Genesee Theatre

1600 Genesee Street,
Buffalo, NY 14211

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Basil Brothers Theatres

Architects: Henry L. Spann

Styles: Adam

Previous Names: Basil's Genesee Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Genesee Theater, Buffalo N.Y.

Basil’s Genesee Theatre was opened on October 12, 1927 with Glen Tryon in “Painting the Town”. It was equipped with a Marr & Colton 3 manual organ which was opened by organist Dusty Rhodes. It was still open in 1956, but had closed by 1957. It reopened and closed again in 1966. Reopened on January 9, 1970 and soon began screening adult movies. It finally closed in 1979. It was demolished in 1985 and the site is now a parking lot for the adjacent Super Price Choppers supermarket.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

paulgs15147
paulgs15147 on April 11, 2013 at 10:45 pm

My Great Grandfather George Schaaf of the construction company of the same name built a theater on Genesee st. sometime after 1914. The architech was Martin C Miller. any idea if this is the theater, or if there were or are other old theaters on Genesee St. Paul S

MFaust
MFaust on June 2, 2015 at 9:09 pm

My childhood neighborhood theater. The photo must be from its last days – note the Visa logo on the furniture store: that didn’t exist until 1975, so the photo is probably at least a few years after that. When I worked at the Riviera in North Tonawanda in the 1980s, I loved knowing that parts of the Genesee survived there.

bobtoplin
bobtoplin on February 20, 2016 at 10:53 pm

To paulgs15147…………………you`re thinking of the New Columbia at 449 Genesee at Spring.. Arch. M.C. Miller, opened Apr.15, 1915. Razed 1956.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 30, 2016 at 8:09 pm

Here is a larger version of an image on this theater’s photo page, the Marr and Colton organ company’s 1928 ad illustrated with a couple of images of the Gennesee Theatre.

paulgs15147
paulgs15147 on August 28, 2016 at 4:35 pm

Just saw this, thanks bobtoplin, I will check in on it.

Padawg
Padawg on April 9, 2017 at 11:47 am

I remember seeing the inside of this theatre in the late 1970s or perhaps 1980. The fellow that arranged for us to get inside this theater suggested that we go early in the morning before the neighborhood got too lively. As I recall, it was in wintertime and the building was not heated except for a glassed area toward the top of the auditorium. A couple of “gentlemen” were actively participating in the adult film that was showing on the screen. A sad ending to what was once a very nice neighborhood theatre.

pnelson
pnelson on April 9, 2017 at 10:02 pm

Nice exterior architecture. The cars look like the 70’s to me. Interior of this theatre is lovely.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 19, 2018 at 5:09 pm

Facebook link to 3 vintage Basil’s Genesee Theatre promotional posters. Scroll right on link.

https://www.facebook.com/vintagebuffalony/photos/a.269120803166048/1709592319118882/?type=3&theater

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on May 27, 2022 at 6:47 am

In the planning stages, this was the Neighborhood Theatre for the East Genesee Holding Company with architectural plans by Henry L. Spann. It launched as Basil’s Genesee Theatre on October 12, 1927 with organist Dusty Rhodes at the Marr & Colton organ supporting the opening film of “Painting the Town” with Glenn Tryon.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 22, 2022 at 12:51 am

It reopened on January 9th, 1970, with adult movies later in the year. Another ad posted.

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