Reg Lenna Civic Center

List of Owners: 1930-1935 Schine Circuit 1935-1950 Warner Brothers Circuit 1945-1955 Shea’s Theatres 1955-1975 Dipson Circuit 1975-1980 Cinemette Corporation of America 1980-1981 Dipson Circuit

Correction: The second link should be

View link

LuisV: The citizens of Jamestown are very fortunate to have restored “the Reg” downtown and it would be nice to see “the other” theatre downtown restored….the Winter Garden.

This is a special theatre and one that was saved by the late Reginald Lenna and his generous contribution. Thanks Reg.

I’m posting some links to inside photos of the Wintergarden on its page today.

The Wintergarden at one point was the jewel of the theatres in Jamestown. We had a total of seven theatres in downtown Jamestown. The Wintergarden was (is) located on North Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets. As a theatre geek, I worked there in the early 80’s and yes it was in bad shape then.

In the early 60’s there was a fire that gutted the Wintergaden pretty badly. When the theatre was restored, half the balconcy was removed, and the house was simply painted, none of the ornate features were restored. The stage and pit were also removed at this time.

There is a small space under the screen where these is some storage space for the marquee letters. Now here is a trivia fact the marquee for the Wintergarden was large enough to accomidate seven rows of letters. It was a real scary thing climbing a latter and changing them, especially on the downward (the side facing Third street) as it was on a hill. In the winter it was not uncommon to see only two lines on that side of the marquee.

It is true that in its last few years of life it was in bad shape. The original red neon block two level Winter Garden sign was half out, the neon inside the marquee was dead, they even went so far as to install for spots lights to shine on the marquee. The underside of the marquee had neon that had also been removed, and the original box-office covered.

The WinterGarden died a most horrible death for a grand old lady, and today sits empty.

BTW- the seven theatres downtown? The Roosevelt, Strand, Royal, & majstic – all were in Brooklyn Square, distroyed in the early 70’s – I have no memory of them. The Palace (now the Reg Civic Center, The Allen Opera House (then Sheas Theatre and now the home of the Lucille Ball Little Theatre)

I am looking for old photos of any and all of the old theatres of my hometown, or just great old stories for my personal website (Remember I am a theatre geek) If you have them, contact me at , or post them to me via my website www.samanthakitty.com I have opened 12 “New Grand Mega-plexes” for my employer over the years, but there is “Nothing like a dame” ..

TC: The link that you provided on Aug. 26 talks about a Marr & Colton pipe organ that was in this theatre…..“Reports place it in an upstate theater, where it is still in working order.”

The Reg Lenna is not atmospheric, but perhaps prior to renovation it had this unique ceiling design. I wish it still had its original organ or an organ, period! I think it once had an orchestra pit, but not sure.

Newspaper articles from the opening and 60th anniversary (be sure to click all links at the top):
View link

PS The Wintergarden has been recently posted on CT.

Kevin: Email me at as I’d like to tell you about the Jamestown Forum where I have posted your Wintergarden Theatre remarks for past and present Jamestown residents to read and comment on.

The Wintergarden still stands between third and forth streets in Jamestown. I don’t recall the exact cross steet it is on.

The Wintergarden never was as grand as the Palace.

I remember seeing movies in the Wintergarden as a kid in the sixties.
I don’t remember much of my impression of it as a kid, except for the fact that it was in sad condition even then.

I don’t think it is used for anything now. It appears to be abandoned and standing idle. Boarded up doors, etc.

The facade is (and ever was) unimpressive.
There are some large second story windows (facing the cross street) which are now painted over in an olive drab.

As I remember from my youth, the large second story windows illuminated a mezzanine/lobby/foyer leading to the balcony.
But I could be wrong about that.
It’s been almost forty years since I last set foot in the Wintergarden.

I saw My first Movies there when I was in 4th or 5th grade. The Shaggy Dog and The Absent Minder Professor. I live in a 3 appartment house that summer while My Parents had a new house built and the Neighbor Lady took My Sister and Myself and Her Kids to see the Movies. She made up bags of goodies to eat and it must be You could take Your own food in back then. I have been there since it became the Reg Lenna Civic Center with Kids School. Reg Lenna was My Dads Company He worked for’s Owner and A great guy. I never got to see Jamestowns other Theater, The Wintergarden.