Genesee Theatre
1600 Genesee Street,
Buffalo,
NY
14211
1600 Genesee Street,
Buffalo,
NY
14211
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It reopened on January 9th, 1970, with adult movies later in the year. Another ad posted.
In the planning stages, this was the Neighborhood Theatre for the East Genesee Holding Company with architectural plans by Henry L. Spann. It launched as Basil’s Genesee Theatre on October 12, 1927 with organist Dusty Rhodes at the Marr & Colton organ supporting the opening film of “Painting the Town” with Glenn Tryon.
Facebook link to 3 vintage Basil’s Genesee Theatre promotional posters. Scroll right on link.
https://www.facebook.com/vintagebuffalony/photos/a.269120803166048/1709592319118882/?type=3&theater
Nice exterior architecture. The cars look like the 70’s to me. Interior of this theatre is lovely.
I remember seeing the inside of this theatre in the late 1970s or perhaps 1980. The fellow that arranged for us to get inside this theater suggested that we go early in the morning before the neighborhood got too lively. As I recall, it was in wintertime and the building was not heated except for a glassed area toward the top of the auditorium. A couple of “gentlemen” were actively participating in the adult film that was showing on the screen. A sad ending to what was once a very nice neighborhood theatre.
Just saw this, thanks bobtoplin, I will check in on it.
Here is a larger version of an image on this theater’s photo page, the Marr and Colton organ company’s 1928 ad illustrated with a couple of images of the Gennesee Theatre.
To paulgs15147…………………you`re thinking of the New Columbia at 449 Genesee at Spring.. Arch. M.C. Miller, opened Apr.15, 1915. Razed 1956.
My childhood neighborhood theater. The photo must be from its last days – note the Visa logo on the furniture store: that didn’t exist until 1975, so the photo is probably at least a few years after that. When I worked at the Riviera in North Tonawanda in the 1980s, I loved knowing that parts of the Genesee survived there.
My Great Grandfather George Schaaf of the construction company of the same name built a theater on Genesee st. sometime after 1914. The architech was Martin C Miller. any idea if this is the theater, or if there were or are other old theaters on Genesee St. Paul S
I lived on Nevada St.in the 60s and went to the Genesee Show often. I remember if the Ushers saw you throwing popcorn they would make you stand in the center of the lobby for 5-10 mins before allowing you back to your seat.
After the movie we would walk a block to Wicks on the corner of Genesee & Montana Streets where we’d enjoy a fosfate & listen to music from the jukebox.
It was great being a kid back then….so many special memories.
Brenda P.
http://buffaloah.com/h/movie/k/source/6.html
The website above shows a picture of this theatre.
Phone number 1960: TAylor 1600
In the mid to late fifties I lived near the Jefferson-Utica Sts. intersection and frequently patronized the Apollo and Genesee
theaters. The Genesee was quite a hike but it was always well worth it. From what I remember, on Saturday, there would be a line outside and I believe it cost 10 cents for admission. These obviously were not first run movies. As a kid, who cared. I especially remember seeing the Ten Commandments there, (boy that was long) and also two of my favorite movies The Last Voyage and The Wreck Of The Mary Deare. I do have a b/w photograph that was taken at night. Based on the parked autos this may have been taken in the 40’s early 50’s.
View link
The site above shows a picture of this theatre.
The Genesee Theater opened in 1928, in a structure called the Genesee Theater Building. It
was an Adams style theater by archiect Harold Spann. The building housed several other
businesses. The Genesee was run by the Basil Family and was their major theater and offices,
until they acquired the Lafayette Theater in the 1940s. This was the last theater in the Basil
Chain and was closed in 1966. Other interests re-opened the Genesee in 1970 and X-rated
films were shown there, along with second run films until around 1979. The entire structure
was leveled in 1985. The chandelier in the Genesee went to the Riviera Theater in North
Tonawanda.