Scene One Entertainment to reopen Spectrum 8 Theaters

Company is targeting April 2024 reopening for legendary Albany movie theater

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 29, 2024) — Scene One Entertainment announced it will reopen the Spectrum 8 Theaters in Albany’s Delaware Avenue neighborhood. This will be the third theater operating for Scene One Entertainment in Upstate New York, after Scene One Movieland in Schenectady and Scene One Wilton Mall Cinemas.

Spectrum 8 Theaters first opened in 1983 by two couples who previously had owned and operated an independent movie theater, the Third Street Theatre, in Rensselaer. For decades, the Spectrum has been synonymous with independent, upscale programming of avantgarde, foreign, independent, and widely-released features. Originally a single-screen theater known as The Delaware Theater that opened in the early 1940s, the Spectrum has been a mainstay of the Delaware Avenue neighborhood.

“The overwhelming response to the theatre’s closing last month prompted me to move faster with the building’s owner to get the cinema reopened. I’ve been working very closely with Keith Pickard to bring the heart and soul back into the Spectrum. The art gallery will be reactivated and the calendar that was published monthly will return,” said Joe Masher, owner and CEO, Scene One Entertainment.

“We are very excited to hand over the reins of the Spectrum 8 Theatres to Joe Masher,” said Spectrum founders Sugi Pickard, Keith Pickard, Annette Nanes, and Scott Meyer. In moving the Spectrum forward Joe brings a sense of excitement and competence. The Spectrum is an important cultural resource in the Capital Region, beloved by the community. We anticipate great things for the future of the Spectrum and encourage everyone’s support. “

“I said several weeks ago I was confident the closure of the Spectrum Theatre would be temporary, and I am thrilled we can finally announce that is indeed the case,” said Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan “I am so appreciative to Joe Masher and the entire team at Scene One for helping ensure the shows on Delaware Avenue will indeed go on.”

Scene One will restore the selections that made the Spectrum’s concession stand a treasure: locally-sourced cakes, pastries, cookies, gluten-free delights, real butter on fresh, hot popcorn, and mint brownies.

“Most excitedly, I’ve been entrusted with the secret recipe for the Spectrum’s famous mint brownies,” Masher noted.

Coca-Cola products will be featured and served, in addition to Coke Zero Sugar and Seagram’s Ginger Ale to be added to the available fountain drink options. Coffee and tea will be featured from Albany-based Motor Oil Coffee. Further, the Spectrum will also serve beer, wine, cider, and other alcoholic beverages (upon issuance of a state liquor license). Masher, who is also president of the National Association of Theater Owners of New York State, led the fight for more than a decade to allow for alcoholic beverages to be served and consumed at movie theaters and within auditoriums.

“I’ve been attending the Spectrum since Keith and his partners opened it in 1983. I saw its first film, ‘Lianna’, when it was a one-screen cinema. I’ve been a giant fan of their operations since their start at the Third Street Theater. I am honored that Keith and his partners have selected me to carry on their tradition. They say you can’t go home again, but that’s not true,” added Masher.

Scene One is projecting an April 2024 reopening.

For more information about Scene One Entertainment, visit scene1ent.com.

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About Scene One Entertainment: Scene One Entertainment is a multi-faceted entertainment company based in Schenectady, N.Y., operating movie theaters and amusement facilities in Colorado, New Jersey, New York State, South Carolina, and Virginia. Scene One operates movie theaters both under the Scene One and Big Time Movies (BTM) brands, in addition to the historic Huck Finn’s Playland amusement park in Albany, N.Y.