Allendale Theater

203 Allen Street,
Buffalo, NY 14201

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Related Websites

Allendale Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Architects: Leon H. Lempert, Jr.

Functions: Live Theater

Styles: Neo-Classical

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 716.884.4400

Nearby Theaters

Allendale Theatre, Buffalo, NY

A beautifully restored gem in Buffalo’s Allentown District. It was opened on September 23, 1913 with 900 seats. The Allendale Theater was closed as a movie theater in 1958. It reopened on September 24, 1965 screening two naturist movies:Brigette Baum in “Around the World with Nothing On” & “Batchelor Peeping Tom”(aka Batchelor Tom and His Bikini Playmates). It closed as an adult cinema in 1975. It was reopened on April 7, 1976.

It reopened in 2000 after a long restoration. Now home to the Theatre of Youth Company.

Contributed by Peter Davis

Recent comments (view all 36 comments)

Patsy
Patsy on May 11, 2012 at 9:06 pm

And does this theatre now have an organ? Former CT member, Lost Memory tells us it had a Beman organ.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on May 11, 2012 at 9:48 pm

There are some before and after renovation pictures on the theater’s official website.

Patsy
Patsy on May 11, 2012 at 9:51 pm

CSWalczak: Thanks!

Patsy
Patsy on May 16, 2012 at 2:51 pm

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.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 14, 2019 at 5:37 am

1978 photo added via D Raphael Faillaā€ˇ.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on February 7, 2020 at 11:22 am

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.”

rivest266
rivest266 on May 27, 2022 at 10:02 pm

Grand opening ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 8, 2022 at 12:38 pm

Closed in 1958 after the listings ended.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 20, 2022 at 6:12 pm

Reopened on September 24th, 1965, with “Around the World with Nature” and “Peeping Tom” as an adult cinema. Ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 28, 2022 at 6:42 am

Closed as an adult cinema in 1975 and reopened on April 7th, 1976. Another ad posted.

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