Bill Text: NY J00701 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 701 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Pelham Picture House of Pelham, New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-05-04 - ADOPTED [J00701 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J00701-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 701

BY: Senator BIAGGI

        COMMEMORATING  the 100th Anniversary of the Pelham
        Picture House of Pelham, New York

  WHEREAS, The arts, in whatever form depicted, are central  to  human
expression;  they  are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and  understanding  among  all  peoples
cannot be overestimated; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those illustrious organizations that have brought  entertainment
and  cultural enrichment to the citizens of the great State of New York;
and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Pelham Picture House of Pelham,
New York; and

  WHEREAS,  The   Pelham   Picture   House   is   a   community-based,
mission-driven,  non-profit  alternative  to  commercial movie theaters,
presenting the best  in  independent,  international,  documentary,  and
classic cinema; and

  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  the  Pelham  Picture  House  offers weeklong
theatrical runs of popular, independent, art house and classic films, in
addition to curated series,  retrospectives,  and  sneak  previews;  its
special   events,   some   featuring  visits  from  well-known  industry
professionals, provide an insider's view of the magic of the movies; and

  WHEREAS, The history, the heritage, and the lives of the  people  of
all  countries  and all cultures are portrayed in their music and dance;
the art and act of sharing  them  enriches  us  altogether;  the  Pelham
Picture  House opened to the public on September 10, 1921, featuring the
silent film, "Passing Thru", a comedy-drama by Agnes Christine Johnston;
and

  WHEREAS,  In  1927,  the  theater  closed  for  11  months  due   to
competition  from  larger  theaters in neighboring communities; one year
later,  a  real  estate  firm  petitioned  the  Village  of  Pelham  for
permission  to reopen the theater; they were successful, and the theater
reopened on August 18, 1928, with a  screening  of,  "King  Vidor's  The
Crowd"; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Rogowsky Family purchased and refurbished the theater
in 1936, and in the 1940s, before television, children  flocked  to  the
theater  to  watch  cartoons  on  Saturday  morning; an 11-speaker Dolby
stereo sound system plus a new screen and curtain were  added  in  1987;
and

  WHEREAS,   In  2001,  the  Pelham  Picture  House,  which  has  been
continuously operating as a movie theater for more than a  century,  was
set  to  be  demolished  and  replaced  by a retail bank when a group of

citizens established the nonprofit organization,  Pelham  Picture  House
Preservation, to purchase and preserve the theater; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Pelham Picture House was nominated for listing on the
New York State Register of Historic Places in 2004,  and  in  2008,  the
Picture  House  begins an ambitious programmatic build-out that includes
the organization's first original education initiatives; and

  WHEREAS, One year later, in 2009, the  Picture  House  launched  its
first  two  original  film series: "Reel Insider" and the classic series
"Sunday Essentials"; the inaugural Summer 2009 season of "Reel  Insider"
saw  a  slew  of  exciting  new  films and talent, inspiring Westchester
Magazine to name Reel  Insider  as  one  of  its  "52  Reasons  to  Love
Westchester"; and

  WHEREAS,  Today,  this vital nonprofit is known as the Picture House
Regional Film Center, and has preserved and  restored  one  of  the  few
surviving and still operating single-screen theaters; and

  WHEREAS,  Throughout  its distinguished 100-year history, the Pelham
Picture House has remained true  to  its  mission  to  create  a  shared
community  experience  for  diverse  audiences  through  film, education
programming, and unique cultural offerings; and

  WHEREAS, This  extraordinary  historically  preserved  and  restored
theater  continues  to  offer  a  unique  gathering  place  dedicated to
entertaining, enriching, and inspiring a sense of wonder for  all  ages;
and

  WHEREAS,  The  success  of  the  Pelham  Picture  House is in direct
correlation  to  the  efforts  of  its  dedicated  staff,  members   and
volunteers,  whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by
an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising
standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf  of  the  organization
and the community it serves; and

  WHEREAS,  It is most fitting that we take time to celebrate the arts
of our Nation, to honor our artists, and to express our appreciation  to
everyone  who  patronizes  the  arts;  and  as we celebrate the arts, we
celebrate and give thanks to our American freedom, the  only  atmosphere
in  which  artists  can  truly  create  and  in  which  art is truly the
expression of the soul; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Pelham Picture House in Pelham,
New  York,  fully confident that it will continue to enjoy the sparkling
success which has so characterized its past; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the Pelham Picture House.