Don: I was given the name of Dalton Burgett, Jr. whose family owned the theatres in Dunkirk/Fredonia. Have you heard of this name? I also posted a Regent Theatre photo on the Regent Theatre link that shows a movie that came out much later so had wondered when the Regent officially closed. I will try to locate the Tallman name.
lostmemory: The Capitol is definitely gone and is another parking lot due to urban renewal! The nearby Regent is still standing, but isn’t a theatre anymore as the marquee is off the building only to leave the rusting metal where it once hung so proudly at night with its colored neon and twinkling lights! I wish the person responsible for contributing the Capitol, Paul Somerfeldt would post his memories, too.
I answered my own question today…the Regent is a red brick building and is still standing. It is now owned by the local Catholic Diosese and is for rent.
I was by the Fredonia Opera House this afternoon and looked close to see if any metal work was still on the building to show where the marquee once hung on the Temple St. side, but didn’t see any. I then went to the Regent Theatre site on E. Third St. in nearby Dunkirk and took a photo. I was told that it remained an operating theatre into the mid 60’s. The exterior is brick and looks to be in good sound shape though forlorn looking and delected.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site. The photo on your 8/21 post I think shows the entrance facing Central Avenue which is not the front entrance today.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site. The photo on your 8/21 post I think shows the entrance facing Central Avenue which is not the front entrance today.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site.
lostmemory: THANK YOU for the Wintergarden Theatre photo. It’s a bit blurry, but great to see. The exterior front facade of the Fredonia Opera House looks quite different today. I wondered about that year being 1963, myself.
WDG: What a beautiful story and thank you so very much for sharing it with CT. BTW, did Tom T. work at the theatre during the time that this young man worked for the theatre so did he know him before his untimely passing?
lostmemory: I read the same bit of information, but do plan to go see where this theatre once stood in Dunkirk NY. Even though I grew up in the immediate area I don’t recall going to any of the area theatres except the art deco one in my hometown.
The woman listed who is responsible for the listing is Ms. Dibble who at 93 is as sharp as a tack. I had a delightful visit with her this summer at the Patterson Library as she still continues to work there 3 days a week! Amazing!
Thanks as I see many items that I am quite familiar with having grown up in the area. The diner is really unique as is the Patterson Library. There are many buildings that are not listed that were sadly torn down over the many years.
lostmemory: The site uses the word “proposed” so that was written BEFORE the Lincoln/Bedell park was completed. If we could post photos on CT, I could post a photo of that park with commemorative bricks and benches. It’s very nice, but would rather see the Grand Theatre still standing on that corner and have put Abe and Grace in nearby Moore Park.
lostmemory: Interesting quote from the walking tour of Westfield site. What is that site address? I grew up near Westfield which is in the County of Chautauqua and yes, there were 2 Grand Theatres which I did not know until just recently.
I spoke with Tom Tetrault’s wife, Beverly by phone in May but didn’t get to talk with Tom so hopefully I will someday. I will be anxious to read your American Graffiti story! I recently spoke to a man who told me that there was a 6 lane bowling alley in the basement and that some of the wood from the lanes were used to make benches. I know the Westfield address of one bench location so will check it out in the coming days! I was also told that the Patterson Library had 3 Louis Tiffany chandeliers, but they were taken down, stored in the basement and eventually ‘walked off’! I plan to visit the library and take a look at what is hanging over the reference desk now! I realize this has nothing to do with the Grand Theatre, but it’s another interesting Westfield (home to the late, Dr. C.E. Welch who was founder of Welch’s Grape Juice Company) story.
WDG: I just wanted to thank you again for your recent post and especially for providing a personal email as I’ve been wanting to chat with someone who had alot of good stories about the Grand Theatre both on CT and through email. Do you know WSL?
WDG and lostmemory: Thank you so very much for your recent posts about the Grand which is the closest to my heart! This theatre is the one that started my interest in theatres and lead me to CT. I will certainly email you, WDG and now I know the man behind those initials! Is he still in Westfield? Thanks lostmemory for the photos, but the photo is not the art deco theatre that was built in the 1940’s on the corner of Main and Portage after the first Grand Theatre burned. I have photos of the older Grand which was also on Portage but further north on that street. And before the 2 Grand Theatres there was one on Main Street called Main Street Theatre.
lostmemory: I just read the theater description and see that the theater is another parking lot and the direct result of “urban renewal” along with the Regent. Sure would like to see an old photo of the Regent, too.
Another art deco theatre “torn down in the early Seventies to make way for a bank parking lot”. Urban renewal or redevelopment? I have a friend who grew up in Greencastle so I wonder if she has memories of the Von Castle Theatre? My hometown art deco theatre was torn down in the early Nineties to make way for a park!
Don: I was given the name of Dalton Burgett, Jr. whose family owned the theatres in Dunkirk/Fredonia. Have you heard of this name? I also posted a Regent Theatre photo on the Regent Theatre link that shows a movie that came out much later so had wondered when the Regent officially closed. I will try to locate the Tallman name.
lostmemory: The Capitol is definitely gone and is another parking lot due to urban renewal! The nearby Regent is still standing, but isn’t a theatre anymore as the marquee is off the building only to leave the rusting metal where it once hung so proudly at night with its colored neon and twinkling lights! I wish the person responsible for contributing the Capitol, Paul Somerfeldt would post his memories, too.
View link
This site has an exterior and interior photo of the Regent.
I answered my own question today…the Regent is a red brick building and is still standing. It is now owned by the local Catholic Diosese and is for rent.
I was by the Fredonia Opera House this afternoon and looked close to see if any metal work was still on the building to show where the marquee once hung on the Temple St. side, but didn’t see any. I then went to the Regent Theatre site on E. Third St. in nearby Dunkirk and took a photo. I was told that it remained an operating theatre into the mid 60’s. The exterior is brick and looks to be in good sound shape though forlorn looking and delected.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site. The photo on your 8/21 post I think shows the entrance facing Central Avenue which is not the front entrance today.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site. The photo on your 8/21 post I think shows the entrance facing Central Avenue which is not the front entrance today.
lostmemory: I found the Western NYS website where you acquired the 1953 Fredonia Opera House photo and see where they hope to find someone who has an interior photo of the Capitol Theatre. Great site.
lostmemory: THANK YOU for the Wintergarden Theatre photo. It’s a bit blurry, but great to see. The exterior front facade of the Fredonia Opera House looks quite different today. I wondered about that year being 1963, myself.
WDG: What a beautiful story and thank you so very much for sharing it with CT. BTW, did Tom T. work at the theatre during the time that this young man worked for the theatre so did he know him before his untimely passing?
lostmemory: I read the same bit of information, but do plan to go see where this theatre once stood in Dunkirk NY. Even though I grew up in the immediate area I don’t recall going to any of the area theatres except the art deco one in my hometown.
Charles: Thanks again for another great b/w vintage photo.
I hope that “WDG” and “” continue to post as I’ve already sent a personal email requested more “Grand” stories!
The woman listed who is responsible for the listing is Ms. Dibble who at 93 is as sharp as a tack. I had a delightful visit with her this summer at the Patterson Library as she still continues to work there 3 days a week! Amazing!
Thanks as I see many items that I am quite familiar with having grown up in the area. The diner is really unique as is the Patterson Library. There are many buildings that are not listed that were sadly torn down over the many years.
lostmemory: The site uses the word “proposed” so that was written BEFORE the Lincoln/Bedell park was completed. If we could post photos on CT, I could post a photo of that park with commemorative bricks and benches. It’s very nice, but would rather see the Grand Theatre still standing on that corner and have put Abe and Grace in nearby Moore Park.
lostmemory: Interesting quote from the walking tour of Westfield site. What is that site address? I grew up near Westfield which is in the County of Chautauqua and yes, there were 2 Grand Theatres which I did not know until just recently.
I spoke with Tom Tetrault’s wife, Beverly by phone in May but didn’t get to talk with Tom so hopefully I will someday. I will be anxious to read your American Graffiti story! I recently spoke to a man who told me that there was a 6 lane bowling alley in the basement and that some of the wood from the lanes were used to make benches. I know the Westfield address of one bench location so will check it out in the coming days! I was also told that the Patterson Library had 3 Louis Tiffany chandeliers, but they were taken down, stored in the basement and eventually ‘walked off’! I plan to visit the library and take a look at what is hanging over the reference desk now! I realize this has nothing to do with the Grand Theatre, but it’s another interesting Westfield (home to the late, Dr. C.E. Welch who was founder of Welch’s Grape Juice Company) story.
WDG: I just wanted to thank you again for your recent post and especially for providing a personal email as I’ve been wanting to chat with someone who had alot of good stories about the Grand Theatre both on CT and through email. Do you know WSL?
WDG and lostmemory: Thank you so very much for your recent posts about the Grand which is the closest to my heart! This theatre is the one that started my interest in theatres and lead me to CT. I will certainly email you, WDG and now I know the man behind those initials! Is he still in Westfield? Thanks lostmemory for the photos, but the photo is not the art deco theatre that was built in the 1940’s on the corner of Main and Portage after the first Grand Theatre burned. I have photos of the older Grand which was also on Portage but further north on that street. And before the 2 Grand Theatres there was one on Main Street called Main Street Theatre.
lostmemory: I just read the theater description and see that the theater is another parking lot and the direct result of “urban renewal” along with the Regent. Sure would like to see an old photo of the Regent, too.
lostmemory: Thanks for the Capitol Theater photo as I will check out that location next week since it’s close.
wesr: I tried sending an email to the address given on the site you provided and it was undeliverable.
Providence, bring this 1925 art deco theatre back to its original glory!
Another art deco theatre “torn down in the early Seventies to make way for a bank parking lot”. Urban renewal or redevelopment? I have a friend who grew up in Greencastle so I wonder if she has memories of the Von Castle Theatre? My hometown art deco theatre was torn down in the early Nineties to make way for a park!