Capitol Theatre
313 Central Avenue,
Dunkirk,
NY
14048
313 Central Avenue,
Dunkirk,
NY
14048
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 35 of 35 comments
Craig: I grew up in Chautauqua County NY and though I don’t recall the Capitol nor the Regent as I didn’t grow up in the City of Dunkirk I did notice the Regent last summer and even talked with a lady who works in the office at the nearby Catholic church who owns the building and used it as a storage building. My hometown theatre was the former art deco Grand in Westfield and just recently learned about the former Geitner Theatre in Silver Creek. I’ve been in touch with a Geitner family member who now lives in Oil City PA though there are Geitners still in western NYS. I’ve tried to make contact with a couple of the Geitners there, but to no avail.
I remember it well…..standing in line along Central Avenue waiting to get to the ticket booth…..to gain entry; for a moment where life made way for fantasy, and in some cases, a look into our future. She fell victim to a rain storm in 1968 and was not just another random victim of th the wrecking ball. The Regent still stands only as a shadow of what once shown bright eyes, light and laughter……Dunkirk is now such a sad place…..thank God for our memories….
I am too young to remember the Capitol. I was 5 in ‘68. All I have are stale third hand memories from Bill Tallman’s (he used to work at the Hobby Shop in Fredonia) mother the one day I chatted with her in 1984. I haven’t seen Bill since the Hobby Shop closed 1995ish. Sorry.
lostmemory: The Capitol is definitely gone and is another parking lot due to urban renewal! The nearby Regent is still standing, but isn’t a theatre anymore as the marquee is off the building only to leave the rusting metal where it once hung so proudly at night with its colored neon and twinkling lights! I wish the person responsible for contributing the Capitol, Paul Somerfeldt would post his memories, too.
lostmemory: I read the same bit of information, but do plan to go see where this theatre once stood in Dunkirk NY. Even though I grew up in the immediate area I don’t recall going to any of the area theatres except the art deco one in my hometown.
lostmemory: I just read the theater description and see that the theater is another parking lot and the direct result of “urban renewal” along with the Regent. Sure would like to see an old photo of the Regent, too.
lostmemory: Thanks for the Capitol Theater photo as I will check out that location next week since it’s close.
Thanks Don for your updated information! I was not aware that The Winter Garden is now the Opera House in Fredonia though I have been inside the opera house to see a production 3 years ago. There was a Winter Garden in Jamestown that is gone, but the Reg Lenna is restored which was formerly the Palace then the Dipson Theatre before it was renamed the Reg Lenna Civic Center. I feel the words ‘civic center’ should be dropped, but that’s just my opinion! Mr. Reginald Lenna gave a large donation to. I believe, the local arts council that helped restore the Reg!
Actually, the Capitol was razed after the roof collapsed in a major rain storm. The building was virtually destroyed, as was the building next door, which housed “The Safe Store”. The Regent, around the corner on 3rd Street, was a victim of urban renewal. Both of these theaters, as well as The Wintergarden (Now restored as the 1891 Fredonia Opera House) were operated by the same chain,(Burgett? Burgess?) Theaters. All three were managed by Mr talman when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s
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!