Valencia: This from a CT member in regards to my previous post…“When I read your words above about ‘ghosts having souls’ I thought that I should warn you that they are not what they may seem, and are certainly not "souls” if one is using the Bible-based meaning of the word. Please read my message below, which I left on the www.CinemaTour.com web site about this subject, and I think you will be relieved to know how to avoid a definite danger for your own good and that of others.“ Valencia, the message mentioned in the above quote is not included in this post due to the length so if you wish to read it go to www.CinemaTour.com and look under their THEATRE YAK forum.
Valencia: Most theatres have ghosts from their past. I know they have souls and could feel it upon entering the Fox Theatre in Atlanta during their 75th anniversary last Dec. 26, 2004. And I would love to see your photos with “orb” lights!
I would love to see a vintage photo of the Butler Theatre as I’m not sure there is a link to that theatre on CT. If so, maybe someone will contribute a photo to that link.
lostmemory: Thanks for the article as I am printing it now for my hardcopy file. I hadn’t planned to visit Butler this summer, but after reading it have changed my mind as I also want to see where the Butler Theatre once stood in Butler PA. It was an Eberson/atmospheric theatre and is now the location of a bank due to those 2 words…..urban renewal!
Randyloveslucy: Correction…the Lucy site is www.lucy-desi.com So if you are a Lucy fan and haven’t visited this site or attended either the May Lucy Festival or the one in August, I urge you to do so as you won’t be disappointed!
The Reg Lenna is not atmospheric, but perhaps prior to renovation it had this unique ceiling design. I wish it still had its original organ or an organ, period! I think it once had an orchestra pit, but not sure.
I just clicked on the Related Websites link and read through the article WITH PHOTO! This is exactly how the theatre looks today with the marquee though my 1955 photo shows a beautiful marquee! It was sent to me via email so I don’t know how I share it with CT. I also noticed that the Related Websites article was written in 2002 and it was provided by the Arts Council of Chautauqua County of which I have emailed one of their members about this downtown abandoned theatre which I would like to see restored as it is just steps from the new Desilu Playhouse and perhaps the lobby could be designed into a Lucy themed entrance showing first run movies and classics some of which Lucy made in her early career prior to I
Love Lucy.
I believe his son Dalton, Jr. is the one that I would be contacting in the coming weeks to see if he has any theatre memorabilia and also anything on my former hometown theatre, the Grand Theatre in Westfield NY.
Patsy
commented about
Cinemaon
Aug 25, 2005 at 4:49 pm
Correction! I did see this theatre while in New Castle as I now recall the letter “C” in the middle of the rusting marquee as we left town! I was going to take a picture, but it was just too bad to photograph with weeds growing up along the one exterior wall. It certainly looked like it hadn’t been a theatre in a very long time. And I don’t think the Zambelli name would want to put their time, effort and funds into that one now that I’ve seen it, in person! No where did I see the word “Castle” which is what the “C” must have stood for and not the word “Cinema”.
Patsy
commented about
Cinemaon
Aug 25, 2005 at 4:44 pm
If anyone can provide a photo of this theatre, I’d appreciate. Thanks.
lostmemory: Well, I’ve been to Brookville and took a tour of the Columbia. A local church does, in fact, own the building. The front half which includes the former lobby is used as a teen center and the back half which is the auditorium is used for Christian music concerts as there is a stage and former orchestra pit that has been covered over to provide more stage depth. The ceiling as been painted to the original design and many of the light fixtures are original! The original seats have been taken out, but 3 of them do exist as we found them in the back of the theatre not being used for anything! The street facade as been enclosed with glass,
but the original plaster molding design still remains in the area where the ticket kios would have stood which has been removed over the years when that area was open leading from the front doors into
the lobby with curved ceiling. The horizontal Columbia marquee is
gone, but the exterior overhead metal awning is still intact though is peeling and in need of paint.
Nicely written and so very true as I just visited this theatre and was taken on a tour that included seeing the “large square white plaster screen on the back of the stage”. Very unusual. The marquee was lighted upon arriving at the Grove City theatre then headed to New Castle PA to see the location of the first Warner Brothers silent film theatre as Cascade Center. Go to www.firstwarnertheatre.com
Don: I was given the name of Dalton Burgett, Jr. whose family owned the theatres in Dunkirk/Fredonia. Have you heard of this name? I also posted a Regent Theatre photo on the Regent Theatre link that shows a movie that came out much later so had wondered when the Regent officially closed. I will try to locate the Tallman name.
lostmemory: The Capitol is definitely gone and is another parking lot due to urban renewal! The nearby Regent is still standing, but isn’t a theatre anymore as the marquee is off the building only to leave the rusting metal where it once hung so proudly at night with its colored neon and twinkling lights! I wish the person responsible for contributing the Capitol, Paul Somerfeldt would post his memories, too.
I answered my own question today…the Regent is a red brick building and is still standing. It is now owned by the local Catholic Diosese and is for rent.
I was by the Fredonia Opera House this afternoon and looked close to see if any metal work was still on the building to show where the marquee once hung on the Temple St. side, but didn’t see any. I then went to the Regent Theatre site on E. Third St. in nearby Dunkirk and took a photo. I was told that it remained an operating theatre into the mid 60’s. The exterior is brick and looks to be in good sound shape though forlorn looking and delected.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site. The photo on your 8/21 post I think shows the entrance facing Central Avenue which is not the front entrance today.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site. The photo on your 8/21 post I think shows the entrance facing Central Avenue which is not the front entrance today.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site.
Valencia: This from a CT member in regards to my previous post…“When I read your words above about ‘ghosts having souls’ I thought that I should warn you that they are not what they may seem, and are certainly not "souls” if one is using the Bible-based meaning of the word. Please read my message below, which I left on the www.CinemaTour.com web site about this subject, and I think you will be relieved to know how to avoid a definite danger for your own good and that of others.“ Valencia, the message mentioned in the above quote is not included in this post due to the length so if you wish to read it go to www.CinemaTour.com and look under their THEATRE YAK forum.
Valencia: Most theatres have ghosts from their past. I know they have souls and could feel it upon entering the Fox Theatre in Atlanta during their 75th anniversary last Dec. 26, 2004. And I would love to see your photos with “orb” lights!
I see that this theatre is listed as ‘closed’ so is it still standing and is there any restoration group interested in restoring it?
Don’t think this theatre was atmospheric, but it was Eberson and art deco and the Town of Butler chose to demolish it for a bank!
Can anyone contribute a photo of this theatre?
I would love to see a vintage photo of the Butler Theatre as I’m not sure there is a link to that theatre on CT. If so, maybe someone will contribute a photo to that link.
lostmemory: Thanks for the article as I am printing it now for my hardcopy file. I hadn’t planned to visit Butler this summer, but after reading it have changed my mind as I also want to see where the Butler Theatre once stood in Butler PA. It was an Eberson/atmospheric theatre and is now the location of a bank due to those 2 words…..urban renewal!
Randyloveslucy: Correction…the Lucy site is www.lucy-desi.com So if you are a Lucy fan and haven’t visited this site or attended either the May Lucy Festival or the one in August, I urge you to do so as you won’t be disappointed!
The Reg Lenna is not atmospheric, but perhaps prior to renovation it had this unique ceiling design. I wish it still had its original organ or an organ, period! I think it once had an orchestra pit, but not sure.
I just clicked on the Related Websites link and read through the article WITH PHOTO! This is exactly how the theatre looks today with the marquee though my 1955 photo shows a beautiful marquee! It was sent to me via email so I don’t know how I share it with CT. I also noticed that the Related Websites article was written in 2002 and it was provided by the Arts Council of Chautauqua County of which I have emailed one of their members about this downtown abandoned theatre which I would like to see restored as it is just steps from the new Desilu Playhouse and perhaps the lobby could be designed into a Lucy themed entrance showing first run movies and classics some of which Lucy made in her early career prior to I
Love Lucy.
TC: Thanks as I will now check out the above library site and the Wintergarden CT site.
Anyone have a photo(s) that they could contribute to this link?
I believe his son Dalton, Jr. is the one that I would be contacting in the coming weeks to see if he has any theatre memorabilia and also anything on my former hometown theatre, the Grand Theatre in Westfield NY.
Correction! I did see this theatre while in New Castle as I now recall the letter “C” in the middle of the rusting marquee as we left town! I was going to take a picture, but it was just too bad to photograph with weeds growing up along the one exterior wall. It certainly looked like it hadn’t been a theatre in a very long time. And I don’t think the Zambelli name would want to put their time, effort and funds into that one now that I’ve seen it, in person! No where did I see the word “Castle” which is what the “C” must have stood for and not the word “Cinema”.
If anyone can provide a photo of this theatre, I’d appreciate. Thanks.
lostmemory: Well, I’ve been to Brookville and took a tour of the Columbia. A local church does, in fact, own the building. The front half which includes the former lobby is used as a teen center and the back half which is the auditorium is used for Christian music concerts as there is a stage and former orchestra pit that has been covered over to provide more stage depth. The ceiling as been painted to the original design and many of the light fixtures are original! The original seats have been taken out, but 3 of them do exist as we found them in the back of the theatre not being used for anything! The street facade as been enclosed with glass,
but the original plaster molding design still remains in the area where the ticket kios would have stood which has been removed over the years when that area was open leading from the front doors into
the lobby with curved ceiling. The horizontal Columbia marquee is
gone, but the exterior overhead metal awning is still intact though is peeling and in need of paint.
Nicely written and so very true as I just visited this theatre and was taken on a tour that included seeing the “large square white plaster screen on the back of the stage”. Very unusual. The marquee was lighted upon arriving at the Grove City theatre then headed to New Castle PA to see the location of the first Warner Brothers silent film theatre as Cascade Center. Go to www.firstwarnertheatre.com
Don: I was given the name of Dalton Burgett, Jr. whose family owned the theatres in Dunkirk/Fredonia. Have you heard of this name? I also posted a Regent Theatre photo on the Regent Theatre link that shows a movie that came out much later so had wondered when the Regent officially closed. I will try to locate the Tallman name.
lostmemory: The Capitol is definitely gone and is another parking lot due to urban renewal! The nearby Regent is still standing, but isn’t a theatre anymore as the marquee is off the building only to leave the rusting metal where it once hung so proudly at night with its colored neon and twinkling lights! I wish the person responsible for contributing the Capitol, Paul Somerfeldt would post his memories, too.
View link
This site has an exterior and interior photo of the Regent.
I answered my own question today…the Regent is a red brick building and is still standing. It is now owned by the local Catholic Diosese and is for rent.
I was by the Fredonia Opera House this afternoon and looked close to see if any metal work was still on the building to show where the marquee once hung on the Temple St. side, but didn’t see any. I then went to the Regent Theatre site on E. Third St. in nearby Dunkirk and took a photo. I was told that it remained an operating theatre into the mid 60’s. The exterior is brick and looks to be in good sound shape though forlorn looking and delected.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site. The photo on your 8/21 post I think shows the entrance facing Central Avenue which is not the front entrance today.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site. The photo on your 8/21 post I think shows the entrance facing Central Avenue which is not the front entrance today.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site.