I recently returned from an interesting seminar given by a graduate student in a historic preservation class at RPI. His presentation was on what to do with Proctor's Theater.

We have talked about Proctor's before but it needs to be mentioned again. The final act is closing on this ancient movie monument that lines Fourth Street in downtown Troy.

Several restoration proposals have floated to the surface and sunk to the bottom since Proctor's closed in the 1970's. The city has recently sent out RFP's (request for proposals) on what is probably one last ditch effort to get someone to come up with a workable plan on restoring the complex - or continue to watch it crumble before our very eyes.

The RPI student provided the class and visitors with a look at how some other communities have restored their own movie palaces. Even his hometown of little old Auburn, New York has restored their Schine Theatre, built in 1938.

There are other examples of successful restorations across the country. Let me direct you to Oakland's Paramount Theater that was purchased and restored In 1975 by the City of Oakland. Last year, Classic Theatres, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio purchased the 1937 Louvee Theatre and is now restoring it. In 1998, the non-profit Music Fort Smith (Arkansas) began a drive to restore the 1911 Fort Smith New Theater as a center for the performing arts. The 1891 Fredonia (NY) Opera House, has been restored. "The Glove" is an 800 seat theatre in Gloversville and is being restored. The New Amsterdam Theatre and Roundabout Theatre - Selwyn Theatre in New York City, Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, and The Little Theatre in Rochester are other examples of communities that are in the process of or have brought back their historic theaters. Why not Troy?

While Proctor's may not be the over-the-top ornate palace like some of the others, it does represent one of the few examples of the earliest design of this genre that dominated the movie industry for about 50 years (from about 1910 through the 1960's). Theater architect John Eberson called movie palaces "the most palatial homes of princes and crowned kings for and on behalf of His Excellency--the American Citizen."

In their heyday going to the movies was a way for the common folk to escape the drudgery of work and feel like royalty while doing it. Hollywood wanted us to feel special and they did whatever it took to make us feel that way. The largest picture palaces like the San Francisco Fox and the Roxy had a full staffed hospital in case of emergencies. The Roxy's hospital staff (physicians, surgeons, and nurses) treated more than 12,000 patients in its male and female wards during the first year it was opened. Nurseries were available in most palaces; and in some, like the Loew's 72nd Street in New York City, they took care of your pets while you enjoyed the show.

Even the bathrooms were decorated like the rich including being staffed by attendants. When the famous Vanderbuilt family demolished their Manhattan townhouse in the mid-1920s, Loew's bought much of the interior and had its workers dismantle their 'Oriental Room' and bring it in pieces to Kansas City. It became the Women's Lounge of the Loew's Midland Theater in 1927. No, our Proctor's was not that elaborate but still there are many a Trojan who can tell of their first movie experience at Proctor's. Proctor's was one of those places in Troy that didn't care what social class you belonged to. The movies were open for everyone.

Proctor's was not built originally as a movie palace. It was actually built in 1913-14 for Vaudeville. Frederick F. Proctor's "New Theater", was promoted as having "Super Vaudeville," and "Supreme Photo-Plays" and billed as "Troy's Largest Amusement Place." One of the earliest movie shows was Warner's, "The Mothers Penitent," a drama of the golden West. It premiered on February 2, 1914 and starred Baby Early and Elsie Albert. In 1917, Fred and Adele Astaire (before Ginger Rogers) appeared in person to "new songs and distinctive dance." I barely remember seeing Jimmy Durante there in the 50's when they were dedicating St. Anthony's School.

Proctor's continued to provide entertainment until the day it closed. It has been vacant and deteriorating for the last 20 plus years and has become shelter for pigeons and the homeless.

One student at the seminar urged the creation of a "Friends of Proctor's" organization in an effort to bring the necessary pieces together and devise a plan of action. The student presenter suggested that Proctor's could be the anchor in providing coordination of events with the Troy Music Hall, the new Arts Center on River Street, and other arts organizations.

Everyone agrees that whatever materializes it must be a multiuse plan, since Proctor's in Schenectady and the Palace in Albany may be enough to provide Broadway and other types of performances in the area. Moreover, restoring our Proctor's may need to focus on the commercial retail space first with proceeds then supporting the restoration of the theater part at a later date. I would like to stress for those reading that ANY restoration of the complex INCLUDE the theater.

Personally, I would like to see at least one of its purposes be a Capital District Museum of Arts and Entertainment. This area has made many contributions over the last 300 years, and a museum or at least displays along the corridors and aisles of the theater could be a main attraction. Even Saturday runs of silent movies, or early talkies might bring people in, and let's not leave out the possibility of live performances by local acting troupes.

The city is looking for proposals. If there was ever a time for Trojans to speak up, roll up their sleeves, and take action, it's now! It's ground zero. Are there enough of you to create a "Friends of Proctor's" and work a miracle? Similar efforts have worked for Oakwood Cemetery, Prospect Park and the Mt. Ida area. It's now time to make it work for Proctor's, or is it too late?