Colonial Theater
123 N. Main Street,
Elmira,
NY
14901
123 N. Main Street,
Elmira,
NY
14901
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The Colonial Theater is listed in a 1917 Elmira, NY business directory at the address given above. A Link theater organ size 2/6 was installed in the Colonial Theater in 1928. The Colonial Theater was remodeled in 1941 to the plans of architect Michael J. DeAngelis. It operated until at least 1980. If you have any further information on the Colonial Theater please post it here.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
All the operating theaters in downtown Elmira from the 60’s(maybe earlier) until their demise were owned by the Dipson chain of Batavia, NY. CinemaNational only leased the venues.
The Link theatre organ from the Colonial Theatre is for sale! Who wants to buy it?
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This is part of an October 1912 article from the NYT:
SULZER WINS ELMIRANS; A Big Crowd Enjoys His Speech Dealing with Labor Problems
ELMIRA, N.Y., Oct. 25. — Congressman Sulzer and Martin Glynn reached Elmira at 8:40 o'clock to-night in a special train from Binghamton, and were met by Mayor Sheehan, Alexander C. Eustace, and Frank Gannett. The party was escorted to the Colonial Theatre, where more than 2,000 persons had assembled. The meeting was large and enthusiastic. Assemblyman Bush presided, and Mr. Glynn spoke first.
1980 Photo
1987 Photo
In 1941, the Colonial got a complete Art Moderne makeover, inside and out, designed by architect Michael J. DeAngelis. There are photos in Boxoffice of February 21, 1942.
Joe: Once again, the Boxoffice photos of this theatre are wonderful to see. And again, the half moon windows in the front doors that make full circles when closed are exactly like the door/window design in my hometown former theatre. If you find any other theatre designed by DeAngelis, please notify.
This one is listed as “closed”, but I just wonder how many of the 19 DeAngelis theatres listed on his architect link as “closed” are actually “demolished”? The Granada is listed as “closed” at the moment, but will be listed as “closed/demolished” soon as demolition was sadly begun on December 30, 2009.
And after viewing a photo from the 40’s and then a photo from the 80’s I see the doors were changed just like was done to my hometown theatre. Amazing! Need to know if this theatre is still at 123 Main.
After comparing a photo of this theatre in Box Office Magazine I also see that an exterior art piece was either removed or covered over. Hope this theatre is open now.
Joe Vogel: I looked at the Boxoffice Feb. 21, 1942 issue and couldn’t find the Colonial article with photo though I did find the Colonial article in the April 26, 1941 issue. Thanks for the Boxoffice website information as I visit it often now.