Keith's Theater
261 Main Street,
Buffalo,
NY
14203
261 Main Street,
Buffalo,
NY
14203
1 person
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Keiths Columbia Theater, Keith's Italian Theater
Nearby Theaters
This theater opened in 1911, on lower Main Street. Modeled after the Royal Theatre in London, Ontario, it had a $15,000 organ. Entrance was on Main Street, the exit on Washington Street.
It was known at various times, as Keith’s Theater, Keith’s Columbia Theater, and Keith’s Italian Theater. With the first run theaters a short ways up Main Street, the Keith’s Theater always showed second and third run films.
General conditions deteriorated through the 1940’s and 1950’s, the end coming in 1960, when a fire swept the theater, also damaging the Little Hippodrome Theater next door.
A few years later, the burned out structure was razed for downtown redevelopment.
Contributed by
Alan Lapp
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
This theater was at one time the Columbia and a Link Theatre Organ was installed in a Columbia Theatre in Buffalo in 1924.
“Gee Dad, it was a Link!”
Lost Memory-that’s why I wrote “a” Columbia Theater. I wasn’t sure. It’s the missing LINK! Sorry I had to add that.
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.
Phone number 1960: WAshington 4588
Two underpaid immigrants pushed said organ back and forth between theatres for each performance.
2,600 pipes back and forth?
This opened as a penny arcade in 1907 by Rudolph Wagner per:
Also posted the grand opening ad as Keith’s Columbia from December 30th, 1911