MVLS I Spy Oral History Interview

Scotia Theater, Glenville, NY
Part 1: Audio Excerpts | Current Photo | Historic Picture

Transcript of audio excerpts

Interviewer: Maggie Smith
Speaker: Gary O'Connor

I'm Maggie Smith and I'd like to introduce Mr. Gary O'Connor who has agreed to interview for us one more time today.

Smith: What do you remember about this building?
O'Connor: Would that be this building here called Scotia Cinema? I remember going to the Scotia Cinema back in the 1950's. I was born in 1950, so I probably started going there around 1959 or 1960, when I was 9 or 10. And I know that it's original name was the Ritz but I don't remember it as the Ritz. It was always the Scotia Theater. They called it Scotia Theater rather than Scotia Cinema.

And I remember that the Richie family owned it. They had it for a good number of years. I'll bet they owned it for the better part of 20 or 25 years. And you've got to remember that small town theaters were a source of entertainment for the community and we didn't have malls back then. So you couldn't go to Crossgates 14 or Crossgates 26 or whatever it is and see a movie out there.

And generally the only time that they would show movies for children would be on Saturday matinees. I don't even remember if the theater was open Sunday but I don't think that it was. Saturday matinee was the time you'd go down and everybody, of course, wanted to get in the balcony.

And pretty much when you walk in there today you get the same flavor that I had when I was growing up. You get your popcorn, get your soda, get your candy and try to head for the balcony. Of course there was always about 200 people trying to get the 50 seats that are up there. But usually it was Saturday afternoon and I think the cost was fairly nominal, probably a dollar or less as I recall.

Smith: How do you think other people that live in the village see this building?
O'Connor: I think for those of us who've been around the Scotia community for a lot of years, those who grew up here or have spent a good part of their life in this community, I think we look at that as a special landmark. I know there's a number of landmarks you have associated with this project and I think it's wonderful to be able to look at buildings like that that have seen so much life through the years and I think it's just a building that gives back life to the community as do many of the buildings in your project. I think they look at it as a definite contributor to the community. I think a lot of people like to go down there and get the cheap movies. And I think it's a cherished building, I think, among those of us who've spent some time here.

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