Winter Garden Theater
313 N. Main Street,
Jamestown,
NY
14701
313 N. Main Street,
Jamestown,
NY
14701
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 136 comments
Mary, I have just sent you an email in regards to your comment. If you do not see it, please check your spam filter for an email from dakroland @ mac.com. I look forward to speaking with you. :) ~Dak
My great aunt, Katie Woods, owned, I think, the Winter Garden…I know she owned one of the theaters in Jamestown, and I do remember as a small child, walking past the W.G. and remember how upset she was at the deterioration of the theater. She died, I think in the late 40’s. Her son, Mike Woods, later ran the Shea’s theater in Buffalo, I seem to remember…
Mary Tweiten
.com
Lost Memory: I agree. Either way I hope we see them!
Lost Memory: That is a great suggestion for “jamestownguy”!
i would love to post the photos but im no real sure how to get them online if i could find someone to assist me it would be my pleasure to post them. Also if anyone might be interested in person for coffee i would be more then happy to set up a time. Unfortunatly im going in for a major operation on the 29th april and my recovery will be aprox. 6 monthes so we would have to set up a time before that.
And I just learned how to enlarge the print when reading text…. while pressing the “ctrl” key use the scroll on your mouse.
I tried typing in just www.bigsplat.net and still nothing so hopefully “jamestownguy” will post some photos as there are interior and exterior photos “out there” that I have seen! If I’m not mistaken, some are even on this link.
jamestownguy: Since the above related website doesn’t work and is “under construction” perhaps you could post your photos as folks need to see a photo(s) of this theatre that is for sale. Thanks.
Lost Memory: Thanks…I think! RIP I sure hope this isn’t “a sign” as to the future of the theatre on Main Street in Jamestown NY.
Warren: Thanks for this important update as I hadn’t looked at it in some time. There was a photo of the theatre. Lost Memory added this theatre so he’ll make the correction, if he can.
Ishmael528 and jamestownguy: Good to read your recent posts about this almost forgotten theatre! I would like to see any photos via email either or both of you have in your collection. And yes, the Arts Council “will sell it for a song to the RIGHT person with the RIGHT plan”. I agree, this effort may just “be Winter Gardens last hope”. Let us keep the hope alive! I’m doing all I can via this computer to save “her” in any way we can…the right way!
I’m moved to see action on this forgotten thearter. My grandmother took me to winter garden to see Gremlins. That wat the 1st time i had ever been inside and most recently i had the chance to tour the current state of the building with Ishmael528 in spring of 07. The condition is sad but totaly saveable. I had a chance to get a few photos while there. If you have interest in viewing them please contact me at or phone @ 716-407-1887. my name is Raymond and ill be more then happy to share. I would be so proud to one day walk up to the ticket booth and pay the price to see a show in the ol girl. I hope this project takes flight as this might be Winter Gardens last hope. Best Wishes!
Cannonball, if this is a possibility for you, I would love to help with the restoration project. I have been in the theater several times – both when operational and three times since, via the Arts Council. I know the building quite well, as does Jamestownguy. Please keep me posted on your progress toward acquisition. Also, I should tell you that I have considered purchasing the building and have spoken with Turner Brokers and the Director of the Arts Council about this – they will sell it for a song to the right person with the right plan… Best of luck!
Keep us posted when you hear back from the DJDC or the Arts Council. Better yet, I wouldn’t wait for them to return your call but would contact them again and speak with someone sooner than later. If you are interested in purchasing this theatre or know someone who is, let them know asap! If you speak with Debbie Luce, Main Street Manager, be sure to tell her that you are a member of Cinema Treasures as she knows about the internet site now through my phone conversation with her last week.
I would also love to see any photos that anyone had to share on this fine Lady old and right up to the point of when it was closed. I have looked at the pitures posted on here allready
Thank you Patsy I have done that and am now waiting for them to get back to me.I see that you are very active in this matter and would love any thoughts or intrests that you might have on this subject.
Thanks
Kelly
http://cinematreasures.org/news/18846_0_1_0_C/
Cannonball: Please contact the names and numbers that are provided on the “news” CT section.
Well I am also looking into the fact of maybe buying the building and getting enough repairs to bring the fine lady back to life a little bit at a time. I know I am looking at a hugh project but I would love to see what is out there for grants or privete investers or even donations to get this underway. The other thing is to get a company behind you to invest to get the name of the bulding after there company like a example only like CUMMINS WINTER GARDEN THEATHER just a though anyone with any info I would love to hear it ..there are a millions of reasons to just let it go but there is also vision of slowly bringing this old lady a face lift and give her back some pride,not to say the impact this could have on bringing downtown some more life looking to the future.
I can see this being used as a place for local and national acts both in the way of musical shows,comedy shows,plays,concerts,hey maybe even a MOVIE ?? this could be used for meetings,trade shows,high school gradutions. The biggest thing is get help from the whole area and many donations but not ones with so many strings that they end up running the place and making so high cost that the normal people would not get to use the garden. Well right now it might be a pipe dream but I think that this could really be somthing big for the area if it was done right. not only in many jobs it might bring but also bring some more life to a part of Jamestown that is slowly coming back to life with all the new things that the area was to offer
longislandmovies: Thank you for your inquiry and spread the word!
longislandmovies: It would take several million dollars to bring it back to its original state 100 years ago, but I do beleive it would take less dollars if just making the general repairs and getting the place open again, imo. Go to my CT news post and you will find contact information there along with the recent Post Journal article. Thank you for your inquiry!
The building is selling for about $20,000, but to properly update the building, gut and upgrade the interior, restore the facade and reinstall the marquee (which was the counter balance to the balcony), it would take an investment of several million dollars. My group looked into it, and were very excited to see if we could purchase the place…but we would have needed a HUGE investment of money, and unfortunately, there wasn’t any way that we could see our small group getting that kind of funding.
What kind of price are we talking about???
I have posted under “Add News” about the sale of the Winter Garden Theater so hopefully a buyer will be found to save this historic theater. Keep your fingers crossed.
DakRoland: I really think the Post Journal would love to see the Winter Garden blueprints and the lobby photos (circa 1940s) now that the article has come out in the paper. Would love to chat with you about this article, etc. @