Jefferson Theater

61 State Street,
Auburn, NY 13021

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Schine Circuit Inc.

Architects: Arland W. Johnson

Previous Names: New Jefferson Theater

Nearby Theaters

New Jefferson Theater...Auburn New York

The New Jefferson Theater was opened in November 1908, with 1,600 seats. By 1941 it was part of the Schine Circuit. It continued to operate until at least 1950.

It was later demolished and a Budget Inn now stands on the site

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

spectrum
spectrum on September 29, 2007 at 7:40 pm

The Jefferson seated 1,300.

spectrum
spectrum on October 17, 2009 at 4:27 pm

This theatre looks from the google photos to be demolished.

InesitadaSilva
InesitadaSilva on January 29, 2011 at 3:02 am

Thanks to Lost Memory for posting the Citizen piece.

I would like to complement that with a clipping from 1926 which echoes the third paragraph: “a quality theater …for vaudeville and other stage shows. However, it soon added movies to its programs.”

My grandmother was an acrobat act that was one of those other stage show programs and a short preview for her acrobat troupe can be seen here: View link

More about my grandmother’s vaudeville adventures in America are detailed here: View link

I should like to thank one of CT’s denizens who found this newsclipping very kindly on my behalf.

I hope it shall be useful to others!

PS.A photo of the Jefferson would be very much appreciated!

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on March 13, 2011 at 2:32 pm

Should be listed as A.K.A. New Jefferson Theatre,thanks for posting Don.

InesitadaSilva
InesitadaSilva on March 13, 2011 at 5:44 pm

Thank you so much!

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 13, 2012 at 5:02 am

It’s very likely that the New Jefferson was the theater referred to in this item in the July 29, 1908, issue of The American Architect and Building News:

“We learn from despatches that Architect Arland C. Johnson, of Toledo, Ohio, is at work on plans for a handsome new theater for Mose Reis to be located at Auburn.”
Aside from getting the architect’s middle initial wrong, this report was probably reliable. Entertainment magazine The Billboard reported (belatedly) on the scheduled opening of the New Jefferson Theatre in its issue of December 12, 1908:
“After making preparations for the past six months, the opening of the New Jefferson Theatre, Auburn, N. Y., will occur November 23 with Eddie Foy in Mr. Hamlet of Broadway. The theatre contains all the latest and most modern improvements of the day. It will be managed by J. O. Brooks, formerly of the Majestic Theatre, Utica, N. Y. The theatre is on the Reis Circuit and has a seating capacity of 1,600.”

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on March 6, 2013 at 10:05 pm

From Auburn an undated postcard image of the New Jefferson Theatre.

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