And the RTOS site is fascinating to view as the b/w slide show is complete, but very sad to watch as the RKO was a beautifully ornate downtown theatre that is gone forever.
I just found this link after researching the architect names of Graven and Mayger. I am truly saddened and appalled at what the City of Rochester did in regards to their RKO Palace in 1965 and now the site is a PARKING LOT! The City of Rochester should hang their heads in shame!
Where is Kirkegaard based? And perhaps after the first of the year I’ll be able to visit Knoxville enroute to Nashville. If so, seeing the Tennessee will be at the top of the ‘must-see’ list.
I’m really sorry, but somehow I wrote and thought the name was the Capitol and in reality it was the COLONIAL. Thanks for the news story as I was in Skaneateles the summer that the Clintons came to visit. They have friends who have a beautiful home along the shores of Skaneateles Lake and it is pointed out from the local tour boat.
I went by this former drive-in the other day and it definitely isn’t in business anymore, but the cement screen with its back to the road is still standing as a testament to the past!
And if the organ isn’t in the building, I’d sure like to know where it is now! The man I met whose father owned the 3 former theatres didn’t act like he really wanted to discuss theatres when I finally met him at a local auction called Save A Seat to raise money, ironically, for the upkeep and maintenance of a local restored THEATRE…..the REG LENNA(CT link)so I didn’t pursue the topic, but sure wanted to chat more with him! This man did tell me that he hadn’t saved much, if anything, of the theatre memorabilia! I thought to myself…‘such as shame as it would be worth $$$ today on eBay’!
Lost Memory: Excellent idea and I will contact the church again as I didn’t reallly get to the right person, in charge to ask about a ‘tour’ of the former Regent…. only a receptionist in another building. I’m sure the seats have been removed. The building is made of brick so it’s probably structurally strong, but urban renewal changed alot of the ‘landscape’ in the City of Dunkirk along the shores of Lake Erie with beautiful sunsets. It’s a shame that the sun has set on the 3 theatres in Dunkirk though.
The former Wintergarden is now the Fredonia Opera House, the Capitol was demolished after severe roof damage and fire, I think and the Regent still stands, but has long since been a theatre.
Lost Memory: My heart aches when I read that the Regent once had a Wurlitzer organ, but it doesn’t surprise me as the Wurlitzer Organ Co. was in nearby N. Tonawanda NY. The former Regent building still stands, but the marquee is gone and a nearby Catholic church owns the building now and uses it for storage so suppose the seats are gone. Last summer I tried to contact someone in that church for a tour of the former theatre, but I haven’t accomplished that challenge….yet!
I’ll be visiting Auburn in the near future and will have a look-see at the Auburn Theatre. I hope that restoration has been started on this art deco EBERSON theatre.
I know a former theatre owner who did have many movie posters, but they were all thrown away years ago as nobody thought they’d be worth anything today…wrong!
And the RTOS site is fascinating to view as the b/w slide show is complete, but very sad to watch as the RKO was a beautifully ornate downtown theatre that is gone forever.
I just found this link after researching the architect names of Graven and Mayger. I am truly saddened and appalled at what the City of Rochester did in regards to their RKO Palace in 1965 and now the site is a PARKING LOT! The City of Rochester should hang their heads in shame!
I wish the folks who restored the Tennessee would come to Charlotte and help with efforts to restore the Carolina! www.mtos.org and
View link
Where is Kirkegaard based? And perhaps after the first of the year I’ll be able to visit Knoxville enroute to Nashville. If so, seeing the Tennessee will be at the top of the ‘must-see’ list.
Thanks for the Kirkegaard website with photos as you certainly have a beauty in the Tennessee especially that in-house organ.
For anyone local the next Wurlitzer organ recital at the Riviera is on August 16th at 7:00.
I’m really sorry, but somehow I wrote and thought the name was the Capitol and in reality it was the COLONIAL. Thanks for the news story as I was in Skaneateles the summer that the Clintons came to visit. They have friends who have a beautiful home along the shores of Skaneateles Lake and it is pointed out from the local tour boat.
I wasn’t either until I visited the town over the weekend and spoke to the Skaneateles Historical Society President, Karlene Miller.
Can anyone tell me about another theatre in NYS that was known as the Capitol located in Skaneateles NY on Lake Skaneateles?
If it closed in 1979, then it’s been almost 30 years since it operated as a drive-in.
I went by this former drive-in the other day and it definitely isn’t in business anymore, but the cement screen with its back to the road is still standing as a testament to the past!
Incidentally, this man is a trial attorney in Jamestown NY, former childhood home to Lucille Ball (www.lucy-desi.com).
And if the organ isn’t in the building, I’d sure like to know where it is now! The man I met whose father owned the 3 former theatres didn’t act like he really wanted to discuss theatres when I finally met him at a local auction called Save A Seat to raise money, ironically, for the upkeep and maintenance of a local restored THEATRE…..the REG LENNA(CT link)so I didn’t pursue the topic, but sure wanted to chat more with him! This man did tell me that he hadn’t saved much, if anything, of the theatre memorabilia! I thought to myself…‘such as shame as it would be worth $$$ today on eBay’!
Lost Memory: Excellent idea and I will contact the church again as I didn’t reallly get to the right person, in charge to ask about a ‘tour’ of the former Regent…. only a receptionist in another building. I’m sure the seats have been removed. The building is made of brick so it’s probably structurally strong, but urban renewal changed alot of the ‘landscape’ in the City of Dunkirk along the shores of Lake Erie with beautiful sunsets. It’s a shame that the sun has set on the 3 theatres in Dunkirk though.
The former Wintergarden is now the Fredonia Opera House, the Capitol was demolished after severe roof damage and fire, I think and the Regent still stands, but has long since been a theatre.
Lost Memory: My heart aches when I read that the Regent once had a Wurlitzer organ, but it doesn’t surprise me as the Wurlitzer Organ Co. was in nearby N. Tonawanda NY. The former Regent building still stands, but the marquee is gone and a nearby Catholic church owns the building now and uses it for storage so suppose the seats are gone. Last summer I tried to contact someone in that church for a tour of the former theatre, but I haven’t accomplished that challenge….yet!
I’ll be visiting Auburn in the near future and will have a look-see at the Auburn Theatre. I hope that restoration has been started on this art deco EBERSON theatre.
Recently I met a man whose father once owned 3 former theatres in Dunkirk NY…the Regent, the Wintergarden and the Capitol.
I know a former theatre owner who did have many movie posters, but they were all thrown away years ago as nobody thought they’d be worth anything today…wrong!
I wonder who takes the credit for being the architect for this specially designed art deco theatre?
Nice to read that a parking lot is now where the Florida Theatre once stood and was enjoyed by so many theatre goers. Such a shame!
How did a closeup of that face get to be photographed…from what level or location?
Sorry about the duplicate post as I got impatient, again.
I just went back and looked at the face photo and I see the eyes closed so it doesn’t appear, to me, to be looking at anyone or anything.
I just went back and looked at the face photo and I see the eyes closed so it doesn’t appear, to me, to be looking at anyone or anything.