Chatham – Page 37 – Columbia County Current

The Crandell Theater

I’ve always been a huge fan of going to the movies, which means leaving my home and traveling to a movie theater to watch a movie as apposed to renting/buying the movie and watching it at home. During high school and college going to the movies was almost a weekly treat but then, shortly after graduating, I moved to the big city–Jersey City–and eventually over the bridge into NYC.

While living there, going to the movies became an ordeal and unless I went in the middle of the week during an obscure time, the theater would be packed with obnoxious, loud assholes who seemed to be under the impression that they were watching the film in their own living rooms, where taking a phone call or having an outdoor-voice conversation with the person next to them was completely acceptable. City crowds ruined the movie experience for me and I rarely went unless I had a few stiff drinks in me first.

Now I live in the bucolic setting of Upstate New York and going to the movies is like traveling back in time thanks to The Crandell Theatre in Chatham.

movies

The Crandell was built in 1926 by Walter S. Crandell, as a vaudeville house, and not much has changed since then. The stage has been replaced with a screen but they still have one of those soda vending machines where the cup drops into an opening and then fills up with the beverage of your choice. There’s one large screen and all the movies are just five bucks!

I saw the new GI Joe flick at the Crandell on Wednesday and I’m pretty sure I saw a girl in a poodle skirt necking with greaser in the balcony. If you ever have the chance to see a movie here, I highly recommend it.

Here is a lovely little film, made by a local film maker, all about the Crandell. Enjoy!

The Chatham Press

The Chatham Press is a monthly, newspaper with reporting about the Villages of Chatham, Philmont, Kinderhook, Valatie and New Lebanon.

The Chatham Press is a monthly, tabloid newspaper (11” x 17”) printed on bright, white paper with reporting about the Villages of Chatham, Philmont, Kinderhook, Valatie and New Lebanon.

The Press focuses on features about people, places and things that make our towns economically and socially vibrant – who passed through and who’s active here now.

If you haven’t already picked up the February 2009 edition of The Chatham Press, make sure to grab a copy if you see it around. There is a great two-page spread of “Now & Then” photos featuring pictures of familiar Chatham scenes as they look today as compared to the 20’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s.

For more local happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent on Facebook, and twitter @CoCoCurrent.

Roaring Rapids Across Chatham

After the weekend’s biblical downpour, I’m thinking of building an ark of my own. We had so much rain on Saturday that the ground level raised to a point where the water began pouring in through our basement window sill. On an emergency run to the hardware store, we noticed that many homes along 295 in Chatham were surrounded by water. Hopefully you managed to stay high and dry and lets hope for a drier week ahead.

Happenings: Free Art Show at Chatham House

From now until March 8, 2008, The Chatham House is hosting a collection of local artists’ works. Paintings and photographs from artists including Jerry Freedner, Barbara Peduzzi and Jim Nelson can be viewed throughout Chatham House’s dining rooms, hallways, cocktail bar and the promenade.

Viewing the art is free so why not stop in for a look and stay for a drink or meal. While there, take note of the painstaking efforts that have restored this historic 1859 hotel.

Details:
The Chatham House is located at 29 Hudson Avenue in Chatham, NY.
The building is open everyday but Tuesday from 11am -9pm
For more info, please visit TheChathamHouse.com or call 518-392-6600.