermath
The renamed organization presented the venue and its programs as one coordinated cultural institution.
2010
Reconstitute the theater as a nonprofitStrategyBackground
The venue closed after the death of longtime operator Tony Quirino and faced an uncertain ownership and operating future.
Action taken
Community supporters acquired and rehabilitated the theater under a 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure.
Aftermath
The Crandell reopened with a community-supported operating model and continued its regular film and festival programming.
Funds raised for acquisition and initial repairs. Approximately $600,000 raised (2010 reopening campaign)
2010
Convert to digital cinema projectionGeneration changeBackground
The theater needed updated exhibition technology to remain compatible with the industry's digital cinema standards.
Action taken
The reopening project installed digital projection and compliant sound systems alongside building repairs.
Aftermath
The venue could show first-run and feature films using contemporary digital presentation formats while retaining its historic auditorium.
1929
Adopt synchronized-sound exhibitionOtherBackground
The rapid rise of talking pictures made sound reproduction a competitive necessity for movie theaters.
Action taken
The Crandell installed an RCA Photophone system to present sound films.
Aftermath
The theater remained capable of exhibiting contemporary commercial films as the industry moved away from silent cinema.
Sources6 sources
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