Showplace Theatre
1063 Grant Street,
Buffalo,
NY
14207
1063 Grant Street,
Buffalo,
NY
14207
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Once again having live events. Updated website link: Showcase
Reopened as Showplace on August 4th, 1972, as a discount theatre. Ad posted. It tried adult movies in 1971-1972.
Does anyone remember the rumor that a teenager had his testicles cut off by a gang in the mens room? Could of been late 1960’s. Might be just an urban legend?
Architected by Henry L. Spann of Buffalo and opened in 1923. It actually replaced Buffalo’s Try-It Theatre at the same location owned by J.D. Parmelee.
It looks like currently the theatre is mainly rented out for events. Their webpage (http://www.showplacebuffalo.com/) does have a photo of the façade which has been nicely restored (Much better than the old photos in the cinematreasures gallery)
article
This article deals with the reopening of the Showplace.
The above caption for the picture is incorrect. The Showplace stopped showing movies in 1993-94
link
This link shows a truck which has crashed into the marquee which is brought up in a previous comment.
Something is going on with the theater. There is a new marquee above the doorways. There also is glass block windows. The graffiti is all cleaned up.
Last time I drove by The Showplace it had a for sale sign for anyone out there who might want to take a gamble on the movie business.
The Showplace was showing 2nd run films well into the nineties. I remember seeing Little Man Tate there in 92 and other films after that. I remember the odd Mens restroom where you had to go downstairs to this small room with 70s movie posters plastered on it like The Spy Who Loved Me. I think it finally became a concert venue in either 1995 or 1996. They removed the first ten rows of seats for standing room close to the stage and installed a bar against midway up from the stage on the left hand side. In addition to seeing a lot of movies here I also saw a lot of concerts including the Cramps.
thanks for all the info guys..i am current owner of the showplace theatre in buffalo ny and would hope for help or someone to open it as a performing arts center, comedy, concert and classic film house.feel free to contact me at thanks again
Theater is For Sale today on Craigslist. Ad says rock venue closed four years ago, and building needs work.
In the 1960’s, a truck ran into the front of the building. The marquee then landed on top of the truck. The truck stayed there several weeks because no one knew how to remove it. I still remember going by and seeing people squeeze by the truck to get into the show.
Also when I was a kid my parents wouldn’t let me go there because something terrible happened to a kid in the mens bathroom. It could of been an urban legend, but everyone knew about it.
I saw many movies there for $1.00 in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. The last year they were showing movies, they made the admission price 50 cents. The lines were at least 3 blocks long.
There has been a theater at 1065 Grant St since 1912. Originally known as the Tryit Theater,
in the 1920s it became the New Tryit and was probably rebuilt in this period. It then became
the Unity Theater, a name that was kept until early 1970s. It was run by the Gammel Chain
for a number of years, often running Polish and Hungarian films, along with second run
films. The Unity became the Showplace in 1972, and began showing $1.00 second runs.
This was the last single screen, second run theater in Buffalo, finally closing in the later
1980s. It became a rock concert venue after that.
http://www.pbase.com/kjosker/image/39115642
This site shows the theatre as it looks today.
View link
The above site shows the Showplace when it was used for movies.