It was reported in the July 29, 1927 issue of Motion Picture News magazine that John Hamrick, head of The John Hamrick Circuit in Seattle, Portland, and Tacoma, announced last week he had just completed negotiations for the installation of Vitaphone in his Blue Mouse Theatre in Tacoma.
In the next week’s issue of August 5, 1927 it was reported that, at The Blue Mouse, the first week of “Dearie” and a four-act Vitaphone show attracted better than average houses. The picture was only fair in its audience appeal; the Vitaphone subjects headed by John Charles Thomas and Vivenne Segal were the least attractive of any used so far this season, with the exception of the headliners named.
It was reported in the July 29, 1927 issue of Motion Picture News magazine that the Marbro did well with its first Vitaphone presentation – a musical short featuring Benny Meroff and his band and the feature “Colleen”
An article giving the opening date as Sunday, September 5, 1920.
http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume11314newy#page/596/mode/1up/search/%22shea’s%22
An article about the Criterion’s planned opening and details about it’s management and upgrading.
http://www.archive.org/stream/motionpicturenew222unse#page/1942/mode/1up/search/%22something+to+think+about%22
Dipson remodeled the theater and reopened it on November 29, 1923 with a showing of “Going Up”.
http://www.archive.org/stream/exhibit00newy#page/n335/mode/2up/search/batavia
The Havens was sold by James Havens in May of 1920 to Nikitas D. Dipson of Batavia, NY and Marces James of Buffalo, NY. They took over control on June 1, 1920 and began a policy of continuous shows from 11:00AM to 11:00PM. They also took over the lease from Havens of the New Gem theater in Olean, NY and were in negotiations to purchase the Palace theater on North Union Street.
http://www.archive.org/stream/motionpicturenew212unse#page/n1527/mode/2up/search/batavia
Here’s what it currently looks like on Google Maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/Beacon Theatre.8684409,-78.845801,3a,37.5y,41.65h,93.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMfNNcJh002Y_NBRPFT1g4w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1
It’s now occupied by Buffalo Sweeping Compound Inc as well as Industrial Signs & Engraving, Inc. who refurbished the garage door, took down the motor repair sign, and put up a new sign.
Was this at one time also the Eastern Star theater run by future film producer Charles R. Rogers? The Eastern Star theater company was dissolved in July 1923. There’s an article at the bottom of the left column in this link.
https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily2526newy#page/n241/mode/1up/search/%22eastern+star%22
Also there was a mention of the theater in Rogers' bio in the 1937 Film Daily Product Guide
and Directors' Annual near the top of the left column in this link.
https://archive.org/stream/filmdailypresent1937film#page/169/mode/1up/search/%22charles+r.+rogers%22
It was reported in the July 29, 1927 issue of Motion Picture News magazine that John Hamrick, head of The John Hamrick Circuit in Seattle, Portland, and Tacoma, announced last week he had just completed negotiations for the installation of Vitaphone in his Blue Mouse Theatre in Tacoma. In the next week’s issue of August 5, 1927 it was reported that, at The Blue Mouse, the first week of “Dearie” and a four-act Vitaphone show attracted better than average houses. The picture was only fair in its audience appeal; the Vitaphone subjects headed by John Charles Thomas and Vivenne Segal were the least attractive of any used so far this season, with the exception of the headliners named.
It was reported in the July 29, 1927 issue of Motion Picture News magazine that the Marbro did well with its first Vitaphone presentation – a musical short featuring Benny Meroff and his band and the feature “Colleen”
According to this article, “King Of Jazz” made its Buffalo premiere on July 24, 1930.
http://tinyurl.com/gmfb5wz
An article giving the opening date as Sunday, September 5, 1920. http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume11314newy#page/596/mode/1up/search/%22shea’s%22
An article about the Criterion’s planned opening and details about it’s management and upgrading. http://www.archive.org/stream/motionpicturenew222unse#page/1942/mode/1up/search/%22something+to+think+about%22
How the Criterion opened. http://www.archive.org/stream/motionpicturenew222unse#page/2228/mode/2up
The Criterion opened on Sunday September 5, 1920 with a sneak preview of Demille’s “Something To Think About” starring Gloria Swanson.
Dipson remodeled the theater and reopened it on November 29, 1923 with a showing of “Going Up”. http://www.archive.org/stream/exhibit00newy#page/n335/mode/2up/search/batavia
The Havens was sold by James Havens in May of 1920 to Nikitas D. Dipson of Batavia, NY and Marces James of Buffalo, NY. They took over control on June 1, 1920 and began a policy of continuous shows from 11:00AM to 11:00PM. They also took over the lease from Havens of the New Gem theater in Olean, NY and were in negotiations to purchase the Palace theater on North Union Street. http://www.archive.org/stream/motionpicturenew212unse#page/n1527/mode/2up/search/batavia
Nikitas Dipson was running the Family Theater in 1915. http://www.archive.org/stream/movpicwor26chal#page/n85/mode/2up
Original address was 412 William Street until William was extended further west downtown adding 100 to all existing addresses on William Street.
Here’s what it currently looks like on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/Beacon Theatre.8684409,-78.845801,3a,37.5y,41.65h,93.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMfNNcJh002Y_NBRPFT1g4w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 It’s now occupied by Buffalo Sweeping Compound Inc as well as Industrial Signs & Engraving, Inc. who refurbished the garage door, took down the motor repair sign, and put up a new sign.
The name Great Lakes was selected in a contest and the winners split a cash prize.
It’s now a Rent-A-Center store
The building to the right of the theater has since been demolished and is an empty lot
Was this at one time also the Eastern Star theater run by future film producer Charles R. Rogers? The Eastern Star theater company was dissolved in July 1923. There’s an article at the bottom of the left column in this link. https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily2526newy#page/n241/mode/1up/search/%22eastern+star%22 Also there was a mention of the theater in Rogers' bio in the 1937 Film Daily Product Guide and Directors' Annual near the top of the left column in this link. https://archive.org/stream/filmdailypresent1937film#page/169/mode/1up/search/%22charles+r.+rogers%22