Come see a great film with a homemade 'secret recipe' Spectrum Mint Brownie, or a bag of fresh, hot popcorn with real butter! In 1980, two couples, Sugi Pickard, Keith Pickard, Annette Nanes and Scott Meyer, who shared a love of film bought and renovated a small, run-down, 183-seat movie theater in Rensselaer, NY. Renaming it the 3rd Street Theatre, we began showing “art films,” in a comfortable relaxed atmosphere. The programming was repertory in format and we built a loyal following showing classics like The King Of Heats, My Dinner with Andre, The Return of The Secaucus Seven and films by the greats like Truffaut, Kurosawa, Godard and Fassbinder. By 1983 we were outgrowing this venue and decided to expand our sights across the Hudson River into Albany. When we purchased the Delaware Theatre in 1983, it was a single-screen, neighborhood Art Deco style movie theatre built in the 1940s. We have slowly expanded to our current eight-screen format; yet have not lost the personal touch that sets the Spectrum apart from the competition. In 2015 the Spectrum was passed on to Landmark Theatres. Landmark Theatres is a recognized leader in the industry for providing its customers consistently diverse and entertaining film products in a sophisticated adult-oriented atmosphere. Our theatres showcase a wide variety of films — ranging from independent and foreign film to 3-D movies and smart films from Hollywood. By showcasing the best Hollywood, first-run independent, and foreign language films the Spectrum has differentiated itself from the competition. We offer a state-of-the-art alternative to the mall movie experience. Dolby digital surround sound and 3-D projection enhances enjoyment of our “spectrum” of film offerings. Off-street parking in either of our two lots means no hassles and no mall traffic. The Spectrum’s Art Deco atmosphere and art gallery showcasing the work of local artists make going to the movies a unique experience. Our snack bar offers a delicious selection of baked goods, coffees, teas and popcorn with real butter! Special events featuring conversations with independent filmmakers are a regular part of our programming. We are committed to keeping alive the idea of cinema as a vital art form and are proud to have created what is now considered to be the region’s primary resource for film.
