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1. Patrick Chefalo says:

   January 4, 2013 at 8:34 am

   Same publicist worked on Midtown demolition project apparently.

2. Dave DiPonzio says:

   January 4, 2013 at 8:43 am

   In typical Rochester fashion huh?

3. Russ Shaner says:

   January 4, 2013 at 9:29 pm

   Mike, Thank you for posting it. Here ae a few observations gleaned from studying the photo closely. The 3 story building between the theatre entrance and the Michaels Stern building still exists. It has had four stories added to it and a totally new ’60s’ facade. Today it sits empty. The masonic building abutted the entrance lobby on the south side. Where the brick on the south side changes indicates the setback from the sidewalk of the Masonic building. It was demolished circa 1932. The step ladder sitting beneath the marquee is interesting. Not tall enought to reach the marquee easily. Why was it there? One can see two easels in the left window of the adjoining building. Were they displaying drawings of the proposed project?
   Many theatres of that period were built in a similar fashion: a rather non-imposing entrance to a long narrow ‘outer lobby’ where patrons would be lined up before entering the grand lobby and the theatre proper. This served two purposes. First, less of the valuable street frontage was needed and very importantly, it greatly enhanced the theatre ‘experience’. Patrons would enter througha a rather modest entrance. Their excitement would build as they proceeded to the ‘grand lobby’ then they would nearly swoon as they entered the spectacular theatre itself. All carefully planned by the designers to thrill movie-goers when they visited the “acre of seats in a palace of beauty”.
   Yes, like the Ren Square project, Midtown redevelopment, etc, anothe spectacular plan to “REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER”!! Bull!

4. Skip says:

   December 6, 2013 at 1:17 pm

   As an usher here in the mid fifties I sometimes had to change the marquee letters. The ladder was much taller than the one pictured. One leg would reach over the curb and balance on a rock on Clinton Avenue. It got interesting when the buses came rolling by!

5. Skip says:

   December 6, 2013 at 1:18 pm

   I meant to say block, not rock.

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