Winter Garden Theater
313 N. Main Street,
Jamestown,
NY
14701
313 N. Main Street,
Jamestown,
NY
14701
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 136 comments
A buyer must be found for the Winter Garden so if anyone knows of a possible buyer please contact the DJDC or the Arts Council.
Patrick Fanelli wrote the Winter Garden article as it is online today. Sure hope they can save this theatre from demolition as that would be a crime to lose a 100 year old theatre yet the auditorium doesn’t look like it did 100 years ago as it was so “remodeled” over the years. I always thought it would make a great movie house to show Lucille Ball movies with a Lucy theme lobby if the Lucy Desi Playhouse acquired it.
jamestownguy: And it would be interesting to learn how it came to be that a PJ journalist decided to write about the Winter Garden! What is the name of the journalist as an email is usually provided with the article as contact information?
jamestownguy: Please email me with more PJ Winter Garden article details as I’m sure it goes into the history of the theatre with possible photos?
I just checked the Post Journal website and didn’t see the Winter Garden article. In the meantime, I will find someone who will save the paper for me.
Well here we are march 30th 2008. I view the font page of the post journal and here is an full sorty on The Winter garden here in Jamestown. I’m moved that someone cares enough to do a story on the ol girl. I hope and prey that the snow ball is rolling and only gains strength to get is wonderful thearter/building off it’s feet and productive once again. Best wishes to Winter Garden!
I have met Mark G. from Cable 8 and see him from time to time so perhaps I can get word to him about doing a Winter Garden feature this winter. I wish you had posted this Cable 8 News idea a few weeks ago as I did see Mark G. at a local function and could have mentioned it then.
Thank you both lshmael528 and Patsy for your wonderful encouragement and comments. I hope by getting the word out there will be additional members of CT.com along with some interest in the Winter Garden. I am trying to get Cable 8 News to do a segment as well. We will see.
jamestownguy: I read your PJ Winter Garden comments and have to tell you that it was brought to my attention while I was at the Fenton History Center’s Deck the Halls for the holiday season. I was getting information from the FHC Executive Director about the Winter Garden and the other theatres that were in Jamestown over the years……perfect timing! And again, thanks for getting the word out in the Post Journal about “our” Winter Garden that needs to know that we all care and want to see it be a vital part of the downtown Jamestown scene, once again! If the Reg can be restored and saved, so can the Winter Garden though that theatre had the benefit of a million dollar donation by Mr. Reginald Lenna thus the name Reg Lenna Civic Center. I would like to see the name Palace be reinstated and perhaps call it the Lenna Palace.
Well done jamestownguy – your efforts are to be commended!
NOTE:I recently submitted alittle blog to the readers forum in the jamestown post-journal. I hope to gain more attention to the Winter Garden. It’s in todays PJ dated 11-20-07.
This Christmas Eve markes the Winter Garden’s 95 anniversary…
Well thank you lshmael528. Im overcome that you stongly belive that i can take this once thriveing thearter and make it take flight. Who knows what the future holds. It would be my pleasure to make a portion of Main st. glimmer once again with a well lit marquee and a productivly functioning thearter/performance house. One voice will not make the difference but if the community comes togeather on this project, the possibilitys could and can be endless.
Personally, I think Jamestownguy should get this show on the road! :)
I would think that the arts council would advertise this theatre in some trade magazines to get the word out about this theatre. I was in the Winter Garden several summers ago when a realtor was showing the property to I guess interested people, but unfortunately the tour didn’t end in a sale. I totally agree with your comments in regards to the last fire when cost saving decisions were made that resulted in removing the ornamentation which then converted a once grand theater into a very basic and plain movie house. Such a shame. I don’t know if Jamestown has an historical society other than the Fenton Museum, but an organization such as that should have stepped up to the plate and made sure changes were not made to the Winter Garden because in today’s world it will be astronomical to replace the ornamentation and making the repairs needed. The folks who had the theater and didn’t do the theater any favors was DIPSON! After they discontinued operating the Winter Garden they built the new theater complex in Lakewood and never looked back! Someone asked about the marquee….I’m sure that is long gone. It wasn’t part of the original design of the theater’s exterior. My favorite marquee design is squared off or curved rather than the “V” shaped ones which was like the Winter Garden marquee.
Sadly, the reality is that what remains of the Winter Garden is a rapidly deteriorating one-screen movie house with an extensive history. Perhaps the greatest loss and arguably the start of its demise, occured after the last fire when a number of cost saving decisions were made that removed the ornamentation and converted a once grand theater into a very basic and plain one-screen movie house. No movie that I know of can demand a 1,000 seats – at least not on regular basis. Consequentially, the only movie I can forsee playing there is “The Money Pit” with Tom Hanks! If the theater is restored to anything less than a rendition of its original design, history will likely repeat itself and the inefficient building will fail repeatedly. Then again, can this town support two grand theaters? However, if anyone is interested in such a restoration, I would be more than willing to support that in terms of time and energy. I just can’t afford to be the one to sign on the dotted line. Time is of the essence and if something isn’t done in the very near future, all that will remain of the Winter Garden are grand memories…
Patsy:to answer your above question YES i belive whole hartedly that the Winter Garden can one day be up and functioning. The project needs a motivated person with alot of support/volentiers. The Winter Garden’s opening was Dec. 24th 1913. Lets say the thearter opened in 1911, im sure it qualifys for the national list of historic buildings. Im also sure that grants are avail. to revive the theater.
As i read info. on other thearters people are getting grants to help with the project so i would say the only thing lacking is a motavated buyer with the skill of writeing grants. I have been a jamestown resident all my life and i would love to walk in and watch a good movie w/o driveing all the way to lakewood. Unfortuneately, time is of the essence and if that (special someone) don’t come along soon this wonderful peice of jamestown’s history will disapear. The phrase “USE IT OR LOOSE IT” is a threat by nature. The inside of the ole lady sadly displays this bone chilling fact. HELP!!!!!!!!!!
jamestownguy/Ishmael528: Thank you both for your recent informative posts. It seems there are more than a few folks in Jamestown who know alot about this theater and most of these folks would like to see the Winter Garden brought back to its original glory as would I. Is it realistically possible? CT member, “Gib” seems to think so which is encouraging.
I have had the liberty of entering the Winter Garden only twice in my lifetime. The 1st time i attended a movie there i was 4. My grand mother took me to see the movie The Gremlins. As i recall she did not buy the tickets @ the booth outside under the (ONCE ERECT) marquee. I belive the tickets were bought inside. I belive the ticket booth was out of service @ that time.
I belive the marquee was removed from the front of the thearter some time between 1992-1994 as it was no longer safe to over hang the front walk. I with in the last 8 months had the pleasure of viewing the in side of the old grand thearter. The Winter Garden closed its doors in 1991 and its baffeling what time can do to a building. It’s in need of a major restoration project in side and out but i belive with the right person and funds the Winter Garden can once again be a productive bussiness and wonderful addition to Jamestown’s Main st. I think we all are inagreement that Main st. in downtown jamestown don’t need another – GAP – in our wonderful parade of buildings.
A friend of mine that lives in Fredonia,NY is quite involved with the Fredonia Fire Dept. and Paul was able to show some facts of The Winter Garden. The W.G. Suffered 2 major fires in it’s lifetime. The 1st being 1920 and the 2nd being 1969. Both fires gutted the building and after the fire of 1969 the thearter was not restored to its orginal state. It was repaired to function as just a reg. movie thearter. A good portion of the balcony was damaged and was not repaired to reg. condition and shorted the seating capasity of the tearter too only 1,000 seats.
While i explored the thearter this past spring i was able to get a few pictures of the inside. If anyone would like to view the photos please feel free to contact me at or 716-407-1887. If anyone has any other info. on The Winter Garden, please post any info. you might have. I would be moved to one day see the thearter reopen it’s doors and welcome the Jamestown and surrounding communitys to share a peice of it’s fine but hidden history!!!!
If anyone has any interior photos at any point, I would be honored to see them!
I have been in the Winter Garden three times over the past couple of years (most recently, Spring 2007). I volunteered for the Arts Council a number of years ago and they have been more than accommodating in allowing me to tour the old theater, which I frequented as a child. I have investigated all areas of the building – projection room, balcony, main house, stage, “basement”, and “catwalk”. There is a main roof drain located stage left that has cracked and has caused extensive water damage to that region of the main house (as indicated in one of the above attached photo links). Large pieces of the plaster on the walls and ceiling have fallen. Much of the house lighting has been removed (with the exception of some recessed lighting under the balcony). The majority of the seats are still in tact, however, the fabric has sustained substantial dry rot. The previous owners installed a bank of air handlers on stage (a couple feet behind the main screen) rather than repairing/ replacing the original equipment in the “basement”. The screen is in tact, but has a couple of tears. The projection equipment is still in place, with the exception of the sound equipment. The restrooms, labeled “Kings” and “Queens” are in fair condition. Both ticket counters are still in tact, along with the concession area. All in all, the theater is largely unchanged from when it closed, with the exception of the effects of time. I have spoken with the Arts Council and the Realtor, and the theater can be obtained for a very reasonable cost. However, part of this is contingent upon the plans for the building. I have tried to justify the purchase of this building, but the cost required to restore it and bring it to code exceeds my individual abilities. I would be more than interested in speaking with anyone who is interested in the acquiring the facility. I would love to see this theater functional once again – as a one-screen theater, stage performances, etc. The show must go on!
The following was originally posted on the Reg Lenna site:
The Wintergarden at one point was the jewel of the theatres in Jamestown. We had a total of seven theatres in downtown Jamestown. The Wintergarden was (is) located on North Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets. As a theatre geek, I worked there in the early 80’s and yes it was in bad shape then.
In the early 60’s there was a fire that gutted the Wintergaden pretty badly. When the theatre was restored, half the balconcy was removed, and the house was simply painted, none of the ornate features were restored. The stage and pit were also removed at this time.
There is a small space under the screen where these is some storage space for the marquee letters. Now here is a trivia fact the marquee for the Wintergarden was large enough to accomidate seven rows of letters. It was a real scary thing climbing a latter and changing them, especially on the downward (the side facing Third street) as it was on a hill. In the winter it was not uncommon to see only two lines on that side of the marquee.
It is true that in its last few years of life it was in bad shape. The original red neon block two level Winter Garden sign was half out, the neon inside the marquee was dead, they even went so far as to install for spots lights to shine on the marquee. The underside of the marquee had neon that had also been removed, and the original box-office covered.
The WinterGarden died a most horrible death for a grand old lady, and today sits empty.
BTW- the seven theatres downtown? The Roosevelt, Strand, Royal, & majstic – all were in Brooklyn Square, distroyed in the early 70’s – I have no memory of them. The Palace (now the Reg Civic Center, The Allen Opera House (then Sheas Theatre and now the home of the Lucille Ball Little Theatre)
I am looking for old photos of any and all of the old theatres of my hometown, or just great old stories for my personal website (Remember I am a theatre geek) If you have them, contact me at , or post them to me via my website www.samanthakitty.com I have opened 12 “New Grand Mega-plexes” for my employer over the years, but there is “Nothing like a dame” ..
posted by Movie Bob on Jul 10, 2006 at 2:30pm
gib: The September 1, 2006 post that shows many interior photos are the only interior photos that I have seen. I was inside the theatre a few years ago when a realtor was showing the theatre to a prospective buyer which, unfortunately, did not result in a sale. Since there was no electricity lighting was from flood lights. I sadly recall there was much dampness and mildew from too many years of neglect. I know there are many residents in Jamestown who recall going to this theatre and would be happy to talk with you.
gig: I don’t recall hearing or reading about anyone purchasing the Winter Garden nor that someone was “actually in the process of restoring the Winter Garden to as close to original as possible”. THIS, imo, would be very BIG news for the City of Jamestown so don’t understand why it wouldn’t have made the Post Journal. We have the restored Reg Lenna thanks to M/M Reginald Lenna, but a restored Winter Garden would be icing on the theatrical cake!
gig: I have found your recent post most intriguing. I have met fellow CT member, “DakRoland” and would suggest that you contact him. If you read his August 24, 2007 post, you will see that he has the original blueprints and knows much about this theatre’s history with photos.