Cattaraugus County Center For the Performing Arts
10 Main Street,
Salamanca,
NY
14779
10 Main Street,
Salamanca,
NY
14779
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The Seneca Theatre opened on Thursday August 27, 1942 with “Take A Letter Darling” starring Rosalind Russell and Fred McMurray. One of several opening articles with photo has been uploaded to the photo section.
The Bradford, PA Era has a photo of the main street of Salamanca during the flooding from Hurricane Agnes on the front page of its June 24,1972issue. The marquee of the Seneca Theater is visible and was showing “Diamonds are Forever” and “Hang ‘Em High.” If it is true that the theater never reopened after the flood (as stated above in the overview), this was the last booking there.
The October 10, 1941, issue of The Film Daily says that John and Drew Eberson designed the new theater being built at Salamanca for the Schine circuit:
I still don’t know why this project is missing from the Wolfsonian’s Eberson Archive.While the John and Drew Eberson Architectural Records from the Wolfsonian Library lists five theaters that John Eberson designed for the Schine circuit, the Seneca Theatre is not among them. In fact, Salamanca is not mentioned in the records at all. I wonder if the theater is just missing from the Wolfsonian’s archive, or if it has been mis-attributed to the Ebersons?
From the 1950s a photo postcard image of Seneca in Salamanca.
Any interior photos?
Now thats quite a long name for a theatre.
Patsy: Later in his life and practice, father and son often joined forces to work on projects. There are quite a few theaters that list both John and Drew as the architects of record.
I have visited it as it was part of the Schine Theater Chain and it really is a lovely little place. It has been quite altered inside due to a couple of floodings and to create more servicable areas to meet the theaters needs. But the facade and marquee are still quite nice and they have started a “Walk of Fame” in front of the theater. Of course Ray Evans is the first and biggest star!
Ray Evans, the songwriter of such enduring standards as “Mona Lisaâ€, “Silver Bellsâ€, “Que Sera, Sera†and “Buttons and Bows,†was born in Salamanca, New York on February 4, 1915.
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This theatre was also known as the Ray Evans Theatre as he was Salamanca and wrote Silver Bells.
On Cinema Tour this theatre is listed and the architects are mentioned as being John Eberson AND Drew Eberson. Can anyone verify this? Also on Cinema Tour it lists the theatre as seating 1150 and built in 1942. Also on Cinema Tour a Cattaraugus Theatre in listed in Cattaraugus NY (14 Washington) that is now closed.
Patsy: I’ve only been to Cattaraugus a couple of times in my life so I dont know when they ended. Sorry
David Chapman: Thanks for your memories. Do you know when the theatre days ended in Cattaraugus?
My grandfather Alden Lundergan was the projectionist until I believe 1969. I remember him taking me upstairs to the booth sometimes when he worked. Dolores Rettburg was the lady in the ticket window inside. Those days seem so far away.
I’ve just been told that in Cattaraugus New York there was a Cattaraugus Theatre. This theatre is listed on Cinema Tour as being closed. Does anyone have any additional information?
This theatre is less than 50 miles from the Reg Lenna Theatre in Jamestown NY and the Reg is listed on this theatre website.
The correct spelling is Cattaraugus County, not Cattaragus County. The theatre is also now sometimes known as the Cattaraugus County Living Arts Center.
The Seneca Theatre is located at 10 Main Street and it seated 1272 people when it was a movie theatre.