Spotlight Theater of Warsaw
23 S. Main Street,
Warsaw,
NY
14569
23 S. Main Street,
Warsaw,
NY
14569
1 person
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Showing 51 - 75 of 81 comments
I’ve heard that the owner, Paul Penner, is thinking about renting The Stage for film showings or other events. No offers were made to the realty company in the past year for the property.
That’s a great photo on the Box Office magazine cover. The maroon glass panels that covered the front of the building were removed during the remodeling in the 60’s. But, there is still a row of them left above your head as you stand in front of the doors.
A photo of the Farman Theatre appeared on the cover of Boxoffice magazine, January 6, 1951:
View link
The Colvin theatre in Buffalo, NY also had an apartment where the theatre manager lived.
The Fox theatre in Atlanta had a full apartment as did the Miller Theatre in Augusta with a beautiful large fireplace.
Now thats cool an apartment above the theatre I wish they had had them were I worked, I would still be in the business.
The Stage is up for sale again by the Bid-N-Buy Realty company. There are a lot of photos of the theatre inside and out at www.picturesofthisproperty.com A complete offset print shop was donated to The Stage and placed in the basement. It was to be used for printing the programs and posters. The apartment above the lobby, where the former owner lived, was to be made into office space and dressing rooms.
Here is another 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ykhkr7r
jaybird21: Thanks for the closing information and I’m still trying to learn if DeAngelis is still living.
The Stage closed the end of November because of funding problems.
hlsc: Thanks for the above link as I have now sent them an email in regards to my hometown theatre and this one having been designed by the same architect, Michael DeAngelis. I have heard that DeAngelis may still be living though have not been able to confirm this and hope that someone can for me on CT.
Here is a link to the present operator of the Theater
www.wnypc.us
Lost: THANKS! I found it and am thrilled to learn more about this theatre architect who is forever responsible for designing my hometown theatre…unfortunately he is gone and so is my hometown art deco theatre! Of the 10 DeAngelis theatres listed on CT I think only 2 have been demolished.
The Oscar Glas murals sound intriguing!
Lost: It does seem that this theatre will be renovated and not restored though both are far better than demolished.
I know that Michael DeAngelis is listed on CT as building 10 theatres so it is fascinating to compare the similar theatre styles.
Lost: Great photo showing the curved marquee that is very similar to the one that was on my hometown theatre marquee.
Penner: Any further information you can give me on Michael DeAngelis, architect would be greatly appreciated as I am researching my hometown theatre, the Grand in Westfield NY for a local project though not to rebuild the Grand, unfortunately unless a group of us hits the lottery!
Lost: Ironic that you added this theatre and it turns out to be a Michael DeAngelis designed theatre! Great minds think alike!
I am also looking to contact Lynda Wilson Smith as I have aa large oil painting done by Oscar Glas of two children signed and dated 1938. I am wondering if the subjects are her or family members. Can anyone help?
Bruce
It was Frank’s passion for the Warsaw Cinema that kept its doors open. Even Frank’s passion couldn’t keep the Warsaw’s doors open very often. Frank’s age, health problems, dwindling crowds, forced the Warsaw into becoming weekend theatre. Memory tells me there were only 3 screenings per week: Fri eve., Sat eve, and Sun. mat. When I first met Frank, close to fifteen years ago, he had been diagnosed with some medical issues so we discussed his possible sale of the theatre. We also exchanged stories about theatres and our passion for them.
I’m looking forward to attending The Warsaw when it re-opens.
Here’s some more information to fill in in the header above:
Style: Art Deco
Seats: ~500
Chain: Independent
Firm: DeAngelis headed up his own firm; I don’t know what name it had.
No. That is the name of the organization. The theater will have its own name. We are aiming at multiple venues eventually, each with its own name.
Will the theatre be known as the WNY Performance Center?
Sorry, I got the architect’s name wrong. It is Michael J. DeAngelis. He also designed the strand in Brockport which is still open.
This theater has experienced a number of incarnations:
1) The Farman Theater was originally built as a live performance venue predating the movie era.
2) In 1944-45, it was gutted down to the walls and rebuilt as a movie theater designed by architect Michael D'Angelo (who also designed theaters in Batavia and Mt. Morris, NY among others). At this time, it retained the name Farman Theater.
3) In 1968, the building was purchased by Frank R. Versage and continued to run as a movie theater under the name Warsaw Cinema.
4) In 2008, the building was purchased by WNY Performance Center, Inc., a not-for-profit organization and is currently being refitted for live performance once again.