Stanley Theater (Utica, New York) facts for kids
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| Address | 261 Genesee Street Utica, New York United States |
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| Owner | Stanley Center for the Arts |
| Type | Movie palace |
| Capacity | 2,963 |
| Screens | 1 |
| Current use | Performing arts center |
| Opened | September 10, 1928 |
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Stanley Theater
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Architect | Thomas W. Lamb |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001255 |
| Added to NRHP | August 13, 1976 |
The Stanley Theatre is a historic building in Utica, New York. It is known as a "movie palace" because of its grand and fancy design. The theatre has a beautiful Baroque style. For many years, it has been connected to Warner Brothers Pictures.
Contents
What is the Stanley Theatre's History?
How the Stanley Theatre Began
The Stanley Theatre first belonged to the Stanley-Mark Strand Corporation. This company was started by two brothers, Mitchel H. Mark and Moe Mark. Just three days before the theatre opened, Warner Brothers bought the entire movie theatre chain. Warner Brothers wanted to show their movies in as many places as possible.
The Stanley Theatre first opened its doors on September 10, 1928. The very first movie shown was a silent film called Ramona. It starred the famous actress Dolores del Río.
Who Designed the Stanley Theatre?
A very busy architect named Thomas W. Lamb designed the Stanley Theatre. He created this huge cinema, which has 2,963 seats. Lamb designed over 300 theatres around the world. He was also somewhat local, owning a camp in the Adirondacks. The theatre was named after Stanley, one of the Mastbaum brothers who owned a chain of theatres.
Saving the Stanley Theatre
The Stanley Theatre was built very quickly, in less than 13 months. It was located on the edge of downtown Utica. Many other theatres in the area were torn down in the 1960s and 1970s. But the Stanley Theatre stayed open.
Even though it stayed open, the theatre was not well cared for over many years. In 1974, people worried it might be destroyed. So, the Central New York Community Arts Council stepped in. This group, now called the Stanley Center for the Arts, worked to buy the theatre. They bought it for $135,000.
What Does the Stanley Theatre Look Like?
Unique Architectural Style
The design of the Stanley Theatre is called "Mexican Baroque." This is because it mixes different styles in a special way. The outside of the building has terra cotta and colorful tile mosaics. These show the Mexican influence.
Inside, the theatre is very fancy. It has lots of gold leaf. You can see lions, Indian faces, and many angels and cherubs. These are part of the Baroque style. There is also a Moorish influence. This can be seen in the ceiling, which looks like it's covered in stars. Twisted columns next to the stage also show this style.
People say that the grand staircase inside the theatre looks like the main staircase on the famous Titanic ocean liner.
What Events Happen at the Stanley Theatre?
Movies and Live Shows
Even though the Stanley Theatre started as a movie house, it began hosting live events early on. Today, it is a busy place for many different performances.
It hosts the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Great Artists Series, which has been going on for over 75 years. The Broadway Theatre League has been there for 50 years. The Utica Symphony has performed for over 60 years. The Mohawk Valley Ballet has been there for over 25 years.
Famous Performers and Shows
Many famous people have performed at the Stanley Theatre. Early singers included Marian Anderson, Ezio Pinza, Lily Pons, Jeanette MacDonald, and Gene Autry. Later, stars like Chuck Mangione, Conway Twitty, Third Eye Blind, Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, and Harry Connick Jr performed there.
Other well-known entertainers include Jerry Seinfeld, Wynton Marsalis, George Carlin, Itzhak Perlman, Bob Weir & RatDog!, and B.B. King. More recently, Aretha Franklin and songwriter Burt Bacharach have appeared.
The Broadway Theatre League has brought many popular touring musicals. These include Cats, Annie, Evita, Sweeney Todd, and Barnum.
Why is the Stanley Theatre Important?
The Stanley Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. It is special because of its connection to the early movie industry and its unique architecture. The theatre also had big updates in 2007 to keep it in good shape.
