Clemens Center
207 Clemens Center Parkway,
Elmira,
NY
14901
207 Clemens Center Parkway,
Elmira,
NY
14901
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Keeney’s Theatre opened December 21, 1925 as a vaudeville and silent movie theater. At that time it had 2,500 seats.
It was remodeled in around 1953 for the Dipson chain by architect Michael J. DeAngelis, and was known as the Elmira Theater.
Today, known as the Clemens Center, it is a performing arts center which opened around 1977. There is a history page on the Clemens Center website with more information.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
When this palace closed as a movie house, it was called the Elmira Theatre and was run by the Dipson chain. They replaced it with the Elmira 1-2-3, which opened in 1977 a block away on College St, now closed. The street in front of the original theater was widened, thus the building lost its lobby building and back part of the auditorium. A new front was placed over the wound, and the house reopened as the Clemens Center. The street was renamed Clemens Center Parkway. Entrance is now at the left of the building.
Thanks Joe. So, this theater needs another aka name of Elmira Theater.
According to Cinema Tour the Elmira Theatre architect was Michael J. Deangelis and the address was 111 College. The Elmira was remodeled around 1953 to accommodate a CinemaScope screen and new seats. If the Clemens was also known as the Elmira and the Keeney’s, then I wonder why it gives different addresses? I would love to see an exterior photo of the Clemens Center.
I just viewed an artist rendering of the Clemens Center and it can’t be what was called the Elmira Theatre at 111 College.
If I understand the comment posted by Joe Masher, there were two Elmira theaters. When the first Elmira theater (Clemens Center) closed, it was replaced with the Elmira 1-2-3 located on College Ave. Keeney’s Theater, Elmira Theater and Clemens Center are This theater. The Elmira 1-2-3 triplex is the Elmira theater on College Ave which is not listed on CT.
This website has a photo showing the Elmira Theater. Since its from the 60’s, it should be this Elmira theater.
Well, that is quite the photo and is certainly the Elmira Theater, the theater in question for so many of us! The 1950’s downtown Elmira map is neat to view, too. Thanks so very very much!
The Elmira mystery is pretty much solved, I think. :) But the Elmira triplex still needs to be listed here.
Here is a recent photo of the Clemens Center. Is this the front or the rear of the building?
The latest photo is of the front of the building. The demolished the original lobby building, and cut off the very back part of the auditorium. The photo above is the new front that was put on it. The Elmira 1-2-3 on College St. is not this theater. It is a completely separate building that opened about a block away in the 1977.