Rosendale Theatre New York

The Rosendale Theatre bears little resemblance to the movie houses of the 1930s and 1940s, those ornate Asian temples that stood sentinel in numerous American cities and towns. Instead of cloud-crowded ceilings against sky-blue murals, Rosendale offers a plain tin ceiling. And even that is perpetually peeling. There are no Greco-Roman pillars, no torchlights illuminating the exits. But this sagging structure on Main Street engenders a fierce devotion in its patrons. Its careworn facade and rickety signage suggest no exotic destination within. But make no mistake; there is magic afoot. Since 1949 this modest dream factory has served the county well, whisking away the everyday aches and worries of farmers and stonecutters, beckoning locals to travel in their imaginations much further than their feet would ever carry them. In short, it has nurtured several generations of the Mid-Hudson Valley populace.