Oriental Theater

And dare I ask what is on the Oriental Theatre site now? Nice to know that the organ was spared along with many of the artifacts, but the theatre should have been saved and never made into a disco lounge.

Here is a link to a photo of the Oriental Theater when it was new: View link

goto www.estateroadshow.com then click on the facebook link — you will see the photos posted. If we can confirm the provenance on them – we will be auctioning them. Seems their was 4 elephants — our client has 2 of them. Trying to find out where they came from if possible. Contact is

We have access to 2 of the chinese stone elephants which were mounted on top of the theatre … estimated at 15,000 each. Anyone have any information on them — where they came from?

I agree, I am often amazed at the level and depth of his theatrical knowleg. I would love to me you both sometime.

Thanks! :–)

The Oriental is on the left and the Family on the right in this 1982 photo. Following that is a more recent photo. The Family building remains, while the Oriental is empty land.
http://tinyurl.com/ybqkpj3
http://tinyurl.com/y8jeloz

Patsy, Michael DeAngelis was designing theaters in the 1920s. A 1927 newspaper item I came across said that he had then been in business at Rochester (New York) for eight years, so he must have been born before 1900. The most recent newspaper reference to him that I’ve found is from 1975. If he was still living a few years ago he must have been ancient, and if he were alive today he’d surely be getting his name in the papers every year on his birthday.

I’m back reading about this theatre after recently learning of another DeAngelis designed theatre that is to be demolished soon…the Granada Theatre in Beaver Falls PA. The only one that I know that is still open is the Strand in Brockport NY. I plan to see it in 2010!

Interesting to note that at least this DeAngelis had an organ. My hometown theatre did not. Also interesting to read in an earlier post on this link are the following words…..“He was still living until a few years ago, at least.” I wonder if he is still living as of this date? I’d sure like to talk to him, if possible!

The Oriental was located on Hind Street in Rochester and was designed by Michael DeAngelus, the same architect who did the Granada in Beaver Falls, PA. He was still living until a few years ago, at least. The theatre was built circa 1930 and closed about 1973; I was at the auction where everything in the place was sold off including urns atop the facade, marquee pieces, plasterwork, and even the asbestos (to a nice lady who planned to make drapes for her living room!!!). It was a fabulous oriental atmospheric in not-too-bad condition, and was lighted up as best it could be for us that day. It put on quite a show in spite of having sustained some significant water damage. The Graule photo studios right down the street still have at least two beautiful auditorium photos from early days, and the theatre was quite incredible; not awkward or clunky, but very, very well developed. It still had that “smoky” feel to it at the end. It definitely sat at least 1200, and I remember that it had fairly extensive lobby areas, as well. When it was finally torn down around three years ago, they uncovered much of the destroyed plaster work still under the false floor that was erected for the building’s disco period. Numerous pieces and parts of the theatre are still in private hands around the area and I have a couple of bricks from the stagehouse. It was a real beauty and was a terrible shame to be lost as it was. The 6-rank Morton organ, which was played almost to the end, is now in Bellefontaine, Ohio.