The Roxy Theatre

Northampton’s Roxy Theatre is the borough’s only commercial theater and has a history that spans over a century. 

Businessman Harry Hartman first opened the Roxy in 1921 as the Lyric. Hartman, who had previously owned several other nickelodeons, was looking for a larger space to replace his 350-seat theater across the street. With 1,000 seats and a stage perfect for vaudeville acts, this Northampton venue fit the bill. 

Unfortunately, the theater couldn’t survive the Depression and was sold to Clark and Greenberg Theatres of Philadelphia in 1933. With help from prominent Philadelphia theater architect David Supowitz, the company transformed the space into its iconic Art Deco style, reduced its seating capacity to 650, and renamed it the Roxy. 

Initially, the Roxy hosted stage performances (from vaudeville productions to Wild West shows), but discontinued them in 1934. Motion pictures became the new attraction, with an occasional live act here and there. Over the following decades the theater switched between live entertainment and film, with artists like Bobby Rydell, Billy Joel, and Bruce Springsteen drawing crowds. The space has been through its ups-and-downs, and today is thriving thanks to a full restoration of its interior and its facade. 

These days the Roxy shows first-run movies and indie faves at a bargain price, and still hosts live shows ranging from Queen tribute concerts to the Nutcracker ballet. The single-screen theater also features a working pipe organ played on special occasions. Don’t miss the ornate stage curtains and geometric Art Deco stenciling lining the walls and ceiling.

One of the Roxy’s most impressive features is its exterior: a Spanish colonial brick facade with an eye-catching neon marquee that lights up Northampton’s Main Street.