Telenews Theatre

525 E. Main Street,
Buffalo, NY 14203

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Additional Info

Architects: Fred A. Baynes

Functions: Restaurant

Previous Names: Vendome Theatre, Happy Hour Theatre, Embassy Theatre, Telenews Newsreel Theatre, Vogue Theatre, Guild Theatre

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Telenews Theatre

Opened in 1909 as the Vendome Theatre. It went through many name changes over the years - By 1928 the Happy Hour Theatre and October 15, 1931 it became the Embassy Theatre. On April 17, 1942 it was renamed Telenews Newsreel Theatre screening newsreel footage. On May 10, 1946 it was renamed Vogue Theatre.

Contributed by Robert Lackemeyer

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 13, 2013 at 11:02 am

The address of the Telenews Theatre was 525 E. Main Street.

This PDF from rjbuffalo.com gives the theater at 525 Main Street, Buffalo, a whole string of aka’s. It opened as the Vendome Theatre in 1909. On February 4, 1912, it became the Happy Hour Theatre, and retained that name until ca.1931, when it was renamed the Embassy Theatre. On April 17, 1942, it became the Telenews Theatre, but was renamed the Vogue Theatre in May, 1946. Two years later it returned to the name Telenews, but was renamed the Guild Theatre by 1950.

The document notes that the Vendome was apparently a conversion of an existing building and the theater was designed by architect F.A. Baynes; that it extended through the block to Washington Street; and that at the time the document was written it housed a Chinese restaurant, which is apparently still there. Google Street View shows the Washington Street end of the building, as Main Street has been converted into a transit mall and the camera car didn’t travel along this block of it.

The document also carries a cryptic note saying “Not to be confused with the Empire at 261 Main, the Empire at 1514 Main, or the Empire at 164–170 Pearl.” This is odd, as Empire Theatre is not listed among the aka’s for the house.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 13, 2013 at 12:26 pm

When I searched the address on Bing Maps, plain Main Street fetched up in a residential neighborhood in West Seneca. Adding E. to it put it in the right place. Google Maps does go to the downtown Buffalo location with or without the E.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 13, 2013 at 12:31 pm

Bing’s map quirk is especially odd considering that Main Street runs north and south, not east and west. But I’ve found that it works with any directional indicator- N., S., E., or W. Only the plain Main Street goes to the wrong location.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 14, 2022 at 10:41 am

April 17th, 1942 grand opening ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 14, 2022 at 11:08 am

Embassy grand opening ad was also posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 7, 2022 at 4:55 pm

Renamed Vogue on May 10th, 1946. Another ad posted.

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