Cameo Theatre

234 Robinson Street,
Binghamton, NY 13904

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Showing 26 - 44 of 44 comments

xbartonxx
xbartonxx on June 24, 2008 at 7:53 pm

Dear giosgirl,i was wondering if your aunt would be interested in opening the cameo as a non profit organization, my name is Matthew Barton and i live only a couple blocks down from the cameo on fairview ave I used to go to the cameo when i was a child and it was and always has been my favorite theater ive seen countless movies there and completely understand why your aunt would not want to sell. im not looking to take advantage of anyone or even make money i would just like the kids of this area and the families to have great memories of the eastside cameo like i do. If i could have if your aunt is willing a brief moment of her time to talk thank you as i hope i will be hearing from you soon

Dot
Dot on June 16, 2008 at 7:40 pm

giosgirl,I will be calling your aunt again as I to enjoyed talking to her.I think your aunt is very lucky to have family who care so much for her…eastender

giosgirl218
giosgirl218 on June 16, 2008 at 2:06 pm

YES THE ADDRESS IS 234 ROBINSON STREET, I LIVE IN FLORIDA. I KEEP IN CONTACT WITH MY AUNT VERY OFTEN. MY COUSIN WHO HELPS TAKE CARE OF MY AUNT IS ALSO CHECKING INTO THIS SITE.

EASTENDER, MY AUNT SAYS FEEL FREE TO CALL AND TALK ABOUT OLD TIMES. SHE VERY MUCH ENJOYS, TALKING ABOUT THE EAST SIDE AND THE THEATRE BACK IN THE DAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING UNDERSTANDING. I JUST WORRY THERE IS ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ELDERLY, I DONT WANT MY AUNT TO GET HURT. SHE VERY MUCH ENJOYED TALKING TO YOU. PLEASE CONTINUE TO CALL, IT KEEPS HER SPIRITS UP.

AnneTrebilcock
AnneTrebilcock on June 16, 2008 at 5:38 am

giosgirl,

please know that I meant no harm in mentioning the sale of the cameo. I understand your aunt is an elderly women with a love for the place she has spent her life taking care of. She is a lovely woman and we enjoyed the time she spent with us showing the theatre and talking about the past. At the time we did not realize she was not ready to let go, and were under the impression she was interested in selling. We only wanted to preserve what she had spent a lifetime taking care of and thought it would be great if she could see it brought back to life the way she remembered it. However we realized some time last year that that was not the case and have not
tried to contact her since. We wish her the best and hope many people in the community reach out to her and discuss the old days, it certainly seemed to make her smile. Again I am sorry if I offended you, we as an organization would never want to bother or
upset such a sweet person. Best of luck to your Aunt and her family.

Dot
Dot on June 15, 2008 at 8:49 pm

giosgirl, i was the lady who called your aunt. When i was young I had a collie who used to go to the movies with me. The Robinson’s put a blanket in the lobby by the radiator and she slept there while she waited for me. I really enjoyed talking with your aunt as she remembers a lot of the history about the east side. If it’s ok with you i’d really like to call her again.I have no interest in buying the Cameo.Thanks..

giosgirl218
giosgirl218 on June 15, 2008 at 7:21 pm

DEAR READERS, FRAN ROBINSON IS MY AUNT. SHE GOT A CALL FROM A LADY TELLING THE STORY ABOUT THE DOG IN THE LOBBY, TO WHICH SHE DOES REMEMBER. SHE ASKED ME TO CHECK INTO THE CALL. SHE IS ELDERLY AND SICK, HOW EVER SHE DOES ENJOY TALKING ABOUT THE THEATRE. AS LONG AS THE CALL IS TO DISCUSS THE OLD DAYS. SHE IS NOT INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING THE SALE OF THE THEATRE. THAT THEATRE IS HER LIFE. MY AUNT AND UNCLE PUT THEIR LIFE INTO RUNNING IT. PLEASE UNDERSTAND IM NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE.SHE DOESNT WANT TO BE BOTHERED ABOUT SELLING. LIKE I SAID IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL AND TALK OF OLD TIMES THATS FINE. THANK YOU ALSO I SEE THERES PLACE WHERE I CAN ADD A PICTURE OF THE THEATRE, I WILL DO SO SOON.

AnneTrebilcock
AnneTrebilcock on June 15, 2008 at 6:44 am

East ender

I am so glad you were able to make contact. She is a lovely lady, I am sure she will enjoy some company now and again. I am glad to hear she is doing well. If she ever mentions selling the theater we are still very interested in seeing it open back up and turning it into a performing arts theater. I would love to see it continue for her since she is so atached to it, I would hate to see it disapear after all the years she has kept it up. Good luck to you Little Anne

Dot
Dot on June 14, 2008 at 5:22 pm

littleAnne, thought you’d like to know i did call and talk to Mrs Robinson. She’s very delightful and great to talk to. She did remember my dog. She still takes care of the Cameo. She goes over there just about every day and recently had a new roof put on.She told me she never had children and considers the Cameo her “kid”.I’m going to try and keep in touch with her on a regular basis.

Dot
Dot on May 26, 2008 at 5:34 pm

littleAnne, thank you so much for the quick responce. I don’t live in Binghamton but have a friend who can look up her phone number for me…Thanks again…eastender

AnneTrebilcock
AnneTrebilcock on May 26, 2008 at 4:20 pm

I myself do not have her address. Our realtor was the one in contact with her. She does live next door, she is a lovely lady but is elderly and not in great health. You may find her in the phone book under Fran Robinson. She really enjoys talking about the theater and the past. She is very attached to it. I am sure she would love to hear from someone such as yourself. We have not heard from her since late last summer when she was considering selling it. Good luck

Dot
Dot on May 25, 2008 at 11:48 pm

littleAnne, how did you get in touch with Fran Robinson? I lived near the Cameo in the 50’s and my dog use to go to the movies with me and to bingo with my neighbor. The owners at that time (‘50s) use to let her sleep in the lobby.I was quite young and don’t know what the owners name was. If possible could you send me Mrs Robinson’s address..Thanks

Dot
Dot on May 25, 2008 at 11:32 pm

Does anyone know who owned/ran the Cameo theatre in Binghamton in the early 1950’s?

AnneTrebilcock
AnneTrebilcock on February 25, 2007 at 11:40 am

I Agree, we would love to see this theater used for the performing arts! It is a shame that it is sitting empty and un-used. we sent a letter to Fran Robinson the owner a few years ago but got no response. Maybe enough people will feel the same way and it can be saved before it is too late.

DavidWallick
DavidWallick on February 24, 2007 at 3:40 pm

I happened to drive past this theater today. I lived in Binghamton from 1981 to 1985 and I hadn’t seen this theater since then. Binghamton used to have a number of old, single screen theaters. Now, the movies in Binghamton are basically just two large, modern multiplexes without any character or charm.

Although this theater has been closed since 2002, it appeared (at least from the outside) to still be in fine shape — no deterioration or vandalism were noticeable. It is a shame that it is just sitting there and not used for any purpose. It was a real neighborhood theater. It is surrounded by houses, with a few commercial buildings across the street and there is no parking lot. Two of the other three single screen houses in the area have been demolished (Crest, Cinema Endicott) for commercial development (did we really need another chain pharmacy?). Luckily the Towne in Endicott survives as a performing arts center. I only wish someone could find a fitting use for the Cameo before it is too late to save.

deleted user
[Deleted] on October 8, 2006 at 3:36 am

I hope that the Cameo can be reopened eventually, in spite of the parking situation and other issues. It’s the only surviving intact neighborhood movie theater left in Broome County, unless you count the rebulit State Theater in Deposit. It definitely deserves another chance.

jukingeo
jukingeo on April 4, 2006 at 6:29 am

Hello..

Anne, have you made any headway in finding out any more details on this theatre? You mentioned you wanted to use it for performing arts. Is it set up for that? Is there a stage? Usually it is much easier to convert a performing arts theatre-turned movie house, back to it’s original format. But converting a movie house, that was designed as such…is much harder. The capacity though is very nice, slightly small, but for intended purposes of hosting performing arts related functions, it should do. Moreover, since it was in use not too long ago, it will probably need very little work to be done.

I myself am looking to get into the theatre business myself and I have worked with performing arts schools in the past. Owning a theatre has been a dream of mine for a long time. Perhaps we can talk more via emails…I do not want to drop too much off topic stuff here.

But first and foremost. Do you even know if the theatre is for sale?

Geo

joemasher
joemasher on September 18, 2005 at 6:10 am

Fran Robinson lives next door—just go knock on her door.

AnneTrebilcock
AnneTrebilcock on April 14, 2005 at 11:40 am

I am involved in the local performing arts in this area. I am interested in information on this theater. Is it for lease or for sale at this time? Please contact me with any information regarding this. Thank You,

Anne Trebilcock