Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard
Palace Theater
Alfred DiBella came to the United States from Italy in 1905, and eventually moved to Syracuse and worked as a master carpenter.
In the 1920s, he started building homes along Midler Avenue in the village of Eastwood. In 1922, he bought a lot at James Street and Stafford Avenue. His family thought the land was swampy and with a bit of a slope. However, he built a business block with a “picture show” and four stores on the street, with offices and a dance hall.
Opening on September 5, 1924, DiBella called the theater the “show palace of Syracuse.”
David Lassman / The Post-Standard
Palace Theater
The Palace has been in the DiBella family since it opened, except for a brief period after it was leased to RKO-Schine in 1939.
His daughter Frances ran the theater after Alfred’s death, even selling the popcorn and tickets.
When she died in 2004, at the age of 89, her nephew Michael Heagerty managed the theater.
This photo, taken in 2004, shows a reel of film on the rewind table in the projection room during the theater's renovation.
David Lassman / The Post-Standard
Palace Theater
Eighty years after its opening, in 2004, Alfred DiBella’s grandson, Michael Heagerty, began renovating the Palace. When it reopened in 2005 it had improvements such as surround sound, a digital projector, new carpeting, and heating in the floor.
The renovation included a replica of the original sign, built by Neon Glassworks on Burnet Avenue.
The Palace is also now available for special events like fund raisers and wedding receptions.
David Lassman / The Post-Standard
Landmark Theatre
The Landmark Theatre opened on February 18, 1928, known then as the Loew’s State Theater. Designed by renowned architect Thomas Lamb, it was planned to be the city’s largest theater, with 3,000 seats, and an eight-story office tower.
Syracuse Herald critic Chester Bahn described the theater after opening night, “The State offers you the best amusement that you have yet received, penny for penny. It has something more than architectural splendor…it has a SHOW.”
Photo by David Wells
Landmark Theatre
The theater was closed in 1975 and was in danger of demolition. In 1976, the Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre, or SALT, was formed to preserve and renovate the venue. The group was able to purchase the property and renamed it the Landmark Theatre.
Heather Bragman / The Post-Stand
Landmark Theatre
On September 12, 2008, the Landmark hosted the world premiere of The Express, the story of SU football great Ernie Davis.
A $10,000 screen, courtesy of Universal Studios, was installed for the event.
Actor Dennis Quaid, center, shakes hands with Mary Dunham outside the theatre during the orange carpet world premiere.
Courtesy of the Onondaga Historical Association
RKO Keith's
The Keith’s theater opened on January 26, 1920 as a vaudeville palace.
Described in a 1994 Herald Journal article as “elegant with marble pillars, rich with its hangings and broad staircase, beckoning to the expensive loge, calling to the cheap seats in the balcony.”
George Burns, Gracie Allen, Milton Berle and Al Jolson all performed there.
In June 1920, Helen Keller appeared at the Keith's . In a letter: It was a "most beautiful theater, of which every one is justly proud. Our dressing-room was a real pleasure, with every convenience that could be desired - even a shower-bath."
Photo courtesy of the Onondaga Historical Association
RKO Keith's
RKO Keith's classical style interior contrasted with its later rival, the Landmark Theatre, which featured a more ornate Persian theme. Keith's was demolished in 1967 as part of the "urban renewal" efforts of the time. Its organ, once used to accompany silent movies, was saved and moved to the State Fairgrounds.
Carl J. Single / The Post-Standard
RKO Keith's
Little did Mr. and Mrs. John Zimmer, of Weedsport, know that the two tickets they purchased last night at the RKO Keith's theater would be the last ever sold at the 46-year-old theater. The theater closed in January 1967 to make way for urban renewal plans.
Steven J. Pallone Post-Standard
Hollywood Theatre
The Hollywood Theatre, in Mattydale, opened in the 1930s. The Post-Standard described it in 2010 as the last hold-out among movie houses still devoted solely to their builders’ intent: Good guys beating bad guys on a giant screen.”
It is also said to have the best popcorn in the area.
Seth Resnick / The Post-Standard
Manlius Art Cinema
Showing independent and foreign language films, owner Nat Tobin believes the single-screen theater was built in 1918 and is the oldest theater in Central New York.
The only thing that is not old is the new digital projector recently purchased to replace an aging film-reel projector.
Seth Resnick / The Post-Standard
Manlius Art Cinema
The future of the theater was in danger after it closed and was put up for auction in 1989. The original owner, Ghaleb F. Al-Nwairan, repurchased it at the auction. Samuel Mitchell, who owned from 1982 to 1987, purchased the theater in early 1990.
Current owner Nat Tobin has owned and operated the theater since 1992, with his wife. He often personally welcomes the audience to the theater and talks about the film.
Photo courtesy of the Onondaga Historical Association
Kallet Genesee
The Kallet Genesee opened on February 14, 1951, and enjoyed many years of success, hosting such films as “Doctor Zhivago” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
About 1,000 people went to the watch the Eastern United States' premiere of "Change of Habit" in November 1969. The movie, starring the unlikely duo of Elvis Presley and Mary Tyler Moore, was based on the speech therapy work of Sister Mary Olivia Gibson of Maria Regina College on Syracuse's north side.
Todd Munson / The Post-Standard
Kallet Genesee
The Kallet Genesee was demolished in June of 1997 to make way for an auto parts store, despite 2,000 friends of the theater who signed a petition trying to save it.
Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standardyle@syracuse.com
Westcott Cinema
The Westcott Cinema was built in 1919, and has had several names including The Studio and the Harrvard Theater. It has shown everything from movies to vaudeville to adult films
Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard
Westcott Cinema
The theater closed in October 2007, and was renovated into a venue for live music, entertainment and movies.
Post-Standard file photo
Eckel Theatre
The Eckel Theatre, on E. Fayette Street, opened on Thanksgiving Day 1913. It would later be operated by RKO, then Schine Theatres before becoming a Cinerama theatre.
Dick Blume / The Post-Standard
Eckel Theatre
The marquee sign of the Eckel Theatre is removed in this photo from January 1979. Construction crews were preparing to demolish the entire structure to make way for a "park area."
The sign will not be destroyed. Robert Small, president of Smith & Caffrey Stell Corp., volunteered to store the sign until some future location and use can be decided on.
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