Columbia Theatre

449 Genesee Street,
Buffalo, NY 14204

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on February 1, 2017 at 7:05 am

A slight revision in that the trade press reported that Elder Charles D. Beck took on the Columbia Theatre in 1956 converting it to The Way Of The Cross Church Of God in Christ. “No use letting the Devil have all the good tunes,” said Elder Beck. The Folkways Records recording at the former Columbia Theatre location was recorded there on December 30/31, 1956 and released in 1957. The album is still in print as of 60 years after its recording and release. Looking at the historic aerials and newspaper listing, it was torn down sometime between 1962 and 1963.

Functions: Church

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 10, 2014 at 11:57 am

Although first listed in directories in 1915, the Columbia Theatre was probably opened before the end of 1914. The Columbia was the house in this item from the May 2, 1914, issue of The American Contractor:

“Picture Theater (seating 1.400), 62x125. $40,000. Genesee nr. Mortimer st. Archt. Martin C. Miller, 1009 Mutual Life bldg. Owner Fred. Ullman, Mutual Life bldg. Archt. ready for bids about May 15th on construction with & without gallery, and with and without stage. Brick, terra cotta, fireproof, comp. roof, struct. & orn. iron.”
This house was probably a replacement for an earlier theater of the same name, as the New York Clipper mentioned a Columbia Theatre in Buffalo operated by Fred Ullman in October, 1912.