Starlite Music Theatre
Interactive map of Starlite Music Theatre | |
| Former names | Colonie Musical Theatre (1958–1963), Colonie Summer Theatre (1963-1971), Coliseum (1971-1987) |
|---|---|
| Address | 629 Columbia Street Extension Latham, NY, USA |
| Type | Theatre-in-the-round |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1958 |
| Expanded | 1969 |
| Closed | 1997 |
| Demolished | 2012 |
The Starlite Music Theatre was a 3,000-capacity theatre-in-the-round located in the Latham area of the Town of Colonie. Also known as the Colonie Coliseum, it opened as the Colonie Musical Theatre in 1958, a summer stock tent theater, with a production of the musical Damn Yankees.[1] From 1963, it operated as the Colonie Summer Theatre.[2] The tent was replaced with the permanent, expanded structure in 1969, and in 1971 was named the Coliseum. In the 1970s, the programming shifted from theatre toward musical acts.[1] The last performances were held in 1997,[1] and the building sat vacant after a 1998 high school graduation until its demolition in 2012.[3][4]
Some notable performances at the venue included Diana Ross, Rodney Dangerfield, Eddie Murphy, Sammy Davis Jr., Three Dog Night, Pat Benatar, America, "Weird Al" Yankovic, B.B. King, Bob Hope & Kelly Garret, Little Richard, Howie Mandel, Gallagher, The Beach Boys, Mac Davis, Harry Chapin, and Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton.[1][3][4][5]
The Starlite property is located at 625 Columbia Street Extension (NY 9R), west of the city of Cohoes, and just east of 9R's southern junction with US 9 & I-87. After its 2012 demolition, it was revealed that the site would be redeveloped into a headquarters for Ayco, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs. The site was opened on September 14, 2021.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d Haymes, Greg (November 16, 2012). "RIP: The Starlite Music Theatre (aka Colonie Coliseum), 1958-2012". Nippertown. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ "The Colonie Summer Theater". albanymuskrat. May 13, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ a b O'Brien, Tim (November 15, 2012). "The sun sets on venerable Starlite Theater". Times Union. Albany, NY. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ a b DeMasi, Mike (November 15, 2012). "Demolition of former Starlite Music Theater starts today in Latham". Albany Business Review. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ "Starlite Music Theatre, Latham, NY, USA Concert Setlists". setlist.fm. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ Halligan, Lauren (September 15, 2021). "Ayco holds ribbon-cutting for new headquarters". Saratogian. Retrieved May 8, 2023.