Allendale Theater
203 Allen Street,
Buffalo,
NY
14201
203 Allen Street,
Buffalo,
NY
14201
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 36 comments
Closed as an adult cinema in 1975 and reopened on April 7th, 1976. Another ad posted.
Reopened on September 24th, 1965, with “Around the World with Nature” and “Peeping Tom” as an adult cinema. Ad posted.
Closed in 1958 after the listings ended.
Grand opening ad posted.
In his memoir “Dear America – The Odyssey of an American Communist Youth,” (1979), author Thomas Sgovio reflected on his early years in Buffalo. Here he speaks of going to the movies in the city: “On many a Sunday afternoon after a hearty spaghetti or ravioli dinner, our family walked to the Marlowe or the Allendale. For a dime we reveled as we watched two full length silent movies, a couple of thrilling serials, two comedies and a Pathe newsreel. The movie house was always crowded during those Sunday matinees. Half the kids read the titles on the screen aloud, making it possible for those parents who could not read English to follow the gist of the movie. In the pit below the screen,the feeble glow of an electric light silhouetted the head and shoulders of the piano player. He kept on pounding the musical accompaniment despite the din which at times surely should have torn the ceiling off the theatre, especially during the exciting parts.”
1978 photo added via D Raphael Failla.
Going to see the musical Charlotte’s Web on June 2. Can’t wait to see this restored theatre in the heart of the Allentown area of Buffalo.
CSWalczak: Thanks!
There are some before and after renovation pictures on the theater’s official website.
And does this theatre now have an organ? Former CT member, Lost Memory tells us it had a Beman organ.
LouB: The interior view link doesn’t seem to work. Hope to see this theatre, in person, soon!
I’m not sure why you made the comment on this theater’s page, dickneeds, but perhaps you might like to see this interior picture of Loew’s Teck showing the Cinerama screen. It’s not the widest one I have ever seen and I doubt that patrons at the extreme left and right sides got the full effect, but I would think that center section folks were probably suitably impressed.
After looking at a picture of the Lowes Tek in its Cinerama days it looks like to me that it must have been a horrible place to see 3-strip cinerama. The Aud looks too narrow up front and to spread ot at the rear. At least in Boston, Providence, San Diego and Washington(Uptown) these theatres had both width and length. Maybe I’m wrong but like I say I have never been there and am only guessing from a picture.
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The link above shows an interior view of the theatre.
There is a film series (www.hocn.org)featuring documentaries at this theatre taking place now. It has been a while since films were screened here.
And are there any Beman organ sites out there with a directory as to past and present locations?
A white Wurlitzer! You have the best humor and again, I thank the lights in a flashing marquee that you are a CT member…should be an honorary member, imo.
Lost: I just called the phone number and left a message as I hope to receive a tour of this theatre that has been saved!
Did this theatre have an organ and after restoration is it still there and intact or being restored? If so, I’m sure it was a Wurlitzer.
My only recollection of this theater was during it’s last run as a movie house when they ‘redecorated’ the interior in a motiff that somewhat resembled a warehouse — the walls were covered with what looked like split apart burlap sacks!
http://buffaloah.com/h/movie/k/source/7.html
The above website has a picture of the Allendale with its marquee intact.
Phone number 1963: TT6-9547
View link
This site shows the marquee of the Allendale.
This theatre was used in the movie,The Natural.
Actually in LOST MEMORY’S above post make sure to look at all 9 photos to see the beautiful ceilings, walls and stained glass in the other photos. I have to agree with Karl the photographer that you would not know that the building was a theatre and it would be nice if they would recreate it’s original marquee.
Now for something completly different. Accidentlly when I was looking on the photo site that LOST MEMORY had posted. I went to KARL’S ALL GALLERIES and then to 38 YEARS WITH JENIFER and then looked at each photo and READ NEXT EACH CAPTION. “1969 THE JOURNEY BEGINS” Good for everyone to read, especially someone who is going to get married. If it won’t move you, your heart is “a lump of lead as cold as steel”. I like the one for anyone who has or will ever have teenagers “1989-Maine This was a tough time for us; our teenage son was giving us fits. He eventually enlisted in the Navy, went in a boy and came home a man. He earned his battle ribbons in the Gulf War. We all grew from the experience.”
“FOREVER IS FOREVER”