Keith's Theater

261 Main Street,
Buffalo, NY 14203

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Keiths Columbia Theater, Keith's Italian Theater

Nearby Theaters

1950s photo via D Raphael Faillaā€ˇ.

This theater opened in 1911, on lower Main Street. Modeled after the Royal Theatre in London, Ontario, it had a $15,000 organ. Entrance was on Main Street, the exit on Washington Street.

It was known at various times, as Keith’s Theater, Keith’s Columbia Theater, and Keith’s Italian Theater. With the first run theaters a short ways up Main Street, the Keith’s Theater always showed second and third run films.
General conditions deteriorated through the 1940’s and 1950’s, the end coming in 1960, when a fire swept the theater, also damaging the Little Hippodrome Theater next door.

A few years later, the burned out structure was razed for downtown redevelopment.

Contributed by Alan Lapp

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on January 30, 2008 at 5:09 am

This theater was at one time the Columbia and a Link Theatre Organ was installed in a Columbia Theatre in Buffalo in 1924.

“Gee Dad, it was a Link!”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on January 30, 2008 at 8:51 pm

Lost Memory-that’s why I wrote “a” Columbia Theater. I wasn’t sure. It’s the missing LINK! Sorry I had to add that.

arl
arl on January 31, 2008 at 8:54 pm

The 1911 newspaper description of this organ was a “2600 pipe $15,000 Organ”, also described
as an “Orchestral Organ” which could produce simulated noises.

railroad
railroad on April 9, 2008 at 5:57 am

Phone number 1960: WAshington 4588

bflonyguy
bflonyguy on March 6, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Two underpaid immigrants pushed said organ back and forth between theatres for each performance.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 15, 2022 at 1:43 pm

Also posted the grand opening ad as Keith’s Columbia from December 30th, 1911

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