Riviera Theatre
Why it's listed
Opened in December 1926 on Webster Street in downtown North Tonawanda, this 1,184-seat theatre was built for the booming canal towns of the Tonawandas. Leon H. Lampert & Sons designed the concrete, brick and steel building, which is only 31 feet wide at the front but 164 feet deep. Its Italian Renaissance decoration includes stained glass, crystal chandeliers, a faience tile floor, marble stairs and murals designed by Willard M. Lusk and painted by Ferdinand Kebely. The full proscenium stage, with its original daylight screen and asbestos curtain, supported silent films and vaudeville. A Wurlitzer organ, built by the local Rudolph Wurlitzer Company and decorated with nude female figures, remains in place and has been enlarged over time. The theatre was named Rivera at first and became the Riviera in 1928 under the Michael Shea chain. It is cited as one of the last surviving 1920s movie palaces in the state and still presents films, live shows and organ concerts.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of the last surviving 1920s movie palaces in New York State and an important example of a pre-sound era neighborhood theatre that still operates as a theatre. It also holds a decorated Wurlitzer organ, made in North Tonawanda, and murals by noted decorative artists.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80002731, listed March 20, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 27 Webster St., North Tonawanda |
|---|---|
| County | Niagara County |
| Listed | March 20, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002731 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Leon H. Lampert & Sons, architects; Bellanca and Sorgi, general contractors |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance decorative theme |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating as a theatre, in good condition; shows films, live performances and monthly organ concerts. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 43.02386, -78.87704 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80002731.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7338879
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.