Forum Theater
812 Nichols Street,
Utica,
NY
13501
812 Nichols Street,
Utica,
NY
13501
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Buckley Theater, Colonia Theater, Rialto Theater
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Originally opened as the Buckley Theater in 1914. On July 13, 1915 it was renovated and reopened as the Colonia Theater. The Rialto Theater name dates back to at least 1930. The Rialto Theater is still listed in the 1955 Film Daily Yearbook with 870 seats.
Following a remodel, on December 20, 1967 it was renamed Forum Theater, screening Spencer Tracy in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”. From 1971 it operated as an adult movie theatre. It was closed on April 4, 1976.
Contributed by
Ken Roe, Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The Rialto was originally called the Colonia and opened before WW1.
I was relief projectionist there starting in 1966, The main guy was Leo Buskey who was the last living charter member of local 337 IATSE.
The Rialto closed in late 1967. It was bought by Panther Theatres, the successor to Schine. They completely remodeled it, renamed it the Forum and reopened in January 1968 with “Guess who’s Coming to Dinner”.
The Forum ended as a porn house and closed in the mid 1970’s.
This house became the Colonia in 1915, but it had the earlier aka of Buckley Theatre. This item is from the July 31, 1915 issue of Moving Picture World: “UTICA, N. Y.—The Utica Hippodrome Amusement Company has taken over the Bulkley [sic] theater located at the corner of Lansing and Nicholas [sic] streets. The structure will be completely renovated and have seating capacity for 800 persons.”
The August 7, 1915 MPW had this update: “THE Colonia theater, at Lansing and Nichols streets, Utica, N. T., has been extensively remodeled and reopened. The Colonia, formerly the Buckley, is owned by the Hippodrome Amusement Co. and is managed by Peter Karl, vice-president of the concern. The house has been made cozy and beautiful. The other improvements include a new ventilating system. High class moving pictures are featured at the Colonia.”
The Buckley Theatre is not listed in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory, but is listed in the Polk company’s 1914 Utica directory, so the AMPD probably just missed it.
Converted to adult movies in 1971 and “closed due 2 unjust harass by city officials” on April 4th, 1976. Articles posted.
It was renamed Forum on December 20th, 1967.