Riviera Theatre - Table of Contents  ...................  Public Art - Table of Contents

EXTERIOR / MURAL /  BOX OFFICE - Riviera Theatre
57 Webster Street, North Tonawanda, NY

Built:	1926
Original name:	Rivera Theatre ("rivera" is Spanish for "stream")
1930s name change:	Shea's Riviera
Original owners:	Henry Henschel (realtor) and Max Yellen (financier)
Architect:	Leon H. Lempart and Son
Interior style:	Italian Renaissance
Significance:	One of the last surviving 1920s movie palaces in New York State.
Status:	State and National Registers of Historic Places (1980)

On this page below:

Exterior

Tim Martin Mural

Box Office

Terra cotta (mixed with bits of marble top make them sparkle) mermaids with tails of acanthus leaves Terra cotta cap and arrow           Soldier bricks Terra cotta arches and keystones The 3rd marquee since 1926 features about 600 bulbs

Tim Martin Mural - 2008 Photo 2008 photo               Mural by Tim Martin in 1997             Mural depicts Charlie Chaplin with a young Jackie Coogan, stars of the 1921 Chaplin classic, The Kid.            Right:  The Riviera's prized Mighty Wurlitzer organ.  "In 1880, the company began manufacturing pianos and eventually relocated to North Tonawanda, New York. It quickly expanded to make band organs, orchestrations, player pianos and pipe or theatre organs popular in theatres during the days of silent movies." - Wikipedia (online September 2021) 2021 revision below:

Tim Martin Mural  - 2021 Revison WORK IN PROGRESS August 4, 2021        Photo courtesy of Chuck Keith August 4, 2021        Photo courtesy of Chuck Keith August 4, 2021        Photo courtesy of Chuck Keith August 8, 2021        Photo courtesy of Chuck Keith August 28, 2021        Photo courtesy of Chuck Keith

Box Office Italian Renaissance Revival style Marble base Wall sconce Stained glass Frieze: gold painted anthemia on blue background Medallion   ...   Anthemia   ...   Acanthus leaves   ...   Crystal chandelier

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