Overview of the Collection
Landmark Theater Foundation (Syracuse,
N.Y.)
Onondaga County Public
Library
Local History & Genealogy Department
447 South Salina
Street
Syracuse, New York, 13202
(315) 435-1900
English
Landmark Theatre Archives
1915-1998
1.4 Linear Foot
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Landmark Thearte Foundation
Archives.
Administrative History
The Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre, formerly Loew’s State, was built in Syracuse in
1928. The theater belonged to a chain begun by Marcus Loew. Loew approved the
Syracuse theaters site and plans, but died before the theater was complete. The
architect hired to design this theater was Thomas Lamb. He designed it as an
Indo-Persian Chinese Temple, advertised as “the last word in theatrical ornateness
and luxuriousness”. When Loew’s State opened on Feb. 18, 1928, hundreds toured the
new “palace of Salina Street”. Patrons were shown the theaters lobbies, rich with
vibrant colors and materials - marble, terrazzo, tapestries, filigrial chandeliers
and exotic furnishings. Over the years, the theater showed countless movies and
hosted hundreds of live performances. In 1975, Loew’s was forced to close due to
financial difficulties. The theater was sold, and was rescued in 1977 by the group
SALT, the Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre, Inc. Through the volunteers’ hard work and
fund raising efforts, the newly named Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre reopened.
Restoration of the ornate theater is an ongoing effort, and the Landmark Theatre
continues to host live performances and films.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Landmark Theatre Archives is a collection of documents that trace early Syracuse
theater, and particularly the history of the Loews State Theatre, renamed the
Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre. The collection includes information from the period
prior to the construction of the Loews State Theatre. It chronicles the design and
construction of the theater and the history of the theater through the year 1998.
The closing of the theater and the subsequent rescue is included in the collection.
The collection includes a series of oral histories of those involved in the Landmark
Theatre and its rescue. .
Series 1: Documents
This series contains documents describing the history of early Syracuse theater and
the creation and history of the Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre. The documents
include newspaper clippings, articles, legal documents, interviews, press releases,
programs and theater bookings, and advertisements. The dates range from
1915-1998.
Series 2: Oral History
This series includes a collection of 16 audio cassette tapes, created between 1997
and 1998. Fourteen people involved in the Landmark Theatre, including ushers,
painters, attorneys, projectionists and those involved in the theaters rescue were
interviewed by Alfred Balk. The transcripts of the interviews are included in the
documents in series 1.
Arrangement of the Collection
The collection is arranged into two series, documents and oral histories. The
arrangement of the documents in folders was retained as donated by the Landmark
Theatre Foundation. The audio cassettes are arranged in alphabetical order by
interviewee.
Related Material
The Local History and Genealogy Department has other archival materials of the early
Syracuse entertainment industry and the Landmark Theatre.Please check with OCPL
staff to access this material.
Access Restrictions
User must have a valid Onondaga County Public Library card.
Use Restrictions
User must use materials in the Local History and Genealogy Department of the Central
Library.
Permission must be obtained from staff for reproduction of any
materials.
Subject Headings
Persons
Balk, Alfred
Bastable, Jeffrey
Baum, Peter
Bernthal, Rose
Burns, Marion Bastable
Bianco, Gene
Casler, Herman, 1871-1942
Detor, Joe
Foley, James
Hodge, Robert
Kalin, Samuel
Lamb, Thos. W. (Thomas White),
1871-1942
Loew, Marcus, 1870-1927
Magnarelli, Armand
Reep, Robert
Rodormer, Robert
Serling, Philip
Shubet, Jacob J., 1880-1963
Shubert, Lee, 1875-1954
Shubert, Sam, 1876-1905
Silverman, Sime, 1872-1933
Street, Arthur
Uhrig, Dorothy
Uhrig, Ed
Williams, James F.
Onondaga County Public Library
Places
Bastable Theatre (Syracuse, N.Y.)
History
Landmark Theatre (Syracuse, N.Y.)
History
Theatres New York (State) Syracuse
History.
Loew's State Theatre (Syracuse,
N.Y.)
Biograph Film
Wurlitzer organ
Landmark Theater Foundation (Syracuse,
N.Y.)
Shubert Theatre Enterprises.
Advertisements
Ballots
Certificate of Incorporation
Clippings (information
artifacts)
Correspondence
Deeds
Design patent
Indentures
Minutes
Newspaper clippings
Press Releases
Programs (documents)
Surveys(questionnaires)
Onondaga County (NY) – History
Syracuse (NY) – History
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Landmark Theatre Archives
Onondaga County Public Library
Local History and
Genealogy Department
Shelf Location: MS-13
Acquisition Information
Gift from Landmark Theatre Foundation (Syracuse, N.Y.).
Inventory
Documents
Overview: Syracuse Entertainment Heritage,1915-1979
1
1
Overview: The Shuberts,1898-1986
1
2
Overview: Silverman and Variety,1941-1998
1
3
Overview: Early Movies and Syracuse, including the invention
of the Biograph by Herman Casler,1960-1979
1
4
Overview: Loew’s State Opening,1928
1
5
Overview: Loew’s Golden Years,1928-1996
1
6
Overview: Rescuing Loew’s State Theatre,1967-1980
1
7
Overview: The Landmark's Fame,1977-1991
1
8
Overview: The Landmark's Executive Directors,1984-1998
1
9
Overview: The Landmark Theatre - Miscellaneous
History,1984-1998
1
10
Early Theaters Before Movies,1923-1989
1
11
The Shuberts,1897-1981
1
12
Movies’ Family Trees,1970
1
13
The Shines,1956-1996
1
14
Syracuse's "Little Broadway",1929
1
15
Marcus Loew,1927-1988
1
16
Thomas Lamb,1942-1989
1
17
Lamb + Loew = Loew's State Theatre,1926-1987
1
18
Loew's State Theatre Opening,1928
1
19
"Talkies"/Auburn's Wizards,1921-1980
1
20
Wuriltzer Magic,1965-1998
1
21
Loew's State Movielog,1928-1969
1
22
Landmark "Miracle" Deed,1977
1
23
Loew's State's New Life,1979-1990
1
24
Landmark Stars,1980-1996
1
25
Landmark Theatre Status/Fame, Interview with Thomas w.
Lamb,
1
26
Clare (ghost),1979-1991
1
27
Era's Remnants,1993-1997
1
28
Rescue Minutes and Memos,1975-1978
1
29
Rescue Documents, including Certificate of Incorporation,
Abstract of Title, Deed, Application for National Register of
Historic Places,1975-1978
1
30
Rescue Clippings,1976-1977
1
31
Landmark Theatre Board/Officers Lists,December 30, 1918
1
32
Landmark Theatre Executive Directors,1990-1996
1
33
Post-Rescue Operations,: Memos/Meetings,1978-1980
1
34
Landmark Theatre Operations -1990's Clippings,1978-1998
1
35
Landmark Theatre Operations, 1980's - Memos,1981-1989
1
36
Landmark Theatre Events Bookings,1981-1989
1
37
Landmark Theatre Operations 1990's - Newsletters,
Memos,1991-1998
1
38
Landmark Theatre Events Bookings 1990's,1990-1999
1
39
Landmark Theatre Sponsored Events - Clippings,1978-1998
1
40
Landmark Theatre Event Flyers/Ads - Miscellaneous,1977-1998
1
41
Landmark Theatre Grants/Donors,1993-1996
1
42
Landmark Theatre Foundation Activities,1997-1998
1
43
Landmark Theatre Promotion Brachure: The Good, the Bad and
the Ugly,n.d.
1
44
Oral History Transcripts - Part 1,1997-1998
1
45
Oral History Transcripts - Part 2,1997-1998
1
46
Daily Orange: City Heirloom, Best Theatre, The
Landmark,1999
1
47
Landmark Theatre Foundation Oral History Audio Tapes
Series
Peter Baum - Attorney,March 4,
1997
2
Peter Baum - Attorney, part 2,March 4, 1997
2
Rose Bernthal - first paid Executive Director,September 26, 1997
2
Gene Bianco - HS years usher, volunteer guide,August 23, 1997
2
Marion Bastable Burns - in conversation with Dr. Jeffrey
Bastable about the Bastable Threatre fire and other Syracuse
memories,July 3,
1998
2
Joe Detor - projectionist at many theaters,July 10, 1997
2
Jeffrey Foley - theatre historian, collector,July 15, 1997
2
Robert Hodge - restoration leader, LT projectionist, pt
1,July 16,
1997
2
Robert Hodge - restoration leader, LT projectionist, pt
2,July 16,
1997
2
Armand Magnarelli - ex-Councilman, rescue initiator,March 1997
2
Robert Reep - volunteer painter, 18 years, part 1,May 2, 1998
2
Robert Reep - volunteer painter, 18 years, part 2,May 2, 1998
2
Robert Rodormer - rescue fund-raiser; Board
President,May 3,
1998
2
Philip Serling - Cinophile Society head; LT Board,July 9, 1997
2
Art Street - HS years usher; volunteer guide,September 24, 1997
2
Ed and Dorothy Uhrig - with sons, leading
volunteers,August 19,
1997
2