Movie Theatres

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NEW YORK (page 1)

State Theatre
Ithaca, NY
The State Theatre occupies a building that was originally a garage/auto showroom constructed in 1915. It was converted in 1928 into a "semi-atmospheric" movie palace and vaudeville theatre. The Victor Rigaumont design is a mixture of Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance elements (with twinkling stars in the ceiling and a cloud machine). The State is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1976, the balcony was split off for a second screen as the theatre continued its physical decline. In 1988, the theatre was nearly demolished but it was restored and reopened in 2001. The State is mostly used for live performances now. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Rivoli Theatre
South Fallsburg, NY		 Palace Theater
Eastwood, NY
The Rivoli Theatre opened in 1910 as a vaudeville house. It was expanded in the 1930s with a remodeled entrance and Art Deco touches. The theatre was renovated in 2002-2003. It is used for live performances. For more, see this website.

The Palace Theater was built in 1924. As of 2005, it was undergoing restoration. It has hosted several events, including the Syracuse International Film & Video Festival, while the work is underway. For more, see this website.

Glove Theatre
Gloversville, NY
The Glove Theatre was built in 1914 for live shows. It was converted in 1920 into a vaudeville house. The current marquee was built in 1939. The theatre closed in the late 1970s. In 1995, it was nearly razed for a parking lot. The theatre is now open while still undergoing restoration. The town of Gloversville was once the glove-producing capitol of the world. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Variety Theater [gone]
New York, NY
The Variety Theatre was built in 1914 as a nickelodeon known as the Variety Photoplays Theater. It was remodeled in 1930 and functioned for many years an off-Broadway theater. It was last renovated in 1991 and closed in 2004. The building was demolished in 2005. It had a nice, multi-color neon marquee that was lit until it closed. For more, see this website.

Riviera Theatre
North Tonawanda, NY

The Riviera Theatre opened in 1926 as the New Rivera [sic] Theatre. The spelling was changed in 1928. The theatre was designed in the Italian Renaissance style. There was a succession of different owners in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1989, The Niagara Frontier Theatre Organ Society took possession of the building and began restoration. The theatre still has its original Mighty Wurlitzer which is the subject of this incredible mural on the side of the building. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Stanley Theatre
Utica, NY
The Stanley Theatre, designed by Thomas Lamb in the Spanish Baroque style, was built in 1928. It closed in the early 1970s and was saved in 1974. Over $4.5 million has been spent on restoration of the lavish theatre so far. It was briefly renamed the Stanley Performing Arts Center before reverting to the original name in 2005. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Paramount Theatre [gone, now LIU]
Brooklyn, NY
The Paramount Theatre, built in 1928, was part of the Publix Theatre chain with seating for 4,500. The exterior signs could be seen for 20 miles. The theater was built by Rapp & Rapp and considered the most beautiful motion picture theatre in the world. It featured a latticed ceiling, arched side walls festooned with artificial foliage, and a midnight-blue velvet curtain embroidered with pheasants.

The Paramount was famous for its big rock and roll shows in the 1950s. The theatre officially closed in 1962 and was bought by Long Island University to use as their Brooklyn campus. The auditorium area is now used as a basketball court and the lobby has been transformed into a cafeteria. For home games, the original Wurlitzer organ (second in size only to the one at Radio City Music Hall) is played. Traces of the original theater ornamentation can be seen above the modern lights. As of 2005, the college is moving their basketball facility to a new location and the new use of the former theatre is being debated. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Kings Theatre [closed]
Brooklyn, NY		 former Valencia Theatre
Queens, NY
The Kings Theatre was designed by Rapp & Rapp. It opened in 1929 and was one of the five Loew’s Wonder Theaters in New York City. The others were: 175th Street, Paradise, Jersey (see below) and Valencia. The name comes from Brooklyn's borough name: Kings County. The theatre had seating for 3,600, walnut paneling, bronze statues, murals and gold detailing. The Kings has been vacant since 1977. In 1999, there was talk of it being turned into part of a Magic Johnson theatre chain but that fell through. It is currently owned by the city. While the interior is still intact, there has been some water damage from a leaky roof (since repaired). It is estimated the theatre would cost at least $35 million to restore. For more, see this website.

The Valencia Theatre was designed by John Eberson in his famous atmospheric style. It opened in 1929 and closed in 1977. The interior was meant to resemble a garden in Valencia, Spain. The huge lobby featured goldfish pools. The auditorium could seat 3,600 and had an Eberson's signature cloud-filled sky with twinkling stars. When it closed, Loew's donated the building to the Tabernacle of Prayer for All People. The church has left most of the theatre intact but repainted it in garish colors. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Landmark Theatre
Syracuse, NY
The Landmark Theatre was designed by Thomas W. Lamb in 1928. It was originally known as Loew's State Theatre and later simply as Loew’s Theater. In the late 1970s, it became the Landmark Theatre.

The theater's design is described as Indo-Persian (a mixture of European, Byzantine, and Romanesque elements). Decorated in lush reds and golds with chandeliers, murals, and a huge Wurlitzer organ, the theatre even boasted a fish pond in the lobby.

By the 1950s, the theatre was in bad shape and in 1975 it was threatened with demolition. But it was saved through community efforts, largely by SALT (Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre). Concerts and Broadway shows are offered at the theatre while restoration work is still underway. Although the marquee was replaced in the 1950s, the box office is original. The Landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

NY (page 2)
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