Riviera Theatre
67 Webster Street,
North Tonawanda,
NY
14120
67 Webster Street,
North Tonawanda,
NY
14120
5 people
favorited this theater
The Rivera Theatre opened on December 30, 1926 with an MGM feature titled “Upstage”, starring Norma Shearer and Oscar Shaw.
The theatre was designed by Leon Lempart & Son of Rochester New York for the Yellen family. The most famous Yellen being lyricist Jack, whom with partner and pianist Milton Ager penned the classics “Happy Days Are Here Again” and “Aint She Sweet”.
The Yellen family leased the Rivera Theatre to Shea’s Operating Corp. in 1928. It was as this time the extra “i” was added to the name, changing it to Riviera Theatre. The Shea’s company also did some redcorating of the theatre at this time. The most notible change being the painting of the now famous “Naked Ladies” on the console of theatres 3/11 Wurlitzer organ, which had left the Wurlitzer factory with an ivory painted console.
The following decades would see many changes in operators. Shea’s operated the theatre into the 1940’s, when the Dipson-Basil company (later Dipson) took the reigns and continued its operation into the early-1970’s.
The theatre was closed for the year 1971 while it waited for a new operator to take an interest in it. A group of local entrepreneurs, whom had been running the sucessful Parklane Resturant in Buffalo, stepped up and would run the theatre into the early-1980’s.
The theatre was sold in the early-1980’s to theatre organist Dr. Edward “Eddy Baker” Bebko whom operated under several business names. Key Theaters and Saled Properties.
On February 14, 1989 the theatre became the property of the Niagara Frontier Theatre Organ Society; a group which had been maintaining the Wurlitzer theatre organ since the early-1960’s.
Following the theatre’s purchase, the organ society, manned entirely by volunteers began the enormous task of restoring the theatre to its opening night granduer.
The seats have been reupholstered, the auditorium, lobby, and all public areas repainted, dressing rooms restored, new AC and electrical service, sound and lights, new carpeting. And the work continues, all performed by an amazingly dedicated group of volunteers, all with a undying love for this historic showplace.
The theatre is currently operated by the society as a rental house. The only programs produced by them are the monthly organ concerts, which have been going strong for almost 40 years.
The theatre’s resident theatre company, NFLT (Niagara Falls little Theatre) provides regular offerings of plays and musicals.
Other events include various local theatre company productions, live concerts, dance recitals, children’s films, weddings and tours complete with organ demonstration and short silent film.
Contributed by
Cory Wright
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Recent comments (view all 88 comments)
For those with a greater interest in the Mighty Wurlitzer. The Buffalo Area Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society recently made the Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center their spiritual home. Many of their members were already members of the Riviera Theatre & Organ Preservation Society (current owners of the theatre) and are happy to announce the Monthly Organ Concert Program for 2010. Starting on April 11 at 2:00pm with a concert by North Tonawanda native Justin Nimmo, full details can be found on their web site: http://theatreorgans.com/bac-atos/
Full details of all the theatre’s programs are to be found on: http://rivieratheatre.org
Friends of the Riviera Wurlitzer now have their own website. Plenty of information to be found there and for those with more than just a fleeting interest in the welfare of this great example of North American movie theatre history, it is now possible to make donations directly to the theatre.
http://www.theatreorgans.com/bac-atos/home.html
Many thanks to all of you have taken an interest in this wonderful theatre.
There is a Dustin Hoffman film festival scheduled here for this summer. Seeing movies like The Graduate in this classic theatre will be a memorable experience.
I was just at the Riviera last Sat May 8th What a nice house it still is and the Mighty Wurlitzer sounded awesome. To bad the weather sucked. It was cold and windy.
Hey Lost I am on the run. LOL
http://www.rivieratheatre.org/
There are some really good events scheduled for the Riviera this summer. Check them out at the site above.
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The above website deals with an award given to the volunteers at the Riviera by a local preservation group.
I recently went to the Riviera in the evening. The marquee lit the whole street up. What a neat site, and I wasn’t even in the theater yet!!!
I recently went to the Riviera in the evening. The marquee lit the whole street up. What a neat site, and I wasn’t even in the theater yet!!!
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The above article from the Buffalo News spotlights the Riviera.
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The above website shows a fantastic view of this classic theatre.