Grand Theatre
2 N. Portage Street,
Westfield,
NY
14787
2 N. Portage Street,
Westfield,
NY
14787
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 150 of 170 comments
“for in that magic moment you could feel the excitement of our past and present fellow villagers as they, in their respective eras, were drawn to that magic palace in downtown Westfield; a place where everyone could escape the troubles of the world and dream for a couple of hours.” Those words were passed onto Joe Kirsch to read as I know he’ll appreciate your memories! I don’t recall how many years he was the owner, but perhaps he was your boss when you worked at the Grand. When I close my eyes, I can see the lighted marquee at the end of main street on a crystal clear winter night with maybe a light snow falling down. If only it were still there today, it would add so much charm to the Town of Westfield. With the theatre on the corner it would have been a perfect backdrop for a present day car show down main street….sorta like a Back to the 50’s type scene! ;–)
WSL: This theatre site hasn’t been that active of late so I am so thrilled that you have posted and offered your personal memories as that is all we have of this theatre now so please continue to share your Grand memories. I’m assuming that you aren’t old enough to remember Mr. Mascaro, but perhaps Mr. Tetreault. Tom also worked at Eason Hall when the large room in the back was used as a roller rink. I grew up spending alot of time in roller skates so recall those days and also attending a Christmas Ball at Eason Hall one year with my future husband.
WSL: Thank you for your wonderful memories of the Grand theatre which I, personally miss and wish it were still with us today! I do have a question to ask of you at the moment….was the marquee curved or rectangular? I recall it being curved yet in some b/w photos that a friend of mine sent me that he copied from library photos it was not curved. I did have a nice chat several weeks ago with an Erie PA man who used to own the theatre, Joe Kirsch and he told me that after the semi-truck(s) hit the marquee it was made smaller. And did you work for Mr. Kirsch? I plan to meet him this summer along with the last manager, Tom Tetreault who still lives in Westfield.
I grew up in Westfield and loved attending the Grand Theater. I ended up working there when I was in college during the early 70s, at which time it was owned by Blatt Brothers and was open only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. I ran the projectors, tore tickets and sold concessions.
One summer we scrubbed, cleaned and repainted the marquee. We even replaced all of the light bulbs in that HUGE marquee- cases and cases and cases of them! After finishing the multi-day job we all went over into Moore Park in the dead of night and watched as the “newly refurbished” marquee was turned on. We jumped up and down like little kids, for in that magic moment you could feel the excitement of our past and present fellow villagers as they, in their respective eras, were drawn to that magic palace in downtown Westfield; a place where everyone could escape the troubles of the world and dream for a couple of hours.
Robert Mascaro was employed as the manager of the former Grand Theatre of Westfield for more than 30 years! He died on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 at The Waters of Westfield from Alzheimer’s disease. As a young teenager I remember Mr. Mascaro and how nice he kept our hometown theatre. Rest in peace.
Can anyone tell me the Grand architect(s)?
steiner: I sure enjoyed chatting with your father about theatres in the Erie PA area and look forward to meeting him this summer and seeing his theatre scrapbook!
If anyone clicks on the Mapquest location for the Grand it was not north of I-90, but south of the NYS Thurway at the corner of N. Portage and Main Street.
DITTOS DAWN! I, too, am so glad that our theatre paths have crossed and that I have the opportunity to speak to your Dad and hopefully meet your Dad this summer as we are into Erie often throughout the season. I think my memory connection to the Blatt name and theatres may be with drive-ins, though I thought the Grand/Blatt connection was there also. I think about the loss of the Grand often and it really makes me sad. My summer meeting with the last manager and another man who was a member of the demolition committee should prove to be quite interesting to say the least as will my conversations with Joe.
hi patsy. hey, i was looking at another sight in which you mentioned the grand theatre and also the blatt brothers. my father began the theatre business working for them as a ticket boy. they became very good friends up until this day. jack blatt died a few years ago, but my father still visits his son he owns a business here in erie. his wife is still here. she was a high school teacher of mine also. they offered my father their business when they retired. up until then, my dad managed all of their drive ins. the corry drive in was one of them. the screen used to say blatt brothers on it. my dad had it painted awhile ago and now it states kirsches corry drive in on it. just a little something i thought you’d like to know. my dad is filled with so much information to offer to you. i’m so glad to have come accross you.
A friend of mine has research the Grand through the town’s library, Patterson Library and he found that a man by the name of Theodore Blakely also owned the theatre so there must have been more than a few owners over the years and several different managers. When your father owned the Grand, was his manager, Tom Tetrault? He still lives in the town.
Thanks Dawn and so I’ll give your father a phone call in the near future.
my dads name is joe kirsch. steiner is my married name. he looks forward to talking with you. he love to talk about the drive ins. he is also very sad about tha loss of the movie theatres and drive ins. our drive in, however, does very well. my dad makes it very affordable for families enjoy time together. only 8.00 a carload. look forward to hearing from you again.
Glad to meet you Dawn! What is your father’s name so when I call him I can address him by his first name other than the official Mr. Steiner? If you haven’t gone back to Westfield, perhaps you should and see for yourself the lovely park that now stands in place of the lovely theatre that was torn down in the name of progress! If I sound a bit upset, frustrated and saddened….I am!
all i did to find this sight was look up the names and cities of all my dads old theatres. when i looked up the grand theatre in westfield new york this was the sight that i found. we havent been back since the theatre days, at least i havent. my dad may have. hey, happy new year! by the way, my name is dawn.
Thanks Steiner for the emails and phone number as I will be calling your father in the near future! I’d love to meet him, too. I am just thrilled to finally meet someone on this cinema site that can talk to me about ‘my’ Grand Theatre. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts I plan to contact the last manager, Tom Tetrault who still lives in Westfield on Crandall when we return to Chautauqua County in May and also a man who was on the demolition committee to raise money to demolish the theatre so the Lincoln/Bedell Park could be erected. Have you visited Westfield to see this site? It’s very nice, but would rather see the statues in Moore Park and see the theatre STILL STANDING IN 2005! Gee, most towns raise money to save something and not to destroy something! It will be most interesting to sit down and talk to one of the men who was on THAT infamous committee! It should be an easy task as I’ve known Carl for many years through our families. Also, I’m sure you’ve noticed the book that is featured on this site, Cinema Treasures. I ordered it and it is wonderful so if you haven’t gotten this book for yourself or for your wonderful sounding father you might think about doing so as it is truly a ‘treasure’! Question: How did you find the cinema treasures site? I found it through a local organ society member. I don’t play organ, but have been in contact with a few members who are involved in saving the local Carolina Theatre in downtown Charlotte. The Carolina dates back to the 1920’s…the auditorium stills stands, but the lobby was demolished….long story!
Thanks Tom. It was on a corner so that address is correct, in my opinion!
I show the address for the Grand Theatre as 1 East Main Street.
the bathroom was really red as was the theatre itself. the snackbar was tiny. simply pop,candy and popcorn. i know because i made it as a 14 year old. my dad used to pay me 10% of what we took in and people would ask me if i was old enough to work there. we drove everyday in the winter and i remember going next door to the portage inn with my parents. they knew people there. that was my favorite theatre, probably because it was the only indoor one that i remember my dad running. i very much remember the star drive in, the lakeview drive in, and the lawerence park drive in which my dad also ran. there were more, but i don’t remember them. my dad loves to remenise about these so he’ll love to talk with you. he knows so much. you’ll love him.
my dad has a complete listing of all the theatres in and around erie from the first one built in 1893. he is willing to share this with you. the semi that hit the theatre did so when the marquee said “smash hit” and played The Best Little ********* in Texas, which he refused to put on the marquee. the folly theatre, my dad and his movie collectors, actually ran a movie there last year. only the screen remains inside. please feel free to contact us @ or you can also call my dad @ (814)4597100. he looks forward to talking with you as well as you coming to our drive in which is completely family run. i’m just learning to use a computer. we finally could get one and i was practicing by trying to locate info for my dad on the theatres, which have been his pride and joy since he was a ticket boy as a kid.
Steiner: I suppose you have located and read all of the theatres that are listed for Erie PA and know about the Folly Theatre which was located on W. 26th Street. (Exact address is on the Folly site) Go to the site and read about the Folly then under Pennsylvania read about all the many others that were once in Erie. Thank goodness the Warner and the former Strand (Erie Playhouse) still proudly stand today! I know the Warner was to be demolished, (I have been in contact with the general manager), but former Mayor Tuillo helped save that one when he was in office! Thank you Mayor Louis Tuillo! He died of a rare blood disorder called amyloidosis which also took the life of a dear friend.
Steiner: I also have the Corry Drive-In listed on my favorites page and would like to see a movie there this summer. I know when they have some car cruise-ins at the Wal-Mart in Jamestown NY some of the cars caravan over to Corry to see a flick! Isn’t this cinema site just wonderful! I’ve learned so much about other theaters and met so many nice folks who have the same incurable ‘cinema’ bug which is just so great!
Steiner: Gosh, what a very ‘grand’ surprise to read your email! When I read “my father owned the theatre” I could be seen jumping up and down in the computer chair! :–) I have recently sent letters to the last manager of the Grand, Thomas Tetrault and to a man who was on the demolition committee, but no response from either as yet! So I would dearly love to chat with your father either by phone and/or in person as we spend our summers in the Chautauqua Lake area and frequently travel into Erie. If you notice, a member by the name of Richard G posted about another owner by the name of Dietner who also owned the theater. Does your father know this name as I plan to contact that person, as well this summer. I didn’t realize that the theater was owned by so many different people over the years. I was going to send you a personal email, but I see that you have chosen not to provide that information on your profile page but my email is there so I’ll be anxiously awaiting a ‘grand’ reply! :–)
my father owned this theatre from 1980-1983. his name is joseph kirsch. i worked there as a 6th grader,also. my father said he would be willing to give you his home phone number to contact him if you wish. we live in erie pa and currently own the corry drive in in corry, pa. please feel free to respond.
Richard G: I found your post on the Palace Theatre/Hamburg NY ‘page'so any further 'chat’ about the Grand should go on this ‘page'I guess…that way I won’t miss any of your additional and interesting thoughts. All information that I gather helps put the pieces of the 'Grand’ puzzle together. Thanks so very much.