Thanks Warren for this information concerning seat number! How does one find the 1957 Film Daily Year Book that you have mentioned as I’m still trying to find a photo(s)as there are none on the cinema treasures website, but I do have several contacts that may produce something in the coming days? When it was demolished I’m not sure how much was saved or sold off, but I’m fairly sure that much of the structure was buried in the ground and just covered over which is mind boggling to hear so I hope that that fact is incorrect, but will find out through my research sources. Maybe someday someone will unearth it all, but highly unlikely. The location of the theater was on a corner and about 2 miles from the shores of Lake Erie.
I have contacted the Patterson Library in Westfield NY with hopes of finding old Grand Theater photos. I also plan to contact the last theater manager who still lives in the town and meet with him next year so keep your fingers crossed (thanks) that we come up with exterior and interior photos and much more general information. I do recall that a truck was trying to turn at the intersection one winter and hit the marquee on one end and it was never fixed after that incident so I guess that was the beginning of the end for ‘our’ art deco and special Westfield treaure that certain town politicans thought should be demolished for whatever reason! So very sad!
These photos are really something to view and I feel a sadness in my soul. Does anyone know where we can go on the internet to retrieve information, in general about the Grand theaters, the architect, etc.?
And are either you, Ziggy and/or dfbills originally from the Westfield NY area as I know of a Peter Bills. Ziggy, you mentioned Chautauqua so you are familiar with that wonderful piece of property….have been to many a concert in the great outdoors amphiTHEATER over the years!
Who is David Stear? How does one contact him to offer addtional information for any given theater as I know the most about the Grand Theater since Westfield NY was my hometown area for many years. How don’t know how many seats, but I could probably get this information along with other stats after speaking with the last theater manager.
Thanks, Ziggy for your replies to my ‘Grand’ posts. I have been researching other theaters and find that many of them across the country don’t have their pipe organs anymore which is such a shame. My research is most interesting and fulfilling, but with it comes sadness and frustration! I have been inside the Fox Theater in Atlanta which is a must-see for any theater buff!
The theater was demolished in the month of April, but not sure of the exact year. I was not around when the decision was made to demolish this wonderful art deco building, but did get to buy a curved piece from the front facade. I recall the ticket window by the front doors and the posters behind the display case to let those passing by know what movie was playing and the lighted curved marquee. I recall the candy counter and the art deco ladies lounge and bathroom. And yes, I do recall sitting in the back row with one particular boyfriend named David in my high school years! I only wish someone would submit a photo of The Grand! :–)
This theater was in my hometown and is sadly missed to this day. I know the last manager of the theater, Tom Tetrault so I plan to ask him about the theater as it had a bowling alley in the basement though I never saw it. The first movie I saw with my longtime girlfriend was Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. A local gal makes small wood block area buildings and does the theater with any movie marquee name you wish to have on it so my girlfriend and I each have one. Her theater reads Pillow Talk starring Day and Hudson and mine reads The Long Long Trailer starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. A statue of Abe Lincoln and Grace Bedell now stand where the theater once stood as Grace lived in Westfield NY at the time President Lincoln was in the White House. She wrote him a letter to ask him to grow a beard and he later stopped by train in Westfield enroute to the Nation’s Capitol to meet Ms. Bedell and the rest is history, but all of us still miss the Grand Theater on the corner of Main and N. Portage Streets! :–(
Warren: Still trying to find the 1957 Film Daily Year Book and yes, Westfield has an historical society so they should be of help, too.
Thanks Warren for this information concerning seat number! How does one find the 1957 Film Daily Year Book that you have mentioned as I’m still trying to find a photo(s)as there are none on the cinema treasures website, but I do have several contacts that may produce something in the coming days? When it was demolished I’m not sure how much was saved or sold off, but I’m fairly sure that much of the structure was buried in the ground and just covered over which is mind boggling to hear so I hope that that fact is incorrect, but will find out through my research sources. Maybe someday someone will unearth it all, but highly unlikely. The location of the theater was on a corner and about 2 miles from the shores of Lake Erie.
I have contacted the Patterson Library in Westfield NY with hopes of finding old Grand Theater photos. I also plan to contact the last theater manager who still lives in the town and meet with him next year so keep your fingers crossed (thanks) that we come up with exterior and interior photos and much more general information. I do recall that a truck was trying to turn at the intersection one winter and hit the marquee on one end and it was never fixed after that incident so I guess that was the beginning of the end for ‘our’ art deco and special Westfield treaure that certain town politicans thought should be demolished for whatever reason! So very sad!
These photos are really something to view and I feel a sadness in my soul. Does anyone know where we can go on the internet to retrieve information, in general about the Grand theaters, the architect, etc.?
And are either you, Ziggy and/or dfbills originally from the Westfield NY area as I know of a Peter Bills. Ziggy, you mentioned Chautauqua so you are familiar with that wonderful piece of property….have been to many a concert in the great outdoors amphiTHEATER over the years!
Who is David Stear? How does one contact him to offer addtional information for any given theater as I know the most about the Grand Theater since Westfield NY was my hometown area for many years. How don’t know how many seats, but I could probably get this information along with other stats after speaking with the last theater manager.
Thanks, Ziggy for your replies to my ‘Grand’ posts. I have been researching other theaters and find that many of them across the country don’t have their pipe organs anymore which is such a shame. My research is most interesting and fulfilling, but with it comes sadness and frustration! I have been inside the Fox Theater in Atlanta which is a must-see for any theater buff!
The theater was demolished in the month of April, but not sure of the exact year. I was not around when the decision was made to demolish this wonderful art deco building, but did get to buy a curved piece from the front facade. I recall the ticket window by the front doors and the posters behind the display case to let those passing by know what movie was playing and the lighted curved marquee. I recall the candy counter and the art deco ladies lounge and bathroom. And yes, I do recall sitting in the back row with one particular boyfriend named David in my high school years! I only wish someone would submit a photo of The Grand! :–)
This theater was in my hometown and is sadly missed to this day. I know the last manager of the theater, Tom Tetrault so I plan to ask him about the theater as it had a bowling alley in the basement though I never saw it. The first movie I saw with my longtime girlfriend was Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. A local gal makes small wood block area buildings and does the theater with any movie marquee name you wish to have on it so my girlfriend and I each have one. Her theater reads Pillow Talk starring Day and Hudson and mine reads The Long Long Trailer starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. A statue of Abe Lincoln and Grace Bedell now stand where the theater once stood as Grace lived in Westfield NY at the time President Lincoln was in the White House. She wrote him a letter to ask him to grow a beard and he later stopped by train in Westfield enroute to the Nation’s Capitol to meet Ms. Bedell and the rest is history, but all of us still miss the Grand Theater on the corner of Main and N. Portage Streets! :–(