I was told about the Youngstown Playhouse the other day and held a piece of its history….a program with a drawing of the playhouse on the cover. I did not know that it is the oldest community theater in the United States. After recently touring Youngstown I have come to realize that one of the best things abut Youngstown is HANDELS ice cream which is a favorite of comedian, Bill Cosby who has it delivered to his CA home.
The first thing to go would be the silver flocked wallpaper in the lobby! I had hoped that Lucy’s daughter, Luci would have interest in restoring this theatre with a Lucy theme, but so far that is not the case!
I just viewed all of the photos you took during your tour and really appreciate you posting them here as my visit was in poor lighting so therefore I didn’t get to see much detail. Nice to read….“that almost all of the seats are intact, too”. If you know of anyone else who might have interest in this theatre, send them to Jamestown asap!
ChrisB: Your photos of the Grandview are really great, too. Thanks and I wish the Friends of the Grandview much success in their efforts to restore this great piece of Americana along the shores of Lake Erie on scenic Route 5 in western NYS.
ChrisB: The photobucket photos are GREAT! How did you find them? I had the opportunity to enter the Wintergarden a few years ago, but the lighting was very poor so seeing your posted photos really meant alot. I would love to see someone buy and restore this theatre. I think a Lucy themed theatre would be great as it is within walking distance to the Lucille Ball gift shop, Desilu Playhouse and Lucy Desi Museum, downtown! Your email address isn’t included on your profile page and I would like to send you the 1955 photo(s).
Yes, the original Wurlitzer organ would have been nice to have now that the Symphony Orchestra calls the Powers….home. But a huge thanks goes to Mr. and Mrs. Powers for even saving this theatre in the late 60’s.
This one should be saved in western NYS as all of these drive-ins are part of Americana though the youth of today just aren’t into drive-ins. A drive-in in nearby Corry PA is still open and being operated by an Erie family though. They used to have cruise-ins which is a way of bringing in cars for a movie.
I just viewed the Nov.28,03 b/w photo that shows the original wrap around marquee and the vertical RIVIERA sign…wish it could look like that today as those vertical signs were most impressive and when lighted at night it would have been an awesome sight. At the Shea’s in Buffalo a reproduction vertical sign that reads BUFFALO has returned to its rightful place and I marvel at that sign each time I walk towards the theatre doors. I’m looking for an interior photo(s) now.
And it’s such a shame that the worker of whom you speak did not live to see the restoration of them for the reopening gala. Thank goodness he had the forethought to not destroy them, but to simply hide them. And “the mosaic floors of the ladies' and gentlemen’s lounges were covered in brightly-colored shag carpeting” is such a shame! Was the shag carpeting taken up in later years to expose the mosaic flooring? I hope so.
PleaseTurnOffStars: What a wonderful story about a wonderful lady named Rose who had a love for theatre and that love helped to save THIS theatre. Thank you Rose and I now stand and applaud you.
Paul: Keep digging as what you are posting is most interesting! It’s just a shame that the Regent can’t be brought back as the brick building still stands today, but without the marquee and probably without any seats as the nearby Catholic church owns it now and uses it for storage according to a lady I spoke with last summer in one of the church offices. At the time I did’t meet with anyone who had THE KEYS so a return visit is on my theatre agenda, still.
I’m not a resident of Ohio nor of Canton and so the Palace being connected to the Eberson name and the interior being atmospheric did interest me. So last summer I went to see it for myself and I met with the manager of the theatre who is Cinema Treasures member, “CantonPalaceTech”. Rob may be able to help you with your research involving the other theatres that were in Canton as I believe they have all been demolished except for the Palace.
I was told about the Youngstown Playhouse the other day and held a piece of its history….a program with a drawing of the playhouse on the cover. I did not know that it is the oldest community theater in the United States. After recently touring Youngstown I have come to realize that one of the best things abut Youngstown is HANDELS ice cream which is a favorite of comedian, Bill Cosby who has it delivered to his CA home.
The first thing to go would be the silver flocked wallpaper in the lobby! I had hoped that Lucy’s daughter, Luci would have interest in restoring this theatre with a Lucy theme, but so far that is not the case!
I just viewed all of the photos you took during your tour and really appreciate you posting them here as my visit was in poor lighting so therefore I didn’t get to see much detail. Nice to read….“that almost all of the seats are intact, too”. If you know of anyone else who might have interest in this theatre, send them to Jamestown asap!
Joe: The building is architecturally…beautiful!
This Warner is listed as “closed” so does the theatre building still exist?
Such a shame that this Warner in Beverly Hills CA was demolished as it was the the site of the original LA premiere for the film, Lawrence of Arabia.
The Powers Auditorium in Youngstown OH was formerly a Warner Theatre and the lobby is very similar in design to the Warner/Erie.
wolfgirl500: Do you have any photos of the original marquee when the Powers was the Warner?
ChrisB: Great photo of this lovely theatre as I have toured this one. In the tile by the front doors is the word PALACE as you enter the lobby.
I’m not from Meadville PA, but have visited that community a few times. It’s a quaint college town and is located south of Erie PA on I-79.
ChrisB: Your photos of the Grandview are really great, too. Thanks and I wish the Friends of the Grandview much success in their efforts to restore this great piece of Americana along the shores of Lake Erie on scenic Route 5 in western NYS.
ChrisB: By chance, are you associated with Century 21? My email address can be found by clicking on my screen name.
ChrisB: The photobucket photos are GREAT! How did you find them? I had the opportunity to enter the Wintergarden a few years ago, but the lighting was very poor so seeing your posted photos really meant alot. I would love to see someone buy and restore this theatre. I think a Lucy themed theatre would be great as it is within walking distance to the Lucille Ball gift shop, Desilu Playhouse and Lucy Desi Museum, downtown! Your email address isn’t included on your profile page and I would like to send you the 1955 photo(s).
Yes, the original Wurlitzer organ would have been nice to have now that the Symphony Orchestra calls the Powers….home. But a huge thanks goes to Mr. and Mrs. Powers for even saving this theatre in the late 60’s.
Life’s too short: Thanks for the information after my 4/12 post, but sad to read the building sat unattended for at least 20 years.
This one should be saved in western NYS as all of these drive-ins are part of Americana though the youth of today just aren’t into drive-ins. A drive-in in nearby Corry PA is still open and being operated by an Erie family though. They used to have cruise-ins which is a way of bringing in cars for a movie.
Thanks for the information and I’ll take a closer look at where the impressive vertical marquee once was attached.
I just viewed the Nov.28,03 b/w photo that shows the original wrap around marquee and the vertical RIVIERA sign…wish it could look like that today as those vertical signs were most impressive and when lighted at night it would have been an awesome sight. At the Shea’s in Buffalo a reproduction vertical sign that reads BUFFALO has returned to its rightful place and I marvel at that sign each time I walk towards the theatre doors. I’m looking for an interior photo(s) now.
And it’s such a shame that the worker of whom you speak did not live to see the restoration of them for the reopening gala. Thank goodness he had the forethought to not destroy them, but to simply hide them. And “the mosaic floors of the ladies' and gentlemen’s lounges were covered in brightly-colored shag carpeting” is such a shame! Was the shag carpeting taken up in later years to expose the mosaic flooring? I hope so.
PleaseTurnOffStars: What a wonderful story about a wonderful lady named Rose who had a love for theatre and that love helped to save THIS theatre. Thank you Rose and I now stand and applaud you.
Is there a photo of the marquee on this site as I just read your above post and the one on the Varsity/Chapel Hill site, too?
Paul: Keep digging as what you are posting is most interesting! It’s just a shame that the Regent can’t be brought back as the brick building still stands today, but without the marquee and probably without any seats as the nearby Catholic church owns it now and uses it for storage according to a lady I spoke with last summer in one of the church offices. At the time I did’t meet with anyone who had THE KEYS so a return visit is on my theatre agenda, still.
I’m not a resident of Ohio nor of Canton and so the Palace being connected to the Eberson name and the interior being atmospheric did interest me. So last summer I went to see it for myself and I met with the manager of the theatre who is Cinema Treasures member, “CantonPalaceTech”. Rob may be able to help you with your research involving the other theatres that were in Canton as I believe they have all been demolished except for the Palace.
I think the son was named Dalton and was the man I met who said his father once owned 3 theatres in Dunkirk. Dalton is an “ambulance chaser” attorney.
Red Dawg: Interesting organ site. Thanks.