Community Theatre
Also known as: Broadway Theatre
Why it's listed
Opened on June 9, 1927 as the Broadway Theatre, this brick building at 601 Broadway sits in the middle of Kingston's main shopping district. A plain two-story facade with four storefronts and a central entrance hides a large auditorium seating 1,560 after a 1953 renovation, down from 1,703. The interior carries elaborate Neoclassical Revival plaster carving, bronze light fixtures and a coffered dome, and the original stage machinery survives. New York architect Douglas P. Hall designed it, and Skinner & Cook of New York City built it. A classical portico added in 1953 accompanied the name change to Community Theatre. For decades it was Kingston's best appointed cultural venue, hosting performers such as Lillian Gish, Bette Davis, Victor Borge and Isaac Stern, and later Hudson Valley Philharmonic concerts. Its acoustics and large stage were praised, and it is described as the most intact early theatre in the Hudson Valley. A local citizens' group worked to save it from possible demolition in 1977.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the best appointed cultural facility in the Kingston area when it opened, with an elaborate Neoclassical Revival interior and strong acoustics. It is described as the last largely unaltered pre-World War II theatre in Kingston and a representative, mostly intact 1920s theatre design. It also hosted notable performers and Hudson Valley Philharmonic concerts.
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 79001639, listed July 22, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 601 Broadway, Kingston |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | July 22, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001639 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architect / builder | Skinner & Cook/Douglas P. Hall |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; occupied and open to the public. A local citizens' group, Ulster Performing Arts Center, was purchasing it in June 1979 to begin restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.92912, -74.00451 (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 79001639.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1120658
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.