Geitner Theatre
19 Park Place,
Silver Creek,
NY
14136
19 Park Place,
Silver Creek,
NY
14136
No one has favorited this theater yet
Opened in 1921.
Contributed by
Dave Bonan
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The Geitner theatre closed in the early to mid 1980’s. It has a balcony and was, last time I passed by, being used as a dance studio. Just before its closing it reduced admission to $1.00. The Geitner family owned a number of theatres in the western New york area.
Richard G: I haven’t read a post from you in a very long time and this theatre is certainly of interest to me. I have been wanting to see the inside of this theatre so did speak with the current owner, Matt Bogosian earlier this summer. He told me that he remembered the theatre as he used to date his wife in high school. The balcony is gone and the theatre is now a youth center with a dance studio next door run by his wife. I’ve also been in touch with a Geitner relative who lives in PA. She has given me a fair amount of background history on the theatre. I have digital photos of the theatre if you wish to email me. Email can be found on the profile link. And yes, the Geitner family did own several theatres in western NYS. Do you know this Dave Bonan who contributed the Geitner Theatre? Not much information was given other than the year it opened, but I do have some additional information. Glad to see it listed though as it still stands near the town park though the name has been changed to the Backline which is a band stage term.
lostmemory: What is a Link organ? I have talked to the current owner and I don’t recall him saying anything about the theatre having an organ so when I do speak to him again I will ask him as I’m quite sure you are correct in saying it had an organ. Most theatres of that era had an organ! When I posted that the balcony is gone that is what Mr. Bogosian told me. When he and his wife were in high school they went to see movies at the Geitner. It may be the Backline, but to me it will always be the Geitner. Some of the children from Andrew and Credence Geitner still live in Silver Creek and Angola NY, but I have yet had the opportunity to meet them though I did speak with Richard Geitner’s wife. She told me that he wouldn’t be interested in speaking to me about the Geitner so I’m left to wonder why!
Dave Bonan: Since you are the who contributed this theatre to CT, please email me at as I’d like to discuss this theatre more with you as I’m near the Geitner and hope to receive a tour in the near future through the current owner, Matt Bogosian. Thanks.
I wonder what happened to the Link organ? I recently met Matt’s father in the lobby during teen night and he showed me many photos of what the theatre looked like in the 20’s and the work his son and wife had to do to restore the roof and lobby ceiling. I still hope to get a tour and see the auditorium though a “room within a room” was built in the auditorium space. If I could get to, at least, see one of the wall cameos depicted in the auditorium photo posted by Bryan Krefft on October 20, 2005 that would be wonderful.
If anyone can provide more information about this theatre, it would be much appreciated. When this theatre closed in the mid 1980’s it set empty and neglected which was a shame as the original auditorium could have been saved before the elements got to it. When a roof starts leaking then it’s a downhill slide for any future renovation/restoration. The good news is that the building was NOT torn down to make room for a PARKING LOT!
Great night picture for a Great movie!Gregory Peck is Starring in “ONLY THE VALLIANT” on June 11 1951 with two nightly showings.
I’ve been in the lobby of this theatre and found it to be a great old theatre that is now a teen center. Would love to see it returned to its original design though the lobby is still original.
An article titled “Standard Theatres Built Under Cooperative System” by architect G. E. Eichenlaub, published in the October 13, 1923, issue of Exhibitors Herald features two photos of the Geitner Theatre (article begins at this link and continues here.) The Geitner was one of the houses built from one of Eichenlaub’s standard plans for small-town theaters.
See a lot of references to a Link organ above, but according to the Winer & Sons site one of their organs was installed in 1926.