Wehrle Outdoor Theatre
6707 Transit Road,
Williamsville,
NY
14221
6707 Transit Road,
Williamsville,
NY
14221
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Jo-Mor Theatres
Previous Names: Wehrle Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Wehrle Drive-In was located at 6707 Transit Road, Wehrle in Williamsville, NY, a suburb of Buffalo. (it was originally listed as being located in Lancaster, NY). It was built for Sarke Stephen of Stephen Amusement Co. Buffalo by contractor A.W. Stancl and later operated by Ed Bebko. It had a ‘soft’ opening' on April 2, 1955, with an ‘official’ grand opening on May 4, 1955 with Rex Harrison in “King Richard and the Crusaders” & Walter Brooke in “Conquest of Space”. There was one screen with a capacity for 800-cars. By 1970 it was operated by the Rochester, NY Jo-Mor Theatres chain and renamed Wehrle Outdoor Theatre. The final season was in 1986.
Currently Regal Cinemas Transit Center 18 & IMAX operates from this location (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures).
Contributed by
Robert Lackemeyer
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Yes, your’re correct. Sorry for the typo.
Even when you sound it out and then spell it correctly, Wehrle somehow still looks wrong.
Phone number 1960: SPring 6475
Wow, remember going as a kid, in my pajamas lol. And, playing on the swings in my pajamas before the movie starting. Started getting run down way before we moved away and they started running “questionable” movies, lol.
Ben & his army of rats,Andromeda strain,Planet of the apes,three I remember from the early 70’s as a kid @ Wehrle,we lived by Transit & Maple.Going in was sunny(dusk) going out was half asleep,totally dark & the rocks crunching under the wheels.We never got to go on the slide & swings : ( but we wore pajamas : )
Soft opening on 2/4/1955. Offical grand opening on 4/5/1955 with “King Richard & the Crusaders” and “Conquest of space”. Closed in 1986. Demolished(date unknown?). The site is now Regal Cinemas Transit Center 18 and IMAX.
Why the name Wehrle?
Wehrie Drive is the name of the street that runs along the north side of the drive-in. Perhaps that is where it got its name.
Here’s the note on the name/ownership change.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 24, 1966: “Speaking editorially in its current edition, the Amherst Bee says: "With the announcement that the Wehrle Drive-In Theatre at Transit Road and Wehrle Drive is under new management, residents of the area have high hopes that a better class of pictures will be shown, and the actions of many of the younger viewers will be improved.” The new management has changed the name too. It is now the Wehrle Outdoor Theatre and is being remodeled for the convenience and comfort of patrons … The Wehrle recently was leased by John Martina and Morris Slotnick of Jo-Mor Enterprises, Inc., Rochester, and Herbert Slotnick, Syracuse."