It’s Showtime! Movie Theater History in WNY

posted by dmarsha on September 8, 2005 at 4:20 am

Monday, September 19, 7:00PM & Tuesday, September 27, 7:00PM

Meet John Basil, the last man alive who can share true stories…..

The stories of the most prominent theater chains of the 20th Century in Western New York, the Basil and Dipson Theaters…including the largest theater, Basils' 4200-seat Lafayette Theater, the Colvin, the Apollo, the LaSalle, the Dipson/Basil RIVIERA THEATER IN NORTH TONAWANDA…..and many more.

Mr. Basil is the only surviving manager of stage and screen entertainment and his family business from 1923 to 1983. His personal story takes us from Buffalo to the London, England theaters of the 1950’s, to Las Vegas in the 1960’s where he managed the lounge in the Sands Hotel during the days of the “Rat Pack” led by Frank Sinatra, and back to Buffalo in 1976.

Hear his story and the story of the Basil Theaters and enjoy displays and photographs from the theaters throughout the 20th Century.

The display will be open to the public

September 12 through 27

in the Library’s Daniel R. Killian Meeting Room during the times there are no programs being presented.

The North Tonawanda Public Library is located at 505 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda, NY
Questions, please call 716 693-4132.