Riviera Theatre

4 Center Street,
Geneseo, NY 14454

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Bob D'Angelo
Bob D'Angelo on June 3, 2017 at 8:27 pm

It has been beautifully restored and shows classic movies.

Paul
Paul on February 2, 2017 at 5:24 pm

Hey guys. The theater is actually open. Their website is: http://geneseoriviera.com/.

someguyjoe
someguyjoe on September 9, 2014 at 11:32 am

Update September 2014: The Riviera is set to open back up within the next month or 2. While it will not be returned to its former self. The theater is said to be in co-op with the local SUNY Geneseo.

Judithann
Judithann on September 13, 2013 at 5:31 pm

oh , this makes me so sad! this is close to where I live, about 45 minutes away…would love to save it….

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 7, 2011 at 4:45 am

The “J-Aprile” on the building’s parapet refers to the theater’s original owner. An article in the Livingston Republican of June 23, 1977, tells a bit about the theater’s early years. It was built in 1914 by an Italian immigrant named Joseph Aprile. It was originally called the Rex Theatre. In 1923 it was remodeled and expanded.

The theater was called the Rex at least as late as 1934, but had become the Riviera by some time in 1936. Members of the Aprile family were operating the Riviera at least as late as 1988.

There was also a Grand Theatre in Geneseo, converted from a Baptist church in 1920. It was located at Bank and Wadsworth streets. It operated both as a movie house and as a live theater. It was destroyed by fire on March 27, 1927.