Crandell Theatre, Columbia County’s oldest and largest movie house in Chatham, New York, screens critically acclaimed commercial films, classic movies, and arthouse independents in a variety of genres. This June, the Crandell will screen two distinct documentaries each featuring local subjects: The Automat and Hello, Bookstore. Each screening will be followed by post-film Q&A with community members, film subjects, and in the case of Hello, Bookstore, the filmmaker. The Automat, playing Sunday, June 5, at 1 pm tells the 100-year story of iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, where generations of Americans enjoyed coffee and meals at communal tables. The documentary features interviews with Spencertown resident Steve Stollman, an architectural dealer who bought, sold, and restored antique commercial wood bar fixtures. His work led to the preservation of original Automat equipment and provision to exhibitions at the New York Public…
Changes to Health & Safety Guidelines
Effective March 31, Crandell Theatre patrons will no longer need proof of vaccination in order to attend screenings. Masks are recommended but not required. However buffered seating remains in effect to ensure that every patron or party will have ample space around them. (With the Crandell’s 534 seat auditorium and balcony, there is ample space to spread out.) We will continue to monitor the situation in Columbia County closely and make any adjustments accordingly. Your safety is our highest priority. Please do your part as well! We ask that guests refrain from entering the Crandell if they are experiencing any COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms.
Dateline: Berlin
Dateline: Berlin The Berlin International Film Festival, known as the Berlinale, is one of the largest public film festivals in the world, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. Every February around 400 films of all genres, lengths and formats are shown in cinemas all over the sprawling city. Founded in 1951 as a showcase for the “films of the free world” in a “free” city then surrounded by a Communist nation, the Berlinale still maintains a political emphasis even after German reunification. It does not shy away from controversy, and Berlin audiences, committed to their festival, expect to be provoked, disturbed and, perhaps, even entertained by the films shown. One of the films that spoke to me most is from a new German filmmaker, Maggie Peren. The Forger tells the extraordinary true story of an amiable young man, a Jew, who survived the Third…
Crandell Theatre Presents The Area Premiere of GardenFit
March 27, 2022
VIEW TRAILER HERE: GardenFit 60 GardenFit is presented for public television by The WNET Group and distributed by American Public Television. With the gardening season just around the corner, Crandell Theatre presents the area premiere of GardenFit, a new 13-episode public television series highlighting garden styles and techniques, while providing advice and solutions for gardeners’ aches and pains. Columbia County residents, creators, and co-hosts of GardenFit, Expert Gardener Madeline Hooper and Fitness Trainer Jeff Hughes will introduce two 30-minutes episodes and conduct a question and answer session. The event will be held on SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022, 1 PM. Refreshments follow the program. Admission is $10/person, Crandell Theatre Members admitted at no charge. Memberships may be purchased at the theater prior to the program. Online reservations are required along with proof of vaccination and masks. Memberships may be purchased online or…
Celebrate the Life of Fred Ulrich on Saturday, March 19 at 11 am
Please join us to celebrate the life of Fred Ulrich (March 15, 1976 – October 14, 2021) on Saturday, March 19 at 11 am. Fred was a big fan of the Crandell Theatre, a long-time board member and former Crandell Board president. He died in October after living with brain cancer for five years. We hope to celebrate his wonderful life with family, friends and community members at this free event. For more on Fred, see his obituary at www.columbiapaper.com/2021/11/obituaries-ulrich-bates/ Fred loved movies and asked that a free movie be shown as part of the celebration of his life. He wanted the film to be one of his favorites, A Fish Called Wanda so that people could have a “good laugh.” A free community screening will follow the service at 1 pm. Separate reservations must be made to attend the…
New Membership Program Expands Benefits
Over the past 20 years the unwavering support of members has been essential for keeping the Crandell Theatre lights shining bright. Member support not only helped us survive but retain our vision during the Covid crisis. If we have learned anything during this difficult time, it is that the Crandell needs to increase membership/contributed income in addition to box office/concession revenue to sustain the theater and support film programs, including FilmColumbia. Beginning January 1, 2022, the board is introducing annual memberships, with benefits expanded and fully or mostly tax deductible. The most significant benefit is at the box office, where non-member, adult box office ticket prices have increased to $11, with member prices remaining at $8. At the $75 Individual membership level, you save $3 on one box office ticket to all regularly scheduled films and, at the $125 Dual…
HudsonValley360 Article On New Membership Program
Crandell looks to make up for COVID losses Read the entire article here.
Winners of Bridging Divides, Healing Communities Youth Film Challenge Honored at Crandell Theatre
The Crandell Theatre honored the winners of the Bridging Divides, Healing Communities Youth Film Challenge with a screening of selected films and a discussion of topics raised by local young people in their submissions. Over 60 attendees enjoyed eight films focused on themes such as learning disabilities, self-image, pronouns and food insecurity. Yonah Sadeh, a student at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, earned first place and $2,000 for “In Our Backyard,” a film about affordable housing in his hometown of Falls Village, Conn. An honorable mention went to Samantha Hoffman, a student at Chatham High School from East Chatham, N.Y., for “He/She/They.” All of the filmmakers demonstrated resilience and determination by making and submitting meaningful films in the midst of a pandemic. The Youth Film Challenge was led by Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative and the Civic Life Project as part of…
FILMCOLUMBIA 21, OCTOBER 22-31, SHOWCASES NINE OF THE BEST DOCUMENTARIES OF THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE WINNERS OF THE GRAND PRIZE AT SUNDANCE AND THE AUDIENCE AWARD AT SXSW
FILMCOLUMBIA 21, OCTOBER 22-31, SHOWCASES NINE OF THE BEST DOCUMENTARIES OF THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE WINNERS OF THE GRAND PRIZE AT SUNDANCE AND THE AUDIENCE AWARD AT SXSW ALSO ON TAP ARE FOUR POST-SCREENING AUDIENCE Q&A’S WITH THE FILMMAKERS TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR CRANDELL THEATRE MEMBERS AND THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS WILL BE ENFORCED FOR ALL ATTENDEES AND FESTIVAL STAFF (Chatham, NY – October 12, 2021)—This year’s FilmColumbia 21, October 22-31, in Chatham, NY, will offer nine of the most acclaimed documentaries of the year, including Flee, the Sundance Grand Prize Winner for Documentary, and Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, which claimed the Documentary Audience Award at SXSW. The festival is presented by The Crandell Theatre, and the complete FilmColumbia 2021 lineup is available at https://crandelltheatre.org/filmcolumbia/. For…
FilmColumbia Returns October 22-31 With Nearly 40 Films
FILMCOLUMBIA RETURNS, OCTOBER 22-31, WITH NEARLY 40 FILMS, INCLUDING NEW RELEASES FROM ACCLAIMED DIRECTORS PEDRO ALMODOVAR, WES ANDERSON AND JAMES LAPINE, AND LAUDED PERFORMANCES FROM TIMOTHY CHALAMET, OLIVIA COLMAN, PENELOPE CRUZ, BENICIO DEL TORO, COLIN FIRTH, GLENDA JACKSON, FRANCES McDORMAND, BILL MURRAY, JOSH O’CONNOR, JOAQUIN PHOENIX, AMY SCHUMER, TILDA SWINTON AND JEFFREY WRIGHT, AMONG MANY OTHERS SCHEDULE INCLUDES WINNERS OF MAJOR AWARDS AT THE CANNES, BERLIN AND SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVALS, AND MANY THAT SCREENED AT NEW YORK, TORONTO, TRIBECA, TELLURIDE AND SOUTH X SOUTHWEST HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS WILL BE ENFORCED FOR ALL ATTENDEES AND FESTIVAL STAFF THIS YEAR TICKETS ON SALE OCTOBER 4 FOR CRANDELL THEATRE MEMBERS AND OCTOBER 16 FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC (Chatham, NY — September 27, 2021)—FilmColumbia, Columbia County’s premier annual cultural event, will return, October 22-31, after last year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.…
Bond Is Back
The Crandell Theatre proudly presents No Time To Die, with an exclusive premier one night before the official U.S. release date. Catch 007 on the big screen from Thursday October 7 – Sunday October 18. See all showtimes and purchase tickets here. Daniel Craig returns one last time as James Bond, starring alongside Oscar-winner Rami Malek (2019, Best Actor, Bohemian Rhapsody) in No Time To Die. Bond has left active service and is enjoying life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.