Shea's Teck Theatre
Buffalo, NY
Shea's Teck was converted for 3-projector Cinerama in the 1950's and ran
all films made in that format (both 3 projector and single projector) until
the Cinerama era was over. Subsequently it ran "normal" films on the curved
screen leftover from "single projector" Cinerama.
This was also known as the Loew's Teck. It played both 3 strip and
70 mm Cinerama. 3 strip was played from 3/16/56 thru 2/17/58 and
then from 3/16/62 thru 7/28/63. It played the 70mm Cinerama from
3/25/64 thru 9/9/64. The curved screen measured 78ft by 28ft.
The Teck theater died a slow death. The auditorium was one of the buildings demolished when the city seized the property to extend Pearl St to meet Main. That left the lobby, entrance and marquee standing, ending suddenly at a brick wall and with no useful purpose. Even access to the lower level was sealed up with concrete. With the closing of Main St to vehicle traffic, downtown redevelopment came to a halt and no offers came forth for reuse of the remaining property. Eventually the last few buildings at the end of the block, including what was left of the theater were demolished in the late 80's-early 90's.
(from: Theatres of Buffalo - http://www.pbase.com/kjosker/theaters;
http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctbuffalo.htm
"The Teck (Shea's) was a white elephant from the day it opened."
"Somewhere in all of the reminiscences about Buffalo theatres someone mentioned that the Teck theatre was less than first rate. Three, or maybe four generations back it was the major legitimate theatre in Buffalo. My Dad was the pianist there for several years but took up another instrument because he was put on standby pay when the touring companies brought their own pianist. (It did give him the opportunity to be a spear-carrier in one of the operas that played there during his piano playing tenure.) When the Erlanger opened the Teck fell on harder times."
