Richard G: I wasn’t aware that the theatre in Angola went by the name NEW Angola Theatre so wasn’t able to find it until I started doing through the entire NY list as there are over 1,000 listed, but my interest falls with the ones in western New York State, primarily.
Under the photo that is found on the pbase.com site it reads “This theater has been converted to an indoor swimming pool; there is very little on the inside to suggest that it was ever a theater. The staff are warm and welcoming, and are eager to show anyone around.” I’m sure this is very true, but those of us who have studied former theatres can tell that the doors to this indoor swimming pool are most definitely signs of it being a former theatre and a big tip off to that fact!
Just found this theatre while looking for all Buffalo NY and surrounding town theatres. I was not aware that Dunkirk had a theatre and was sad to read that it is now another parking lot that “still stands today”. The ignorance!
Ok, I will try to get a chandelier verification for you! Is the Bailey Theatre listed on this site? I’ve seen several Buffalo theatres listed that have been closed and demolished so only a handful still exist, I guess.
Richard G: I found your post on the Palace Theatre/Hamburg NY ‘page'so any further 'chat’ about the Grand should go on this ‘page'I guess…that way I won’t miss any of your additional and interesting thoughts. All information that I gather helps put the pieces of the 'Grand’ puzzle together. Thanks so very much.
I did read your post on some other theatre ‘page’ and recall you giving me the Dietner name and other bits of information. Could you elaborate on the ‘Grand’ tour you took? The when, who, what, where and how of it? :–)
Thanks for your comments as I figured it was heavily Jesus-based which is fine except that it sounds “too heavy handed for the setting” and in my opinion a bit “over the top” so will think twice about going to see the show mext season now! Is it me or is Christmas and the holiday season in general just not what it used to be? I mean in reference to all of this talk about saying Merry Christmas over Happy Holidays, etc. It was a more simple time back in the 50’s, I think…now everyone’s remark is examined and disected! The holidays seem to fly by and maybe that’s a good thing! :–(
Sam_e: You took the words right out of my mouth….“I’m curious to know just what the ‘message’ is”! I know when we lived in FL and would attend the First Baptist Singing Christmas Tree it was and still is close to 3 hours in length. The reason being the program is done in 2 parts with an intermission. The first half is Toyland and Santa etc. and the second half is very secular with the entire story of Jesus, from birth to death on the cross…complete with the pounding of Jesus to the cross. I know that it scares some children and feel that the Easter story should NOT be a part of the Christmas story, but that’s only my humble opinion. Our friends would ask us what we thought each year and I was never one to hold back my opinion though we usually went each year knowing full well that the format would probably remain the same.
Richard G: Thanks so very much for your ‘grand’ information, but I want to be sure we’re talking about the same Grand Theatre as many were named that…..the one I’m referring to is in Westfield NY on Route 20. A friend of mine who has sent me some b/w photos of the Grand and a few newspaper articles mentions the last owner being a Theodore Blakley of Erie PA, but the name Deitner is not mentioned. You mentioned the Angola Drive-In, but are you aware of the restored theatre in Angola? Hamburg friends of ours took us there one day 2 summers ago. You also mentioned the Drive-In Theatre Motel so I assume you are referring to the one by that name that was also in Westfield. If your tour was inside the Westfield Grand, I would love chatting with you more about this visit…how it occurred, what more you may recall, etc.? It was art deco in style and set on the corner of Main and N. Portage Streets. The candy counter was on the left as you walked in and you could see the screen from that vantage point. It had a particular smell upon entering the theatre that wasn’t bad just a memory that I hold dear, now and the floor between the rows, not the carpeted aisle was usually sticky from spilled pop! My longtime girlfriend and I went to see our first movie
together there and it saw Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson and Doris Day! I plan to meet with the last manager of the theatre in May and also meet with a man who was involved with the demolition committee. If you go to My Profile, you’ll find my email address for further discussion of this theatre. BTW, I plan to visit the Riveria Theater in N. Tonawanda NY this coming summer also as that theatre still gives organ concerts!
CConnolly: I never thought that I’d get such response from fellow theatre buffs about the present RCMH Christmas Spectacular which I guess isn’t so ‘spectacular’ anymore. If I ever got the chance to see it though, I’d at least go just to see the beautifully restored hall and those wonderful Rockettes. I always sit and watch them in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…it’s not the beginning of the holidays for me until I see the ‘old world’ Santa and those Rockettes…then and only then does the turkey get put in the oven! If you’re in NYC, walk by the Christmas windows for me on 5th Avenue. My favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas, but a close second is Miracle on 42nd Street with Natalie Wood. Who played Santa in that movie and Natalie’s parents? Didn’t Maureen O'Hara play her mother?
I have a RCMH story to relay. My husband and I were visiting friends on Long Island the year before 9/11 and our friends decided to take us into Manhattan. We toured the World Trade Center on an overcast day (will now always remember our special visit one year before tragedy struck our nation). We later entered the lobby of RCMH. I saw there was a line and figured it was for the Christmas Spectacular which it probably was, but the line was probably also for folks wanting to take the RCMH tour which is available on Sundays (the day we were there)! Our hosts didn’t think to ask for us and so we left. On the way home the next day I was looking through my Fodor book on NYC and read that tours are available at RCMH on Sundays! :–((((
Ok, have found the RCMH site and now have it among my favorites…don’t we all! So I will now read what has been written about this wonderful theatre which such history in the Big Apple! Thanks Vincent and others!
Vincent: Thanks so much for your honesty in regards to segments other than the Rockettes. I’m sure you are probably right about the Nativity scene and it looking like it was produced by a “midwestern Christian Fundamentalist”. LOL! Times have certainly changed and not for the better, it seems. Enlighten me on who Leonidoff was in connection to RCMH. Thanks. And where do I find this “Hall” page? Would your comments in regards to the RCMH be on the Cinema Treasures page of listed architects?
I would imagine anyone posting on the old Zieg is probably from NYC or living in the NYC area so if anyone can give me their personal RCMH thoughts including the Christmas Spectacular that would be great! Thanks. :–)
Dave-Bronx: I have to ask you….since you live in the Bronx-NYC have you ever gone to see the RCMH Christmas Spectacular? I’m still waiting to go someday even though it may not be at RCMH. It came to the Shea’s in Buffalo this year, but I wasn’t able to attend. :–( RCMH has to be right up there with some of the most spectacular movie palaces in the country. I can say, though, that I’ve seen the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA. It is an ‘atmospheric’ theatre with an organ as so many of today’s theatre’s don’t have their original organs or any organ! :–(
And I hope to see a movie at the New Angola Theatre in ‘05!
Richard G: I wasn’t aware that the theatre in Angola went by the name NEW Angola Theatre so wasn’t able to find it until I started doing through the entire NY list as there are over 1,000 listed, but my interest falls with the ones in western New York State, primarily.
Yes, the New Angola Theatre is the Claddagh Commission and I proudly know the folks who started Claddagh!
Under the photo that is found on the pbase.com site it reads “This theater has been converted to an indoor swimming pool; there is very little on the inside to suggest that it was ever a theater. The staff are warm and welcoming, and are eager to show anyone around.” I’m sure this is very true, but those of us who have studied former theatres can tell that the doors to this indoor swimming pool are most definitely signs of it being a former theatre and a big tip off to that fact!
This theatre is less than 50 miles from the Reg Lenna Theatre in Jamestown NY and the Reg is listed on this theatre website.
Just found this theatre while looking for all Buffalo NY and surrounding town theatres. I was not aware that Dunkirk had a theatre and was sad to read that it is now another parking lot that “still stands today”. The ignorance!
Bryan: When I clicked on the word ‘here’ I found the site entitled Buffalo’s Forgotten Theaters. Thank you!
Lost Memory: Thanks for the photo website as I just looked at it. I’ve been looking to see what other Buffalo theatres existed years ago.
Ok, I will try to get a chandelier verification for you! Is the Bailey Theatre listed on this site? I’ve seen several Buffalo theatres listed that have been closed and demolished so only a handful still exist, I guess.
Richard G: This is where I read your ‘Grand’ post which talks about your tour of the theatre which does interest me!
Richard G: I found your post on the Palace Theatre/Hamburg NY ‘page'so any further 'chat’ about the Grand should go on this ‘page'I guess…that way I won’t miss any of your additional and interesting thoughts. All information that I gather helps put the pieces of the 'Grand’ puzzle together. Thanks so very much.
I did read your post on some other theatre ‘page’ and recall you giving me the Dietner name and other bits of information. Could you elaborate on the ‘Grand’ tour you took? The when, who, what, where and how of it? :–)
Thanks for your comments as I figured it was heavily Jesus-based which is fine except that it sounds “too heavy handed for the setting” and in my opinion a bit “over the top” so will think twice about going to see the show mext season now! Is it me or is Christmas and the holiday season in general just not what it used to be? I mean in reference to all of this talk about saying Merry Christmas over Happy Holidays, etc. It was a more simple time back in the 50’s, I think…now everyone’s remark is examined and disected! The holidays seem to fly by and maybe that’s a good thing! :–(
Sam_e: You took the words right out of my mouth….“I’m curious to know just what the ‘message’ is”! I know when we lived in FL and would attend the First Baptist Singing Christmas Tree it was and still is close to 3 hours in length. The reason being the program is done in 2 parts with an intermission. The first half is Toyland and Santa etc. and the second half is very secular with the entire story of Jesus, from birth to death on the cross…complete with the pounding of Jesus to the cross. I know that it scares some children and feel that the Easter story should NOT be a part of the Christmas story, but that’s only my humble opinion. Our friends would ask us what we thought each year and I was never one to hold back my opinion though we usually went each year knowing full well that the format would probably remain the same.
Come by the RCMH site as a couple of posters have really been talking about their RCMH memories…good, bad and otherwise.
I was surprised to read that the number of Rockettes on stage has been reduced! :–(
Vincent and CC: Boy, between the 2 of you I’m learning ALOT about RCMH and the Christmas Show over the years! Thanks!
Richard G: Thanks so very much for your ‘grand’ information, but I want to be sure we’re talking about the same Grand Theatre as many were named that…..the one I’m referring to is in Westfield NY on Route 20. A friend of mine who has sent me some b/w photos of the Grand and a few newspaper articles mentions the last owner being a Theodore Blakley of Erie PA, but the name Deitner is not mentioned. You mentioned the Angola Drive-In, but are you aware of the restored theatre in Angola? Hamburg friends of ours took us there one day 2 summers ago. You also mentioned the Drive-In Theatre Motel so I assume you are referring to the one by that name that was also in Westfield. If your tour was inside the Westfield Grand, I would love chatting with you more about this visit…how it occurred, what more you may recall, etc.? It was art deco in style and set on the corner of Main and N. Portage Streets. The candy counter was on the left as you walked in and you could see the screen from that vantage point. It had a particular smell upon entering the theatre that wasn’t bad just a memory that I hold dear, now and the floor between the rows, not the carpeted aisle was usually sticky from spilled pop! My longtime girlfriend and I went to see our first movie
together there and it saw Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson and Doris Day! I plan to meet with the last manager of the theatre in May and also meet with a man who was involved with the demolition committee. If you go to My Profile, you’ll find my email address for further discussion of this theatre. BTW, I plan to visit the Riveria Theater in N. Tonawanda NY this coming summer also as that theatre still gives organ concerts!
CConnolly: Thanks for your RCMH memories! Your then 8 year old sounds like quite the lady…another Natalie Wood in “Miracle”!
CConnolly: I never thought that I’d get such response from fellow theatre buffs about the present RCMH Christmas Spectacular which I guess isn’t so ‘spectacular’ anymore. If I ever got the chance to see it though, I’d at least go just to see the beautifully restored hall and those wonderful Rockettes. I always sit and watch them in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…it’s not the beginning of the holidays for me until I see the ‘old world’ Santa and those Rockettes…then and only then does the turkey get put in the oven! If you’re in NYC, walk by the Christmas windows for me on 5th Avenue. My favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas, but a close second is Miracle on 42nd Street with Natalie Wood. Who played Santa in that movie and Natalie’s parents? Didn’t Maureen O'Hara play her mother?
I have a RCMH story to relay. My husband and I were visiting friends on Long Island the year before 9/11 and our friends decided to take us into Manhattan. We toured the World Trade Center on an overcast day (will now always remember our special visit one year before tragedy struck our nation). We later entered the lobby of RCMH. I saw there was a line and figured it was for the Christmas Spectacular which it probably was, but the line was probably also for folks wanting to take the RCMH tour which is available on Sundays (the day we were there)! Our hosts didn’t think to ask for us and so we left. On the way home the next day I was looking through my Fodor book on NYC and read that tours are available at RCMH on Sundays! :–((((
Ok, have found the RCMH site and now have it among my favorites…don’t we all! So I will now read what has been written about this wonderful theatre which such history in the Big Apple! Thanks Vincent and others!
Vincent: Thanks so much for your honesty in regards to segments other than the Rockettes. I’m sure you are probably right about the Nativity scene and it looking like it was produced by a “midwestern Christian Fundamentalist”. LOL! Times have certainly changed and not for the better, it seems. Enlighten me on who Leonidoff was in connection to RCMH. Thanks. And where do I find this “Hall” page? Would your comments in regards to the RCMH be on the Cinema Treasures page of listed architects?
I would imagine anyone posting on the old Zieg is probably from NYC or living in the NYC area so if anyone can give me their personal RCMH thoughts including the Christmas Spectacular that would be great! Thanks. :–)
Dave-Bronx: I have to ask you….since you live in the Bronx-NYC have you ever gone to see the RCMH Christmas Spectacular? I’m still waiting to go someday even though it may not be at RCMH. It came to the Shea’s in Buffalo this year, but I wasn’t able to attend. :–( RCMH has to be right up there with some of the most spectacular movie palaces in the country. I can say, though, that I’ve seen the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA. It is an ‘atmospheric’ theatre with an organ as so many of today’s theatre’s don’t have their original organs or any organ! :–(