The precise beginnings of the business are lost in family lore, but ...
Sometime in the late 30’s or early 40’s our grandfather, John A Bylancik, began a small business buying movie posters from first run local movie houses and renting them to second run houses. This became the business Theatre Displays which was later purchased by National Screen Corporation, which employed John A Bylancik as their sole local employee. He apparently supplemented his poster rental business by supplying other products to his theater customers.
In October of 1946, this became Albany Theatre Supply Company, a partnership between John A Bylancik and his son-in-law John E McGrath, father of the current owners. John E McGrath became the driving force developing this into a complete cinema supply business. The partnership purchased its commercial building at 443 North Pearl St in 1952 and incorporated in 1955. It gradually expanded its product offering and began selling commercial cleaning supplies to the theaters.
During the late 50’s television began to threaten the movie industry and the janitorial division, known as ATSCO Products, began to take on added importance. At the beginning of the 1970’s Ruth M (McGrath) Sano and Richard T McGrath formed the next generation of the business. John A Bylancik, founder of the company died in 1972. The movie industry changed during this period. Local theaters were forced out of business by large national chains. This gradually destroyed our customer base of independent movie houses. Happily, as our cinema business diminished, its loss was offset by the growth of the janitorial supply business. Within a few years the majority of our business involved cleaning supplies and equipment.
Our original corporate name, Albany Theatre Supply, continued to attract a customer base seeking supplies for live stage; spotlights, dimmers, curtains and sound systems. Thomas F McGrath joined the corporation in 1978 and developed this division. During the 1980’s ownership was transferred to Richard and Thomas McGrath and to Ruth M Sano, the current owners. In June of 1986 Richard T McGrath became President of the company. John E McGrath died in November of 1990.
During the next decade the company, still occupying its original home at 443 North Pearl St., purchased 3 competitive companies and grew considerably in volume. Products for professional carpet cleaners and disaster restoration contractors took on greater importance. The company began to sponsor nationally recognized certification and training seminars in support of this business.
445 North Pearl Street, Albany, New York
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The theater division similarly broadened its product mix supplying sound systems, lighting systems, curtains, rentals and night club equipment to cinemas, colleges, schools and theater groups throughout the region.
In 2005, having outgrown our traditional home and rented warehouse space, the company moved to a much larger facility in the warehouse/office building next door at 445 North Pearl St. This move consolidated the 4,000 sq ft of our traditional home and the 4,000 sq ft of rented warehouse into a 14,000 sq ft single location. It provided more suitable office and display space and a much larger and more suitable warehouse and dock facility. After one year in this larger building we were able to add a modern classroom training facility to support our sales efforts.
Throughout our history the company has evolved to serve changing markets and the ever changing needs of our customers.
Business in the new facility has prospered, providing a period of considerable growth. Both the competitive picture and the regional economy give evidence of continued growth and prosperity.