Beloved Historic Art-House Set to Reopen This April in Northern Hudson Valley

I lived and went to school in Albany for several years, and I very much consider it a second home. Many of my friends still live in the Albany area, and my girlfriend and her family live right outside Albany. I have many fond memories taking in all the local attractions and enjoying the arts. My heart was broken when I found out the historic Spectrum 8 theater was closing. Fortunately, the theater is looking to be revived!

Spectrum 8 Movie Theater to be Reopened by Scene One Entertainment

The Spectrum originally opened in 1983 as a single-screen art-house. It was founded by Keith and Sugi Pickard, Scott Meyer, and Annette Nanes. In 2015, the Pickards, Meyer and Nanes approached Landmark Theaters about taking over operation because they were all ready to move on. Landmark ran operations from 2015-2024, leasing the Delaware Avenue property from the co-founders, who retain ownership of the building. Since its origin, the Spectrum expanded to become an eight-screen Albany staple which specialized in independent films, popcorn with real butter and signature sweet treats baked from secret recipes.

According to Times Union, Locally based Scene One Entertainment is officially planning to reopen Albany's Spectrum 8 movie theater in April.⁠ This announcement follows the Spectrum's closing back in the end of February. While the announcement delivered a hard blow to local film lovers and nearby businesses, Pickard, one of four founders of Spectrum, said that he was hopeful the theater would reopen under new leadership soon after Landmark’s lease expired. And sure enough, a solution has been found.
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Locally based Scene One Entertainment is taking over management of the Spectrum movie theater in Albany, a spokesman announced on Friday. The company operates movie theaters in Schenectady and Wilton. Scene One planned to have the theater open in April, the announcement stated.⁠

Scene One Entertainment

Simply stated, Scene One Entertainment delivers results for entertainment venues. Through a Management Services Agreement, Scene One fully manage and operate entertainment venues for the account of their owners with a focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience at the venue level and optimal expense, front of the house, and back of house management services to the clients. Scene One Entertainment has theatres throughout New York, New Jersey, Colorado, South Carolina, Texas and VirginIa

Here are just some of the associated benefits:

• An exceptional public-facing customer experience for your patrons

• Innovative and proven concepts to increase revenue

• Expense side value delivered through consolidated purchasing and vendor relationships

• The ability to secure the best available content and programming for each venue at costs reflecting our scale as multi-location operators

• Close attention to physical plant and equipment maintenance, upkeep, and facilities cost management to ensure the best possible guest experience and the longevity of our client’s physical assets

• Actionable, accurate, and timely financial reporting (including capital and operational budgeting)

Spectrum 8 Art-House Returns to Albany this April

As part of the coming attraction for the reopening, the Spectrum’s new operator says the business’s selection of locally baked snacks — cakes, pastries, cookies — as well as gluten-free food, real butter on popcorn, and mint brownies will be back at the concession stand. The theater will also reactivate the art gallery and monthly calendar.⁠

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Joe Masher, CEO and owner of Scene One Entertainment said, "I'm totally committed to the movie going experience, particularly in the Capital Region where I grew up... The theatre will have its heart and soul back. We'll be bringing back everything you loved about the Spectrum from the printed calendars to the baked goods to still real butter on the popcorn... Scene One is totally committed to the movie-going experience here in the Capital Region."