Empire Theater

468-472 S. Salina Street,
Syracuse, NY 13202

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 21, 2014 at 4:51 am

A two-page article about the 1940 remodeling of the Empire Theatre appears in the April 27 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review. Here is a scan from the Internet Archive. There are photos from before and after the streamlining designed by architect Michael J. DeAngelis.

As much as I like DeAngelis’s work, I must say that in this case I wish he’d left more of the original detail in place. Tabor & Baxter’s design had some very nice features.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 12, 2013 at 12:47 am

My notes say that the Crescent Theatre operated at 451 S. Salina Street from 1909 to 1928. It was built and originally operated by the Cahill brothers. In 1916 it became part of the Keith vaudeville circuit for a while. A Marr & Colton organ was installed in 1920.

TivFan
TivFan on February 11, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Does anybody know anything about the Crescent Theatre on South Salina Street? I have an old postcard of this street showing the Empire Theatre and directly across the street is the Crescent. This card is not dated, but it is very early (c.1920?). The Empire is shown with a horizontal sign, over a canopy which extends to the edge of the sidewalk. Another 1950’s card shows the Empire, but it appears the Crescent building has been replaced.

Patsy
Patsy on February 11, 2013 at 6:11 pm

After reading about this theatre on the above boxofficemagazine link I have come to realize that De Angelis was truly ahead of his time! As was another famous and well known architect….Frank Lloyd Wright.

sdgruber
sdgruber on June 22, 2012 at 4:58 am

Wellington W. Taber and George W. Baxter were active architects in Syracuse at the turn of the 20th century. I’m presently compiling a list of their bldgs. Here is a useful obit for Baxter, who is the lesser known of the two.

George W. Baxter (1851-1917)

[from: http://www.cuddebackfamily.org/genealogy/descendants/cfic201.htm]

Syracuse Journal (Syracuse, NY), 13 June 1917. “The funeral of George Washington Baxter, 66, a member of the architectural and engineering firm of Taber & Baxter, who died suddenly Tuesday night at his home, 104 McLennan av., will be held from there Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock with Masonic services at the grave in Oakwood Cemetery.

He was in his usual health last evening when he returned home from his office, where he had been all day. He was entering his bedroom about 9 o'clock when he was stricken. Dr. Allen Cone was summoned, but Mr. Baxter was beyond aid at the arrival of the physician. Mr. Baxter was born in Brooklyn in 1851, and came to this city when he was 20 years of age, going into the salt business. Several years later he was engaged in architecture and opened an office under the name of Baxter & Buell.

After Mr. Buell’s death he entered the employ of the Solvay Process Company, where he worked for several years. Then he entered into partnership with Wellington W. Taber. He was a member of Central City Lodge, No. 305, F. and A. M., and the Citizens Club. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Eva Beecher Baxter; a son. Robert A. Baxter; one daughter, Mrs. James L. Crabtree; four grandchildren, Donald B. Baxter, William B. Crabtree, Eva Crabtree and John P. Baxter; three brothers and a sister."

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 1, 2012 at 5:30 am

The July 16, 1910, issue of The American Contractor said that construction contracts had been let for a 7-storey office building and theater on South Salina Street in Syracuse. This had to have been the Empire Theatre.

The item said that the architects and engineers for the project were Taber & Baxter. I’ve found references to architect Wellington W. Taber, but haven’t found Mr. Baxter’s full name, or discovered if he was also an architect or was the engineer with the firm.

robboehm
robboehm on October 10, 2010 at 3:41 am

Then please excercise it. This has been going on since June.

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on October 9, 2010 at 11:16 am

Your words are still up there for all to read rvb. You insinuated that I submitted a contrived theater posting. Unfortunately for you I make posting submissions in accordance with Cinema Treasure’s guidelines and not your personal preferences. If you have a problem with that why don’t you take it up with them or shut up. Personally I like the shut up option best.

Don…

robboehm
robboehm on October 8, 2010 at 2:32 pm

Pardon me but I did no such thing. My original comment concerned that fact that three individuals took credit for a posting which only had a theatre name, the city and the state. Then, within days there was a link to a postcard image of the theatre. My presumption being that the postcard was the original triggering event in which case at least the street name, if not the actual address could have been established from square one since there was another theatre image on the postcard and that theatre was already on CT. The rest, as we see is being gradually fleshed out. But this discussion on my original comment seems to never end. I deliberately avoided responding to Joe’s recent comment hoping we’d get on with the business of updating the site and not resorting to personalities.
Billy apologized to me, above, for a comment he had made, I believe you also owe me one.

Karen Colizzi Noonan
Karen Colizzi Noonan on October 7, 2010 at 1:11 pm

And of course I must add that this was part of the Schine Chain, at one time!
: )

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 27, 2010 at 4:41 am

CWalczak is right. Had Billy, Don, and Billy not submitted this theater I would not have come across it while I was actually looking for another Syracuse theater. The listing provided a starting point for my research. I might never have found out that the theater even existed had it not already been listed here.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 26, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Aside from the occasional negativity in a few of the remarks above, this page is an example of how a more complete and robust portrait of a theater can emerge through the collective contributions of an online community. I tried to point this out on another theater page recently.

Someone could have waded through old directories, newspapers, FDYs and held off entering this theater until a thorough, cross-verified statement about it could have been posted. That is a traditional and admirable procedure, and if that is the way a poster wants to proceed, I think that is fine. On the other hand, many pages here on CT have started from very bare-bones, perhaps even partially inaccurate, entries based on incomplete or hazy memories or on other sources of varying dependability about a theater. Then over time, with people adding their individual bits, respectful corrections, etc. a more compelling narrative emerges. This procedure is probably more time-consuming and even a bit ragged at times, but is also more social and conducive to community-building. My point is that there is more than one route to an accurate portrait.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 26, 2010 at 8:03 pm

The Postcard showing the name DeWitt on the vertical sign must be from 1932, as the movie “This Is the Night” (Cary Grant’s feature film debut) is on the Paramount’s marquee.

robboehm
robboehm on July 9, 2010 at 5:25 am

Apology accepted. Sometimes, depending upon the locale, old phone books can be a help to at least give a time span on when a space was open. But when you go after some of the real oldies, they didn’t even have the actual “house” number. You have to be really creative and no two municipalities seem to have the same bureacracy. Once in a while you can get lucky if the local fire department issues certificates of occupancy. Then you get the address and the capacity.

millsbranch
millsbranch on July 8, 2010 at 7:16 pm

The way to find an address is quiet exoensiveI should Know_ I have
spent a lot contacting libraries & historic museums, which charge a healthy sum to go thru old city directories to give an address, if they have old city directories, which many don’t.
I have addresses to all the pictures of theaters that are dear to me.
Others, you will just have to go thru the same process—Too Expensive
Billy Holcomb-AKA: Panhandle.
I am also sorry for taking an undue shot at you..I Apologize.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on July 8, 2010 at 6:36 pm

We all love theaters,some of us worked them,so lets all be friends.

robboehm
robboehm on July 8, 2010 at 6:09 pm

Panhandle – I questioned Don about the background of the theatre because all he put up (with two other individuals) was the name of the theatre, the city and state. I never had the postcard which he was then able to add after he established the theatre. Fine, good sequence of events. But, it is apparent that, since he had the postcard, he, at least, had the street on which the theatre was located, if not the actual address at the time the theatre was added. If I had seen a street name I wouldn’t have made any comment. I don’t see that as a cause for name calling.

millsbranch
millsbranch on July 8, 2010 at 3:44 pm

Mike thanks for your encouraging words to Don instead of hitting him with more than what he has to offer.
He offers what he has, and that is not enough for those who never spend hours digging for the small bit of info which is rarely available after weeks of labor.
Again thanks for encouraging Don with your kind words..
Billy Holcomb

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on July 8, 2010 at 2:42 pm

Don,I try to submit Theatres and would love to add much more like you guys would,but sometimes you just don’t have the info.Getting the theatre is the big part hopefully CT members in that city will complete what you present.

millsbranch
millsbranch on July 8, 2010 at 2:26 pm

I am not an expert, but I am a collector of old post cards of oldtime movie theaters.
3 people who do not claim to be the smartest in the world, but enjoy sharing what we do have and know, which is not evrything, and in some things hardly nothing.
If you rvb are so smart.
Why didn’t you post the picture, and give us the history.
Bet I had the picture, before you were born.
Incidently, I had the picture because I enjoy the pictures, which
seems to be much more than what you have.
If you know so much use your 4th place to give ebyone the lowdown.
If it had not been posted by Don, You would never had an oportunity to mouth off—You are like so many idiot experts

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on June 29, 2010 at 10:57 pm

From the 1920s a picture postcard view of the Demitt and Paramount Theaters in Syracuse.

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on June 29, 2010 at 10:51 pm

Oh boy just what we need on C/T another smart ass know it all.

Keep it up and they will pull your plug. I’m not going to dignify your rambling, critical and uninformed statement with a response, but I will say I resent what you are implying. Whatever your problem is you need to take it up with the C/T editors.

Don Lewis…

robboehm
robboehm on June 29, 2010 at 6:42 pm

My point would be if there are three people I would have hoped they had more than a name, a city and a state. How did you come to know about it, if it were personal you and your compadres should have first hand info. There are a number of sites which were established with just about the same basic information but the following blurb gave a little more insight into it. Then they say more info is needed. In my opinion more info was needed before this was established. For example, in my memory there was a theatre in an east end community. I’m 100% of this but until I have some confirmation I’m not going to put it up. I’m going to the library, old newspapers, the historical society or whatever until I have one tangible piece of corroborating evidence.

There is an outdoor theatre called the Casino listed as being on Shelter Island, NY listed on CT. I have been trying to nail this one down but the historical society and the library have no knowledge of it. So where did the idea for the original posting come from since the theatre was supposed to have been destroyed in a hurricane almost 70 years ago and CT has only been around for a relatively short period of time. The legal term would be heresay.

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on June 29, 2010 at 5:58 pm

You’re pardoned and you point would be…..

robboehm
robboehm on June 25, 2010 at 6:52 pm

Pardon me but something has got to be wrong here. All we have is the name of the theatre, the city and state. Yet three people’s names are given as having submitted this.