Old Vienna Theatre

352 Pearl Street,
Buffalo, NY 14202

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Additional Info

Architects: William H. McElfatrick

Previous Names: Gayety Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, Filmarte Theatre, State Theatre

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Old Vienna Theatre

This theater, located on Pearl Street at Huron Street, was built in 1914, designed by architect William H. McElfatrick. It was originally a burlesque house, but later turned to movies.

The Gayety Theatre had various later name changes: Playhouse Theatre, Filmart Theatre, State Theatre, and in the 1940’s-1950’s the Old Vienna Theatre. It was razed in 1955 and a parking garage is on the site today.

Contributed by Bryan

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on April 16, 2005 at 6:07 pm

List in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook as the State Theatre with 1,200 serats. In the F.D.Y. edition of 1943 it was the Old Vienna Theatre with a capacity of 1,029. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it is still the Old Vienna Theatre but with 1,602 seats listed.

roberttoplin
roberttoplin on September 17, 2007 at 10:25 pm

To be exact: Opened – January 12,1914 and Razed – October 9,1955. G.A.Mang was the Buffalo Supervising Architect and opened with 1,575 seats.

arl
arl on February 2, 2008 at 4:32 pm

According to newspaper articles, in its later years, as the “Old Vienna”, the chief attraction
here was Bingo. Patrons were charged $2.00 to see a second run movie, after which a
Bingo game was held, with cash prizes. Bingo was illegal at this time, and after a series
of confrontations with the law, the theater closed in March 1951.

PGlenat
PGlenat on February 2, 2008 at 5:48 pm

That cracks me up. Every church parish hall, legion hall and VFW post in the area had bingo games at least once a week. Were they ever raided…not likely!

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