"Schine On"
Schines Theater in Auburn NY, a historic art deco theater, was designed by John Eberson and completed in 1938. She was the “belle of the ball” but over time became neglected, forgotten. She crumbled. (I attended this theater, but none of my children or grandchildren have walked through the doors.) Is it possible that she might have a SEQUEL?
What are your Schines Theater memories?
Do you remember the last movie you attended?
CITIZEN: Aug 16, 2026 Updated Aug 22, 2026
After a little more than a year on the market, the Auburn Schine Theater could be close to being sold.
On Thursday, Auburn City Council will vote on a resolution to begin negotiations to sell the historic 16 South St. art deco theater. According to the resolution, the city has received an offer of $70,000 from nonprofit organization Schine On and member Bree Kishman. The resolution lists a proposed closing date of Jan. 25, 2027.
Kishman, of Cicero, told The Citizen that Schine On was formed in hopes of rehabilitating and maintaining the theater.
Supported by fundraising, the organization would make the Schine "as aesthetically accurate as we can while providing realistic updates," Kishman said. It wants to restore as many fixtures as possible, replaster the detail work and use historic photographs to replace lost features. She said the metal inlay in the plasterwork will help restore the walls and ceilings "very accurately."
Schine On envisions a "realistic" seat capacity of 750-1,000, Kishman said, with an expanded lobby, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building certification and full ADA compliance.
"Theaters were much different then — you could fill a 2,000-seat theater without televisions in everyone’s home," she said, referring to the Schine's years of operation until 1983.
"Now, our job is to be the next stewards of the theater, while giving people a reason to want to leave their home and enjoy community."
Additional possibilities include the ability to project both film and digital video, as well as a smaller digital theater in the basement and a podcast studio for local producers, Kishman said.
Along with movies, the theater would host concerts, lectures and other community events. Schine On would also look into partnering with high schools and colleges to offer educational opportunities.
Kishman said the organization submitted its offer to buy the Schine in March. The city listed it for $100,000, and according to Cayuga County property records its full market value is $179,800.
The city acquired the theater in May 2025 from Schines Theater LLC and its principal, East Syracuse developer Bryan Bowers, after years of stalled progress on its rehabilitation. While that delay cost the project a $1.2 million state grant it qualified for, Kishman said Empire State Development told her another $1 million Restore New York grant remains available.
The project, which began in 1998, has been estimated to cost between $6 million and $12 million.
"Our goal is to return the Schine to the people of Auburn," Kishman said.