Biograph Theatre

214 E. Fayette Street,
Syracuse, NY 13202

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: RKO, Schine Circuit Inc.

Architects: C. Merritt Curtis

Previous Names: Eckel Theatre, Eckel Cinerama

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News About This Theater

Eckel Theatre Syracuse NY Interior

The Eckel Theatre opened on Thanksgiving Day, 1913 with 1,452 seats. It would later be operated by RKO, then Schine Circuit Inc. who later converted it into a 3-strip Cinerama theatre, reducing the seating capacity to 918.

It was renamed Biograph Theatre on December 4, 1974. It was closed on November 24. 1976 with Micheal Sarrazin in “The Gumball Rally” & David Carradine in “Death Race 2000”. It was demolished and the site became a parking lot for the church next door.

Contributed by Ken McIntyre

Recent comments (view all 18 comments)

carljohnson
carljohnson on January 26, 2008 at 9:15 am

Does anyone know the exact location of the Eckel? It seems to have been on the same block as the Biograph — was that a separate theater, or was the Biograph its final name?

joemasher
joemasher on November 14, 2008 at 12:02 pm

The Biograph was the Eckel’s final name. I believe a fire did it in.

carljohnson
carljohnson on November 19, 2008 at 9:23 am

Thanks, Joe. Unfortunately, I never got to go inside; I arrived in Syracuse just as it was being torn down.

There’s a picture of the demolition here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carljohnson/7559441/

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 4, 2010 at 12:08 pm

Another one gone.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 1, 2011 at 4:52 am

The October 30, 1912, issue of The American Architect said that the proposed theater on Fayette Street in Syracuse would be operated under a long term lease by the Eckel Company. Plans for the project, by architect C. Merritt Curtis, were almost complete.

dianneA
dianneA on August 1, 2012 at 12:31 pm

My father, Bill Meany was the Projectionish along with George Raaflaub. My father worked there for many many years until he died in 1966. Does anyone remember him? I saw many movies from the projection booth, Ben Hur, My Fair Lady…. I do remember cinerama too

Greenpoint
Greenpoint on September 20, 2012 at 8:15 pm

Sadly this sort of thing happens…I am a frequent visitor to The Palace and thank heaven that it is still open and operating at its full glory!

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on December 27, 2019 at 5:51 pm

Link with history and Cinerama photos.

http://cinemasightlines.com/cinemas_cinemaviews5.php

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on August 24, 2021 at 3:34 am

It became the Biograph Theatre on December 4, 1974 with “Slaughterhouse Five.” It closed on November 24, 1976 with “The Gumball Rally” and “Death Race 2000.” It was razed in 1984.

Cinerama
Cinerama on October 27, 2023 at 12:25 pm

Click on link to see ads, articles, and pictures of the Syracuse Eckel theatre. Please do not copy to this site.

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