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Karl R. Josker | profile | all galleries >> Buffalo >> The Theaters Of Buffalo tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Theaters Of Buffalo

An incomplete gallery of surviving buildings that were once theaters and movie houses in Buffalo. They are listed under the names they were known as in 1950.
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Roxy
Roxy		 Senate
Senate		 Seneca
Seneca		 Sheldon
Sheldon
Strand
Strand		 Teck
Teck		 Unity
Unity		 Varsity
Varsity
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Linda 21-Sep-2016 05:37
Yes remember the Commodore Theater on Genesee when it was a dance club. Joey Dee, The Starliners appeared there with I believe Jimmy Hendrix before he was famous. The Rogue, Cavemen, Road and I sang there, Wendy was my stage name. I appeared with Cyclones and Vibrations. It burned down in the late 60's. I had one back and white photo that was a neg. Do not know if I can find it.
Guest 17-Nov-2015 23:16
No photographs but the memories linger of the beautiful Rivoli Theater on Broadway through the 1960's, & a little further on the upper east side, the Lincoln Theater on Broadway & Titus Sts....Friday nights were horror films night, & Saturdays, westerns, & whatever was current but no longer playing downtown. Admission for kids was $0.35, pop, candy bars $0.05.....What a bargain....run by Ray & his mother; not the friendliest people but what a neat little neighborhood movie house.
Nicole Potter 02-Jul-2014 18:25
Hi,

My grandfather worked in, I believe, the Palace Burlesque theater as well as a movie theater . I am looking for anyone who has any information/records/memories of an Edward Courtade as well as any interesting stories surrounding the 40's -60's there.

Thank you!
Best,
Nicole
Dan 21-Feb-2014 15:40
Any photos of the Schines Riverside Theatre on Tonawanda St.?
Joe Toles 07-Aug-2013 13:09
Just visited the Capital Theater on Niagara Street in Niagara Falls. My grandfather Richard died there in 1949. The palce is falling apart but was amazing. The balcony is still the same as it was back in the 40's.
rick 04-Mar-2013 23:29
where is the old Bailey show near genesee st
Guest 06-Dec-2012 00:00
lINDA MENTIONED THE VICTORIA THEATRE...YES I´M IN MY LATE 60´S AND GREW UP ON THE WEST SIDE OF BUFFALO.
THE VICTORIA WAS AT THE CORNER OF GRANT ST AND W. FERRY ST. MR. HATHAWAY WAS THE MANAGER.
HE KNEW MANY FAMILIES. HE REQUESTLY STOOD AT THE INNER DOOR NEAR THE REFRESHMENT AREA AND COLLECT THE TICKETS AS THE KIDS STROLLED IN.
HE WAS A BIG MAN...AS I ENTERED ONE DAY ....HE LEANED DOWN AND LOOK AT THIS 7 YR OLD KID GRABBED MY TICKET AND TORN IT IN A ROUGH MANNER AND SAID; DENNIS, IF YOU´RE SITTING UPSTAIRS...NO RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE RAMPS ..OH! AND BY THE WAY SAY HELLO TO YOUR DAD FOR ME!!! AND HE SAID THAT IN A THREATENING POSE!°!!!
WHEN YOU THINK BACK, THOSE GUYS HAD PERSONALITIES...OH YES...A DOUBLE FEATURE $.25.
Roger Swan 19-Jan-2011 21:55
I used to sell the 'Couier Express' newspaper evenings in front of the 'Shea's Elmwood' theatre that was located 4 doors North of East Utica St. on the East side of Elmwood Ave. back in the late 1940's. The manager used to let me warm up in the lobby during the winter and it was much appreciated.
Bob Wurtz 16-Jul-2010 21:21
As an old-timer, my memory is not the greatest but as one who sat through vaudeville shows at Sheas Hipodrome I did know theatres in the glory days. The HIPP was across Chipewa St. just south of the Buffalo & Great Lakes (except for the Century, they were all named Shea's) In those days, just before talkies, the Palace (way down town) was a run down burlesque house catering to sexually-starved males. A college friend's family ran the Century - he did not want the theatre but kept the concessions!
Maybe more some some day.
Debbra Byers, Pennsylvania 29-Jan-2010 21:22
We are not from Buffalo, but my daughter is doing a research paper on the Palace Theatre on Main St, and doesn't have much to go on. I understand it's been torn down, and the owner's name was MacDonald? Does anyone know if he is still living? Perhaps she can interview him to get the story.
Frank Rock 07-Jan-2010 16:04
The Central Park Theater was located at the corner of Fillmore and Main Street. It was torn down and demolished in the late 1950s or early 1960s. I saw the movie Moby Dick at that theater. The theater was across Fillmore Avenue from the Hall Baking Company. The site is now occupied by a chain drug store.
jim w. 09-Apr-2009 10:37
sad to see no photo of towne theatre on abbott rd. my parents would drop us off every saturday with 50 cents. .25 cents for admission ,the rest for candy. the movies were of the jason and the argonauts era.mid to late 60's. they also tolerated no misbehaving as my brother would get tossed out every month and get mad at me if i didn't go with him. (which i never did , loved the movies too much)
Guest 18-Jan-2009 06:18
Yes it was.
Linda 18-Jan-2009 06:13
Would love to see the Victoria on the West Side....what a great theater...it was almost as nice as the downtown theaters.
Guest 20-Nov-2008 13:59
Question for Joe Toles...was your grandfathers name Richard?
Capitol Theater19-Nov-2008 20:42
JOE TOLES...I'm looking for you, I own the Theater where your Grandfather died and have been looking for your family, I recently got paper work regarding his death Richard Toles 1/22/49..died in a freak fire...contact me thru MYSPACE..area code 14303 screen name .....T.
carly 26-Sep-2008 18:51
my grandfathers last name was austin
he managed a theater in buffalo....is there a way to find out which one?
Joe Toles 21-Sep-2008 03:06
My Grandfather died in a fire in a movie theater in the area. He was from Niagra Falls and the Tonawanda Newsprinted the obituary. Does anyone know the name of the theater. The fire was in January of 1949.
Al Harzewski 14-Jan-2008 06:52
How about the Century, which was downtown. I never went there, but I did go to the hot dog place in it that had that wonderful sauce. They later operated in the short-lived food court on Main Street. Where can I get that sauce???
Bruce Prentice 29-Dec-2007 10:16
Karl

I can actually remember the Hypodrome on lower Main Street and I was born in 1951. There was a cinema directly opposite Shea's Buffalo that converted to XXX in the late 1960's, sorry can't remember its name....

Great, great photos.

Bruce
howie 22-Sep-2007 21:09
To Bob,yes I went to the commodore when I was in high school(pine hill high)lived in pine hill on preston rd.Howie Tresp hetjr@sbcglobal.net
joe kempkes 21-Sep-2007 15:38
Across from the Shea's Buffalo in the 1960's was the Palace Burlesque. I have two recollections of that time. One was riding the NFT bus from South Buffalo to Bryant Stratton one morning and a stripper got on the bus in her outfit. It seemed like the most ordinary thing: no one looked twice at her and she just rode a few stops and got out near the Palace. The other memory was going to the Palace with a few friends and seeing the show when we were underage.
Dennis Burns 31-Jul-2007 01:46
I was raised on West Ave between W.Ferry and Breikenridge in the early 50's. Yes the Rialto Theatre was located between Dibbles Hardware and the U.S. Post Office on W. Ferry. Yes, and the Victoria Theatre with Mr. Hathaway who happened to be the Manager. Great memories!!
Guest 15-Jul-2007 04:11
Does anyone have any pictures of the old theaters in Niagara County?
Bob 27-Mar-2007 14:26
Remember the Unity on Grant & Military How about the Riverside over on Tonawanda St?
And how can anyone forget the Palace Burlesk in Shelton Square Strip show and a movie what a bargain
Elmer Corby 24-Mar-2007 23:40
The Theater on Cenesse bear Baily was the Orpheum it was old even in 1945. Thw Walden
was on Walden ave between Brinkman and Sumner Place/
Elmer Corby 24-Mar-2007 23:30
Elmer Corby; I worked at the Sheas Buffalo as an usher about 1950 also worked the switch board (telephone) $.35 an hour.Remember the big bands played there between movies. I met
The Harmonicats, Jerry Colona and Andy and Della Russel Iwas working the Balcony and at that time no one was allowed to sit in the LOge The box seats on the side, and I saw a beautiful blond there watching the movie. Iwanted to meeet her and it was Della Russel and she took me back stage and introduced me to everyone.Iam 73 and it was like yesterday.
CHRISTINE GUFKA 23-Aug-2006 04:15
WHERE IS THE LINCOLN THEATER ON BROADWAY AND TITUS?????
Rita 10-Apr-2006 06:29
I remember the downtown theatre, two movies for a small price, we'd go see sci fi movies, The Killer Bees, King Kong....memories...
Bob 07-Jan-2006 16:07
Does anyone remember the Commodore theatre on Genesee street? It became a wonderful dance club in the 60's, but I was never in it when it was a theatre.
Guest 07-Jan-2006 07:07
These are great photos.
Two I did not see are the Plaza Theater ..was on William Street
and the Lafayette Theater, which was across the street from the downtown library.
Joe 22-Dec-2005 19:12
Great sight! For Arlene, you can find a picture of the Roosevelt Theatre athttp://www.biniasz.com/pages/1/index.htm. I also grew up in the Broadway-Fillmore area and went to St. Stan's (graduated in 1966). Seems so long ago and these web sites sure bring back some memories!
Arlene 05-Dec-2005 18:24
Where are the Rivoli and Roosevelt theaters that were on Broadway a few blocks apart? I went there every Saturday in the 50's and early 60's.
Pat from Black Rock 28-Oct-2005 14:44
I remember going to the Showplace (Unity) every other Friday night when the "new" movie would open.
Bob from old buffalo 28-Oct-2005 03:16
Enjoyed seeing some of the old theaters, but a few of my youth are missing. I recall with some pleasure, the Jefferson, the Sylvia on Fillmore, and I can't forget the old Ellen Terry on Grant St. If we go to Main St., where is the old Keith, and the Teck, and the old Great Lakes?? Recall the Cinema of the 1950's??
Guest 24-Sep-2005 23:03
These are wonderful photos!

If you have more and more information, please join:

The Buffalo Movie Theaters group on Yahoo.

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/BuffaloMovieTheaters/
Judy David 06-Sep-2005 17:56
I can't believe you had the old Casino on this page. My father used to own the Casino in the 40's. I remember going to the show with him and my brothers and watching wonderful movies there. Nothing R rated there. My father was also the projectionist and my mother sold tickets now and then. He sold it in 1949. Brings back great old memories of good times and free candy! Other wonderful shows I went too were the Granada, the Varsity and the Kensington with my husband to be while we dated. This is a great memory site. Thanks.
Ange Coniglio 07-Apr-2005 22:54
Very interesting and evocative to see these old "pleasure domes". Two that are not included are the RIALTO, which was on the north side of West Ferry, west of Grant Street (near Dibble's Hardware), and the VICTORIA, which was on the south side of West Ferry, east of Grant Street, near "Sweetland's".
pat 15-Jan-2005 14:43
This site was a real hoot for me to find it brought back some really nice memories of my child hood going to the BAILEY THEATRE near Genesee Street. It was a special place of my youth with my sisters. It is sad how time has treated them however. Thanks for the photo's I plan on showing this site to my MOM and aunts who are in there 80's and will really have some fun with them
Denise 25-May-2004 17:46
Any on the Rivoli on Broadway & Sweet? First theater where I saw the exocist. Also, anyone reading this remembers Alice Cooper with snake on the advertisment.
sevres babylone24-Apr-2004 01:26
Thanks for this gallery. Interesting shots, and the captions help. More sad than bittersweet, i suppose, and somehow "The Senate" might be the saddest of them all, because if it were a person, it might wish that it's name simply be obliterated completely if it couldn't keep its dignity.
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