According to newspaper articles, in its later years, as the “Old Vienna”, the chief attraction
here was Bingo. Patrons were charged $2.00 to see a second run movie, after which a
Bingo game was held, with cash prizes. Bingo was illegal at this time, and after a series
of confrontations with the law, the theater closed in March 1951.
This 850 seat theater was originally operated by Joseph Schuchert, along with the nearby
Columbia, and the Linden. In the 1940s and 1950s, it was part of the Gammel group, along
with the Columbia, New Ariel, and Unity theaters.
The 1911 newspaper description of this organ was a “2600 pipe $15,000 Organ”, also described
as an “Orchestral Organ” which could produce simulated noises.
This theater and the Marlowe Theater were financed by a group headed by John Oishei. By
1920 the ownership, along with 4 other Buffalo theaters was General Theaters, a group
which crashed in 1923. Through most of it’s later years, it was run by A C Behling, who
also ran the Sylvia Theater in Buffalo.
This theater opened in 1916, as the Kensington, later called the “Grider Kensington”, and
referred to as the “Little K” by locals. It always ran second run films, and in later years
was operated by Menno Dykstra, who often German films. It closed in 1955, later a
plumbing store, then a church.
According to newspaper articles, in its later years, as the “Old Vienna”, the chief attraction
here was Bingo. Patrons were charged $2.00 to see a second run movie, after which a
Bingo game was held, with cash prizes. Bingo was illegal at this time, and after a series
of confrontations with the law, the theater closed in March 1951.
This 850 seat theater was originally operated by Joseph Schuchert, along with the nearby
Columbia, and the Linden. In the 1940s and 1950s, it was part of the Gammel group, along
with the Columbia, New Ariel, and Unity theaters.
The 1911 newspaper description of this organ was a “2600 pipe $15,000 Organ”, also described
as an “Orchestral Organ” which could produce simulated noises.
This theater and the Marlowe Theater were financed by a group headed by John Oishei. By
1920 the ownership, along with 4 other Buffalo theaters was General Theaters, a group
which crashed in 1923. Through most of it’s later years, it was run by A C Behling, who
also ran the Sylvia Theater in Buffalo.
This theater opened in 1916, as the Kensington, later called the “Grider Kensington”, and
referred to as the “Little K” by locals. It always ran second run films, and in later years
was operated by Menno Dykstra, who often German films. It closed in 1955, later a
plumbing store, then a church.