Regent Theatre

I “met” the elder, as I did attend a few movies in town back in the late 70’s and 80’s. The elder was usually seen at the Cine. I would estimate that he was in his 80’s about 1980, which means he would have been late 20’s/ early 30’s for the fire. Likely the man you met wasn’t very old, or maybe not born yet at the time of the fire, so didn’t have direct knowledge of the organ.

The 1910-1929 Drohen/Regent was of metal skinned wood construction, not the sturdier brick of today.

Boy, it’s taking me a while to finish this one. The Regent reopened on Thanksgiving, 1942, as a second run house. “Constructed by Dalton B. Burgett for a syndicate headed by Clyde R. Lathrop of Brocton.”

Capacity: 702

This is all based on an article in the Dunkirk Observer.

The reconstructed Regent celebrated it 50th aniversary by closing its doors. Ironically both beginning and ending as a second run theatre. In 1942 a seat cost 35 cents, in 1992 $1.50.

Ammentment to the above, and likely answer to the missing Wurlitzer:

October 28, 1929
REGENT THEATRE A TOTAL FIRE LOSS

By this time it was operated by the Berenstein Theatre company of Elmira. Nothing was left standing but the front and west walls.

Dalton Burgett was manager by this time. Yup, the pipe organ was lost in the fire. (Sorry, I am writing as I read.) The Capitol was also owned by the same company by this time. The Regent was purchased from Lally in May of 1926.

The building was built by James Drohen in 1910. Drohen built the Capitol, also.

Many things were lost or almost lost to UR. That church you visited, across from the Regent, was almost lost, one of its support buildings was torn down. Up the road my uncle’s store was torn down and replaced with a bank. Down the road Quality Markets is where the State theater and I think the Palace theater was located. Although the Palace appears to have gone by the wayside about 50 years before UR. And I am not certain if it it was located where the church parking lot is, or further east on 3rd street. I can barely remember the city that was when my years were in single digits. :) I also seem to recall a big bridge in Westfield that rose over the railroad tracks. I don’t remember when they removed it, but I sure miss it.

Then again, I recall massive fires taking what UR hadn’t gotten to yet. Fredonia had a couple of those fires, as well. Plus a train wreck or two helped reduce Dunkirk, one even made a building near the Capitol unstable, about a year or two before the Capitol’s roof collapsed. I’ve been wondering if that train wreck damage had any effect on the Capitol.

There appear to be at least 2 other theaters in Dunkirk, the Palace and Dorhen (or something similar.) The Dorhen is apparently named after a street that either no longer exists or was renamed before my existence. As I learn more, I will share.

Also, do you know the Don who posted on Jan 28, 2005?

It isn’t on the “Disturber” website. I did a search earlier today for microfilm/microfiche, and found this website: View link

And, yes, you have to subscribe for this service. As time goes on, I have more and more of an interest in Dunkirk/Fredonia history, and being 7 hours from the library, I consider the cost worth it.

In 1949, when searching for the opening of the Van Buren Drive-in, I found that there were ads for the Winter Garden, Regent, State, Capitol, and Geitner theaters. Boy have times changed. In 1949, weekend shows also included a midnight showing, at least during the summer. And today I understand why. ;) The Regent and Capitol also advertised which newsreel they were affiliated with.

As a side note, until recently no local supermarket stayed open past 10 pm, even now I think Martin’s is the only 24 hour store. (Perhaps Wal-Mart is as well, but to me that outfit doesn’t exist. :) In 1949 a small supermarket was open from 9a-11p during the week, and until 10 on Saturday. No wonder I left 16 years ago, the town wasn’t progressing.

I will enjoy reading any research information on the Regent that you can find. The building still stands. The marquee is long gone, but for many the memories remain. In nearby Silver Creek NY stands the former Geitner Theatre, but is now a teen center with the auditorium stripped along with the balcony though the lobby is somewhat intact complete with a fireplace.

Funny one should mention photographing the Regent. I did that a couple of days ago. And the now parking lot that was the Capitol is in the background. One of these days I will get around to uploading the shots.

And if the organ isn’t in the building, I’d sure like to know where it is now! The man I met whose father owned the 3 former theatres didn’t act like he really wanted to discuss theatres when I finally met him at a local auction called Save A Seat to raise money, ironically, for the upkeep and maintenance of a local restored THEATRE…..the REG LENNA(CT link)so I didn’t pursue the topic, but sure wanted to chat more with him! This man did tell me that he hadn’t saved much, if anything, of the theatre memorabilia! I thought to myself…‘such as shame as it would be worth $$$ today on eBay’!

The former Wintergarden is now the Fredonia Opera House, the Capitol was demolished after severe roof damage and fire, I think and the Regent still stands, but has long since been a theatre.

Recently I met a man whose father once owned 3 former theatres in Dunkirk NY…the Regent, the Wintergarden and the Capitol.

The Regent was in operation at least until 1969 or 1970. By that time the Capitol was gone, the roof having caved in one night.
As I mentioned before, all 3 of the theaters were managed by Mr. Tallman, whose son, Bill was still living in Fredonia as of about 10 years ago, when I bumped into him while visiting home. If anyone cared to look him up, he would probably be able to provide a wealth of information and lore about all 3 of these great old theaters.