Shea's Buffalo Theatre - Table of Contents

Lobbies - Shea's Buffalo Theatre
646 Main Street, Buffalo, New York
TEXT Beneath Illustrations

The Shea's interior was designed by Tiffany Studios


Click on photos to enlarge -- and additional information

Grand Lobby

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Grand Lobby - looking out to Main St.

Grand Lobby - Members' Lounge

Grand Lobby - Members' Lounge

Grand Lobby - Members' Lounge

Grand Lobby - 3 chandeliers

"Mignon" by Jules Lefebvre

Grand Lobby

Grand Lobby


Grand Lobby

Grand Lobby

Grand Lobby


Petite Lobby /
The Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame

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Petite Lobby - 5 chandeliers

Petite Lobby/The Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame - looking toward Pearl St.

Petite Lobby

Petite Lobby

Petite Lobby

Petite Lobby

Petite Lobby

Petite Lobby - second level

 

Shea's Buffalo Theatre -
Table of Contents

 

Petite Lobby - second level

     

The text below is an excerpt from
1975 Shea's Buffalo Theater Nomination for the National Register of Historic Places

Entering through the bronze doors one leaves Buffalo's Main Street and steps into one of the most sensational movie palace interiors still preserved in its original, overwhelming splendor. An account in the December 25, 1926, issue of "Motion Picture News" describes the major features of the interior (any physical alterations since 1926 are noted in brackets):

Entering a vestibule, 22 by 30 feet, from Main Street, through five double bronze doors one comes to a ticket office placed in the center, which is of marble, six feet by five feet and seven feet high. Five more bronze and leaded glass doors lead from the vestibule into the lobby [Ed.note: now referred to as the grand lobby] which is 80 feet long and 30 feet wide. Here one comes upon a spectacular scene of marble walls and pillars, including immense mirrors of paneled glass which reflect the graceful arches opposite them. These mirrors are hung with red and gold curtains [Ed. note: no longer in place]. On the walls are beautiful candelabra, while from the ceiling hang four crystal chandeliers, costing many thousands of dollars. Large arches extend up each side of the lobby.

A grand marble staircase leads from the right end of the lobby to the mezzanine promenade which runs around the rear and along the south and front sides of the [grand] lobby. This promenade is artistically furnished, laid with rich rugs, and has a lounge at the front over the space occupied on the ground floor by the ticket vestibule. Here is placed a grand piano, divans and large easy chairs. From this promenade the patron looks down into the lobby. From the front lounge one looks through the large front arched window into Main Street.

From the lobby, one enters the foyer [Ed.note: now referred to as the petite lobby] which extends along the entire length of the auditorium to Pearl Street, where there is another entrance. This foyer is 22 feet wide and 90 feet long. It is separated from the auditorium by glass doors and, like the rest of the house, is strikingly and elaborately furnished.


Special thanks to Shea's President Anthony Conte for his cooperation.
Special thanks to Restoration Manager Doris Collins, House Manager Scott Saxon, and House Stage Hand Pasquale Syracuse for their cooperation


Photos and their arrangement © 2002 Chuck LaChiusa
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