Mayor Eddie Sundquist emphasized the importance of remembering the rich history of Jamestown. “We’re so excited to have you all here to continue to dedicate spaces that have really created a mark on the city’s history,” he said.

Sundquist thanked city historian Ashley Senske, along with members of the historical marker committee, which includes Traci Langworthy, Karen Livsey, Arthur Osterdahl, Sarah Edstrom and Jennifer Champ, for their work preserving the legacy of the Winter Garden Theater.

While the movie theater was demolished on April 17, 2010, Sundquist stressed the impact it had on generations of local residents.

“Here the theater stood for almost 100 years,” Sundquist said. “You probably wouldn’t know it the way it is now brick paved and looks nice, but as a movie theater, it really entertained generations of Jamestown residents, and it was a focal point of our community.”

The Winter Garden Theater historical marker is the city’s 78th historical marker. The theater served as a landmark establishment in the community for almost a century.

Sundquist said the plaza continues to be used for entertainment and as a park space thanks to the work of the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. carrying on “those entertaining traditions.”

The mayor said he enjoys maintaining the community’s traditions of music and other events for both local residents and visitors, while also celebrating the history and the traditions that made Jamestown great in the past.

“It’s always exciting to be able to be a part of the marker dedication with our historical marker committee, as these markers help to bring life to the places and people that have made our city so great and alive these many years,” he said.

Senske thanked the mayor and the City Council for continuing to support Jamestown’s historical marker program and for the parks department’s help implementing the historical marker at the site of the Winter Garden Theater.

Senske described the theater’s original features and described how the Winter Garden Theater progressed over time, becoming a major attraction in the city for many decades until eventually falling into disrepair.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist commemorated the history of the Winter Garden Theater with the unveiling of the city’s 78th historical marker.

The theater opened for the first time on Christmas Eve in 1913 with tickets costing 10 cents each. It originally featured 900 seats, an orchestra pit and other elaborate features that made the theater stand apart from other local amenities.

Mozart Amusement Company originally owned the Winter Garden Theater.

“At the time of its $60,000 construction, it was considered a luxury theater, so they could charge the outrageous price of 10 cents a seat and 25 cents for reserved seating,” Senske said.

The theater was purchased by different entities over the decades, including Southwestern New York Theaters Corporation and Dipson Theaters.

As the premier movie theater in the city, the Winter Garden was the first theater to use vitaphone systems that allowed people to watch films with synchronized dialogue. Senske said this was considered a “novelty” at the time.

Due to its popularity and prominence in the city, Senske said the Winter Garden developed a strong reputation in the community.

“The Winter Garden Theater quickly became so much more than a source of entertainment for the local community,” she said. “The owners and managers often looked to give back to the area by holding local drives and fundraisers.

In addition to charitable contributions, Senske said the Winter Garden Theater was used as a space for local social clubs and veterans groups to host events in the city.

After World War I, the American Legion used the theater for Armistice Day to honor the lives of those lost in service to the United States. During World War II, the theater raised $101,000 in bonds through an event featuring an infantry concert group, providing the community with a way to express its patriotism.

The theater was also used as an educational space, particularly when it was used to host traffic safety weeks for local children in the 1900s.

Over the years, the theater became a foundational element of community entertainment and involvement.

“As the theater evolved in its mission within the community over the decades, it also experienced moments of physical change as well,” Senske said.

While the theater was designed to be fully fireproof, a fire in 1920 and another in the late 1960s required the theater to temporarily close for renovations.

Despite facing times of adversity, Senske said the Winter Garden “always bounced back.” By 1976, the theater was one of the last two remaining theaters and offered guests additional perks, such as a popcorn machine, a soda machine, a variety of candy and an ice cream machine.

Despite its initial success and prominence in Jamestown, the Winter Garden eventually fell into disrepair.

“The 1990s is when the theater came up for sale for its final time and was the lone full-time movie house and Jamestown,” Senske said. “At this point it was owned by Dipson Theaters. Although the theater had been a fixture of downtown entertainment at this point for over 80 years, it unfortunately went dark only a few years later and was no longer open to the public.”

In 2008, the Downtown Jamestown Development Corp. considered possible ways to preserve and renovate the building; however, the $2.3 million estimated renovation cost led to the decision to demolish the theater.

Senske said the DJDC developed a multi-step plan that included the demolition of the Winter Garden Theater and the creation of a public plaza.

“On April 17, 2010, the building was razed, ending the Winter Garden’s legacy as the last movie theater in the city of Jamestown and the social pillar it had become over 80 years,” she said.

Senske concluded her remarks by emphasizing the importance of community gatherings, such as movie theaters, churches, and concerts. She said the Winter Garden played a unique role in the community as a place where people could gather together and create memories.

“The Winter Garden provided that experience and so much more to the citizens of Jamestown for nearly 100 years,” she said.