Forum Theatre
236 Washington Street,
Binghamton,
NY
13901
236 Washington Street,
Binghamton,
NY
13901
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 30 comments
New official link at:
https://broomearenaforum.com/
From here you can also link to their facebook page and a virtual tour.
May 1965 photo as Capri Theatre added credit Richard J. Allen Sr.
This reopened as Capri on June 9th, 1960. Full page ad in the photo and below
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April 22nd, 1920 and October 27th, 1946 grand opening ads in the photo section. It closed down 1932-1946.
I remember going to the Capri to see Ben Hur, but the best memory was when the Capri was having their grand opening in the 60’s. Back then diagonally across the street was the old YMCA, my dad and I came out to see the grand opening. They had a number of large keg lights and it was as close Binghamton to come to replicating a Hollywood movie premier.
I was wondering if anyone had any pictures of the original ticket booth for this theater or any others designed by this architect. Our historical society does not, and I haven’t been able to find very many examples of this architect’s work on line. Cheers-Mr.M
From this date and for three days (Jan 6-8th), 1930, The Six Rockets, an all-girl RKO acrobat troupe began a three day run at the Binghamton as one of 5 ‘Big Time [vaudeville] Acts’ alongside the Paramount feature, ‘Charming Sinners.’ More info on The Six Rockets at http://www.inesitadasilva.com/?page=Keith%27s-Theatre. A press clipping from the January 8 issue of The Binghamton Press is also available from me in case interested.
The Forum was built in 1919.
The Susquehanna Heritage Area Management Plan of 2009 lists Herbert R. Brewster as the architect of the Binghamton Theatre. Brewster also designed the Empire Theatre in Brooklyn and the Jamaica Theatre in Jamaica, as well as two theater projects in Stapleton, Staten Island, and one in New London, Connecticut, none of which I’ve been able to identify. He also designed the Casino Theatre on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, but it appears to have operated only as a burlesque house.
The Binghamton was apparently also dark through much of the ‘50s, occasionally reopening for special events, and in 1957 a plan was floated to level the floor and turn it into office space. Luckily, it didn’t happen.
A Feb. 1945 item about the closing of the Lyric by the Comerford chain stated that at the time of that writing, this theatre was also owned by them, and also dark.
CSWalczak, you are correct. I found this from the Binghamton Press from March 10, 1960:
http://is.gd/12a789
If this theater was ever equipped for Cinerama (doubtful), there is no record of it ever having showed any film “in Cinerama.” It may have had 70mm equipment at one time.
Very nice marquee on The Forum.
As I recall, the Capri was also the only theater in the Binghamton area that was outfitted for Cinerama. It was a wonderful theater.
I had the opportunity to work on stage crew for the Tri-Cities Opera. Prior to the Capri being remodeled and turned into a performing arts center, the Technical Director of the Opera took several of us on a tour of the old Capri, including the old dressing rooms and a rehearsal room that was below the stage from vaudeville and live performance days. I wish I had pictures to share, it was pretty amazing stuff to see.
The Binghamton Theatre was renamed the Capri Theatre in 1960. Boxoffice of June 20 reported that Comerford Theatres had held an invitational premier on June 8, and the remodeled house had opened to the public the following night. The renovation had included reseating the auditorium, reducing its capacity from about 1,800 to about 1,200.
Here is a photo:
http://tinyurl.com/m6ezdm
Warren: Nice photos…thanks!
Patsy, it’s good you are relaying to the Forum people that you are interested in the Forum’s history. Also, regarding the Strand and Riviera: the front part of the Strand (formerly the lobby which was torn out to be converted into restaurant space) is currently for sale. The front part of the Riviera is also for sale. Both of these theaters auditoriums have not been in use for close to 30 years and are really in need of a restoration.
Bingham theatre was one of the biggest theatres in New York, the seating capacity of this theatre was 1,804 as per the film daily year book and later it was named as Capri. In 1975 it was considered to be the home for Broome county performing center. Robert-Morton theatre pipe organ was also being installed in the theatre.
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Joe Masher: Interesting to read your 2005 post concerning the Strand and the Riviera….“both have been converted to other uses, but their auditoriums remain sealed off and abandoned”. Is this still the case?
MikeR: I just wrote the Forum to obtain an entertainment schedule as the town has a philharmonic orchestra which performs at the Forum. I also listed all of the Cinema Treasures theatres (closed and demolished) so it should be interesting to read their theatre response!
I believe that the Forum was once a part of the Comerford chain, like many of the other old theaters in the Triple Cities. The Morton organ is now being maintained by the Binghamton Chapter of the American Theater Organ Society.
See photos at http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=23648
Correction….CT has 5 theatres listed.