Rapids Theatre
1711 Main Street,
Niagara Falls,
NY
14305
1711 Main Street,
Niagara Falls,
NY
14305
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Additional history credit Max Eddy:
“The Rapids Theater originally opened as the Bellevue Movie Theater in 1921. The opulent movie and vaudeville house hosted many famous stage and screen performers in it’s day including the Three Stooges. The Bellevue was purchased by the Cataract-Strand Theater Corp. in 1961 and renamed the Rapids Theater. Eventually The Rapids Theater closed it’s doors until 2007 when it was purchased by local businessman John Hutchins. After extensive renovations The Rapids Theater reopened in 2009 as a concert and event venue. Included in Hutchins' purchase, free of charge, were the resident ghosts! It is believed by many that the old theater is haunted. As the story goes a jilted actress hung herself backstage after her lover left her for another woman. Witnesses over the years have spotted a ghostly female apparition roaming different parts of the theater especially the stage. Also the sound of high heels walking across the floor have been heard on numerous occasions. Doors have slammed without reason, unusual sounds have been heard and moving shadows have been seen. Ethereal voices, whistling sounds and footsteps have been heard in most areas of the building. An unworldly moving shadow has been seen in various locations of the building most often in the basement. In October 2011 The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated the claims of ghostly activity at The Rapids Theater for a special episode of Ghost Hunters on the SYFY Channel. Their investigation revealed whistles, unearthly voices, unexplained footsteps and slamming doors as well as a moving shadow that sent chills down the spines of the observers.”
The Rapids theatre is still quite active booking local bands and hosting events. Here’s a link to its website: www.rapidstheatre.com
This might be of interest to one or two visitors: an ad featuring the Six Rockets (more info about them here: View link from the Falls Gazette, featuring them as the headline act at the Bellevue Theatre, part of “Keith-Albee Supreme Vaudeville.†They are described as Sensational European Lady Entertainers. NB: the silent movie shown on the poster was released 22 January 1927 in the USA.
This theatre seems to have 9 lives. I remember seeing movies there as a youth and happened to be in town one day years later when it was being converted into a disco – based on the photos I took at that time, it still had a fair amount of its historic decor intact. Hope this plan works.
The “Belleview” opened Sept.1,1921 with 1,600 seats and was designed by Leon H. Lempert,Jr. Interior Designer was Willard M.Lusk. It became the “Rapids” in July of 1961 and closed June 25,1974. It was turned into a Disco Nov.8,1979.