My grandparents owned and operated the Oriental and Family with other family members and a local investor named Cook who helped save the Oriental Theatre as it was built in the depression. My mother Selma Winograd Cohen and her two brothers Rabbi Leonard Winograd and Ken Winograd were born and raised in Rochester. I have many fond memories of movies, the ornaments, organ, coke machine, projection booth, palatial mens room downstairs and just walking around Hinds Street. I saw Elvis movie at the Oriental!
I visited Rochester last week and was shocked the boroughs plan for a public park on the site remains a false political promise. I knew nothing of the revitalization attempts. Maybe a pipe dream, but todays reality is tragic. I came and took a few bricks in 2001 to remind me of the grand lady. The vacant lot is ugly. Rochester’s Main Street is a near-ghost town. It’s like that great age of a bustling lil America has been allowed to cry of disease. It’s a shame.
My grandparents owned and operated the Oriental and Family with other family members and a local investor named Cook who helped save the Oriental Theatre as it was built in the depression. My mother Selma Winograd Cohen and her two brothers Rabbi Leonard Winograd and Ken Winograd were born and raised in Rochester. I have many fond memories of movies, the ornaments, organ, coke machine, projection booth, palatial mens room downstairs and just walking around Hinds Street. I saw Elvis movie at the Oriental!
I visited Rochester last week and was shocked the boroughs plan for a public park on the site remains a false political promise. I knew nothing of the revitalization attempts. Maybe a pipe dream, but todays reality is tragic. I came and took a few bricks in 2001 to remind me of the grand lady. The vacant lot is ugly. Rochester’s Main Street is a near-ghost town. It’s like that great age of a bustling lil America has been allowed to cry of disease. It’s a shame.