Rivoli Theatre
Why it's listed
Built in 1923 in the center of South Fallsburg, this Sullivan County theater served the hamlet and the Catskills resort crowds with vaudeville shows and movies. A two-story brick-faced front section holds the foyer and lobby, with storefronts on either side of the entrance and apartments and offices upstairs. Behind it runs a long auditorium of concrete block construction. Emil Motel is believed to have designed the original building and is documented as architect of the 1937 remodeling, which he carried out with engineer James A. Smith. That work added 36 feet and about 100 seats to the original 600-seat auditorium, and gave the entrance, neon signage and interior a new Art Deco look with patterned acoustical panels. The 1937 auditorium scheme survives completely intact. The theater is significant for its architecture, its link to the resort-era entertainment culture and the area's growing Jewish community, and its clear expression of two design periods. It continues to house arts-related activity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinctive, highly intact twentieth-century theater tied to the western Catskills resort industry and its entertainment culture. It also reflects South Fallsburg's large Jewish community. It retains both its 1923 exterior design and its 1937 Art Deco entrance and auditorium.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00001691, listed January 26, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of NY 42 and Laurel Ave., South Fallsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | January 26, 2001 |
| Reference number | 00001691 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1937 |
| Architect / builder | Emil Motel |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th century revivals (1937 Art Deco remodeling) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a theater; the form says it is being restored and returned to use as a public arts-related facility. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.69890, -74.63716 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00001691.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2155781
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.