Shuffle Off to Buffalo

Postally unused, circa 1916:

“Washington Street, seen here looking north from Lafayette Square in 1916, was second only to Main Street in urban intensity. At the left is the Olympic Theatre, a motion picture and vaudeville house opened in 1914. Next door is Seames & Zeitler’s Park Hof, a German restaurant, beer hall, and cabaret built in 1908. At the right, the New Family Theatre advertises five cent ‘photoplays,’ an antiquated term for motion picture.”

From The Public , “Western New York’s true alternative media source” 

In the background is the New Lyric offering movies and vaudeville.

Postally Unused:

On the marquee at Shea’s Buffalo: “Sol Hurok Presents Sadler Wells Theatre Ballet”.

“When Shea’s Buffalo Theatre was made a National Historic Site in 1975, restoration began in earnest to return the theater to its original appearance as it was when “The Wonder Theatre” opened in January 1926. From hand-stenciling over 7,000 square feet of walls to repairing the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, we continue with our restoration efforts to this day.”

From their website

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Private walks also available.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently seeking funding for “Editing & Formatting” the first three volumes of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, 3rd Edition

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

Advertisement

From a Changing Main Street

Postmarked 1948

Newburgh1_pe

Ritz:
Saboteur (1942)

A double feature at the Cameo:
Song of the Islands (1942)
Riders of the Timberline(1941)

Postmarked 1965

Newburgh2_pe

Carousel (1956)

Ritz Theatre

Ritz Theatre, Renovation

The Ritz and Hotel Newburgh are now part of Safe Harbors of the Hudson, ” a mixed-use, non-profit housing and arts redevelopment project.”

Newburgh  “is considered the most dangerous [city] in New York and one of the most dangerous in the nation.”

 

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Private walks also available.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently seeking funding for “Editing & Formatting” the first three volumes of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, 3rd Edition

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temple Theatre, 413 Exchange Street, Geneva, NY

Opened January 20, 1912:

img741_pe

A stage, for vaudeville, was added in 1913, with Leon Lempert Jr., as architect.

img743_pe

Excerpts Moving Picture World, March 11, 1916:
“Mr. Pierce’s*  prices of admission are 10, 15 and 20 cents. He says his patrons want 80 per cent moving pictures and 20 per cent vaudeville.”

“Receiving  hints from the Strand theater, New York, Mr. Pierce has arranged his stage in an elaborate fashion and has built a $5,000 lobby. He has an orchestra of five pieces.”

“He is meeting with success in serving his high-class patrons. He will probably dispense with vaudeville entirely.”

*Frank C. Pierce, of Pierce & Nagle, proprietors of the theatre.

 

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index.

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

2nd Avenue Theatre 35 – 37 Second Avenue, New York, NY

David Kessler’s 2nd Avenue Theatre  made its debut on September 14, 1911,  the first of the playhouses to open along the “Yiddish Rialto.”

img005

Back of Postcard:
img010

Cezar Del Valle will be conducting  walking tours of the Yiddish Rialto for Local Expeditions beginning Sunday, November 27, 2016

 

Legendary theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle is celebrating 20 years of theatre talks and walks, 1996-2016. Currently accepting bookings for historical societies, libraries , senior centers, etc.  Details of independent walks will be published this fall.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres. The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

Selling  on Etsy and Amazon

 

 

 

Thompson’s Moving Pictures, Rockaway Beach

img873

“In 1913, [LaMarcus Adna] Thompson made a brief foray into the motion picture industry by acquiring the American rights to a screen that could be used in an ‘ordinary theatre either by day or night.’

An unsuccessful demonstration at Newark, New Jersey followed by an installation at Rockaway Beach, next to L.A. Thompson’s Scenic Railway” [more].
Theatre Talks [Cezar Del Valle] Received credit in the following textbook published in 2015. Provided Professor Freund with a copy of the above postcard.

wiley

Wiley

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres. The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

He is available for theatre talks and walks in 2016: historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Now selling “vintage” on Etsy.

Chinese Theatre, Luna Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn

With the third and concluding volume of the Brooklyn Theatre Index nearing its publication, we will be featuring during the month of September, borough performance spaces on our various web logs and sites.

LunaPostmarked 1904

 

Postcard from the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society.

He is available for theatre talks and walking tours in 2014–2015, historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.