MILLERTON — Area moviegoers who have passed by The Moviehouse’s darkened doors this past year and missed the thrill of seeing a movie in Millerton’s long-standing theater won’t need to wait any longer as the theater will at long last open its doors this Memorial Day weekend.
The Moviehouse, 1977 to 2021
The history behind The Moviehouse, located at 48 Main St., is a familiar tale for many residents of the region. Long before it was purchased by its co-founders, the late Robert Sadlon and his widow, Carol, of Lakeville, Conn., in 1977, the building was previously a two-story 1903 historic Grange Hall and a boarded-up, single-screen porno house.
Ardent in their dream of giving patrons an unparalleled movie viewing experience, the Sadlons put their love and labor into turning the theater into a landmark for art, entertainment and culture in the village of Millerton. Almost 44 years later, The Moviehouse offered patrons a diverse showing of performances: the latest blockbusters and independent films, midnight premiere screenings, art exhibitions, National Theater Live productions, opera screenings, the Bolshoi Ballet and select screenings with post-screening discussions.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring, The Moviehouse was forced to close its doors, though Carol Sadlon continued to push forward and offer The Moviehouse experience from a virtual platform. She launched a new streaming service and a virtual “Art Talks” series and started a Movie Club.
After taking stock of her business, she explained in a letter to the community last fall that she recognized the theater’s potential to grow “with an influx of new thoughts and ideas,” but realized she couldn’t do it all by herself. She then began her pursuit of new stewards to carry the theater into the future.
In a story published by The Lakeville Journal this March, The Moviehouse was listed with Select Sotheby’s Realty for $1,195,000; it soon received 11 bids. By mid-February, Sadlon had found her buyers: David Maltby and Chelsea Altman. Partners in life and now in business, Sadlon accepted Maltby and Altman’s offer and soon introduced them as The Moviehouse’s new owners.
Renovating the theater
Expecting to open this Friday, May 28, Maltby and Altman have already made impressive strides to create a smooth movie experience for their audiences, such as updating the theater’s system and revamping the website, www.themoviehouse.net, so that transactions will be easier and save people time.
Altman explained their renovation is working in two stages: the two downstairs theaters will open for screenings on Friday, and then the entire Moviehouse will have an official grand opening on Fourth of July weekend, given the more extensive renovations taking place upstairs.
The renovation work downstairs, Altman said, is more of a “sprucing-up to add a pop of color,” and indeed moviegoers will be dazzled by the bright shades of yellow, blue and red in the theater lobby, thanks to the updated paintwork and new carpeting.
Then, of course, there’s the elevator: A massive renovation piece and a long-desired goal finally realized, painted red and established on the ground floor next to the second theater. The elevator is currently in operation, though customers will have to wait to use it with the other renovations still underway.
Walking up the theater’s steep flight of stairs, what currently resembles a skeletal version of the first floor will soon feature a brand new lounge where people can come and mingle. In place of the theater’s former cafe, there will be two new, larger bathrooms. A bar will soon be installed, carrying tasty snacks, alcoholic beverages and other fun items the theater can handle without needing a full kitchen.
The former café will be renovated into a lounge space while the fourth screening room will house club-like seating, lounge chairs and couches to create a comfortable, fun feel and host any kind of event, said Maltby.
“The idea is to try to generate more of a vibe upstairs where people want to relax before seeing a movie,” Altman said.
The remaining theater on the first floor will be kept the same as will the main two theaters on the ground floor.
“We’re trying to keep the basics of the theater — the four screens — but enhance it and put our spin on it,” Maltby said.
The show must go on
Avid moviegoers might wonder whether Maltby and Altman plan to change the theater model established by the Sadlons.
“Initially, I think my philosophy is to start simple and have the same great programming of films and get our audience’s needs met and then build from there,” Altman said.
She elaborated, noting they want to preserve the opportunities that were previously offered at the theater and then add more packages, such as a horror movie package or a cult classic package. Right now, she said they’re trying to figure out what the community they’re serving likes.
Already, Maltby and Altman have hired their general manager, Casey Lehman, who is now in the process of hiring the theater’s staff — two of whom previously worked at The Moviehouse.
Similar to the Sadlons’ vision, the couple plans to show movies seven days a week, but will close after Memorial Day on Tuesday, June 1, due to the launching and staffing, and then reopen Wednesday, June 2. Tickets can still be bought in the box office, though Altman said they expect most people will buy tickets online and take advantage of reserved seating. After Thursday, July 1, all four screening rooms should be up and running.
Given how frequently COVID-19 guidelines change, they’re planning to open with the existing COVID-19 regulations from two weeks ago: masks on and space between the seats, which will bring their capacity to only 33%. After that, then they’ll continue with that model and see how consumer confidence is as they go along.
Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.
Powers received a master’s degree in Mexican folklore dance from Escuela de la Danza in Baja California, Mexico. Since moving to the United States, she has built a career in performance and teaching. She has not only served as a dance director and performed as a professional vernacular music singer in California, but she has also worked towards her Doctorate, which she will receive in October.
As the founder of her company, Powers works tirelessly to make sure her dancers have everything they need, including costumes, proper flooring, music and a space to practice. Her husband built wooden panels, called tarimas, for students to dance on with their folklórico shoes. Millbrook Mayor Peter F. Doro allows Powers and her group to practice in Millbrook Hall, where she brings the tarimas to every practice along with costumes and proper footwear.
Powers dreams of owning her own studio where she can practice with her group, offer more classes, store costumes and create a space for her dancers to do their hair and makeup before performances. She said she hopes people learn about her classes so her company can grow and she can teach dances from a wider range of Mexican states while having greater access to traditional dress.
As a single mother and professor, Powers’ mother, Carmen Méndez, put her children in dance classes and signed them up for track and field, always keeping them goal- and career-oriented. She helped Powers with her company by creating all of the costumes her dancers wear in their performances. After her mother’s death in 2021, Powers said she has dedicated herself to carrying forward the passion, work ethic and love of dance her mother instilled in her.
“I miss her terribly, and I’m here because of her,” Powers said. “That’s why I want to do this, because of her. She gave me a lot, with the costumes, with her support. I do it for my mom.”
Karina Powers and her students practice in Millbrook Hall.Lucia Iandolo
Dancers in Powers’ group are dedicated to learning the art of dance from different states in Mexico on Tuesday and Friday nights at Millbrook Hall. They travel from many different places in New York to participate, with some dancers traveling more than an hour to make it to rehearsal each week.
“It’s a lot of work, but they learn it. I believe they love it, and it’s a way to come together, to do something good, to do something healthy, and to have people around you who appreciate this kind of art,“ Powers said.
Powers has studied with professor Eloy Jiménez Figueroa since childhood and said his mentorship inspired her to become the teacher she is today. She added that while she may not be the best teacher, she learned from the best.
While living in California, Powers taught elementary, high school and college students, as well as adults. She was recruited to teach traditional Mexican folkloric dance because of the region’s large Mexican community. Today, she encourages people of all backgrounds to explore the rich traditions of Mexican dance.
“This type of dance is not only for people from Mexico,” Powers said. “This is an art and the arts unite nations.”
Powers hopes to continue sharing that art in Millbrook and one day teach in the Millbrook Central School District. Powers and her group will perform at the Millbrook Library on Nov. 21, presenting traditional Mexican dances and inviting audience members to participate.
As a professor, dancer and singer, Powers stays grounded by believing in something greater than herself. She says that praying and putting herself in the hands of God has helped anchor her. She hopes to teach and dance for as long as her body allows.
“My mom, for me, is an angel. I put myself in her hands, and I have faith,” Powers said. “I have faith that God, or something good, is going to be there for the group and for myself.”
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