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The Rapids Theatre is an indoor concert venue and events center situated in downtown Niagara Falls, New York. It hosts a variety of shows and events, including music concerts, comedy acts, wedding receptions, and corporate meetings.〔http://www.rapidstheatre.com/history.php〕 Some performances recently held at the Rapids include Passion Pit, Stone Temple Pilots, Pauly Shore, Morrissey, City and Colour, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Snoop Dogg, The Band Perry, Dropkick Murphys, Chevelle, the Headstones, and Eric Church.〔 The venue was also featured on an episode of SyFy's ''Ghost Hunters'' that aired on October 19, 2011. The episode was appropriately titled "Stage Fright". Originally constructed under the name of The Bellevue Theatre in 1921, it opened as a movie theatre and vaudeville stage, complete with a grand balcony and domed ceiling.〔Schez, Jan M. “Researcher Preserves Theatre’s Past, Works On Future.” 5 April 1998. The Buffalo News.〕 After a long history of various ownerships and management changes, it most recently reopened as the Rapids Theatre in December 2009 on Main Street, Niagara Falls.〔 == Early history == The theatre first opened on North Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY on September 1, 1921 as a luxury movie house called The Bellevue Theatre. It also presented a variety of vaudeville acts through the RKO theatre company (Radio-Keith-Orpheum), one in particular being The Three Stooges.〔 It was located in the same building as The Harmony Shop sheet music store and a family-run pharmacy.〔 The Bellevue was constructed under the architect by the name of Leon H. Lempert, Jr. of Leon H Lempert & Sons architectural firm based in Rochester, New York and designed by interior decorator, William H Lusk.〔 Ownership and operation of the theatre fell into the hands of local Niagarans, most of which held political and city council positions in the county :〔“Many Leading Business Places Of The City Have Been Identified With The Street Since The Village Days.” 14 Sept. 1923. ''The Niagara Gazette''〕 * John Williamson (Treasurer) * Frank Jenss (Vice President) * George Haeberle (President) * M. Arnson (Director) * John O. Chapin (Secretary) * D.H. Frank (Manager) Other theatres along North Main Street during the Bellevue’s first years were the Orpheum and the Elite.〔Mizer, Hamilton B. Niagara Falls, New York, A City Is Born, A City Matures. Niagara Falls: Shipman Printing Industries, Inc. 1991〕 There were also 11 other theatres in the surrounding Buffalo area that presented movies, vaudeville acts, and plays, including the Hippodrome on Pine Avenue and (Shea’s Performing Arts Center ) in downtown Buffalo.〔 About 10 years later, the number of surrounding theatres expanded to 30, including the Cataract Theatre, and The Strand Theatre.〔 On Thursday, Sept. 1, 1921, the Buffalo News featured a story on the opening of the Bellevue called "The Theatre Beautiful Opens" and referred to the theatre as, “a monument to enterprise of loyal Niagarans, which matches the best in the state."〔 In the 1920s, a Sunday matinee movie ticket for the most popular movies could be purchased for 28 cents.〔Advertisement. 30 Mar. 1929. The Niagara Gazette.〕 An advertisement run by the Niagara Gazette on March 30, 1929, stated that, “If it’s a good picture, the Bellevue will show it!”〔 In 1928, The Bellevue Theatre closed its doors only to be purchased one year later by the Shea-Publix Theatre Company, where they purchased a 21-year lease at a total rental cost of $900,000〔“Shea Leases The Bellevue And Will Soon Build Another Theatre.” 14 Nov. 1929. The New York Times.〕 In the 1940s, Vincent McFaul, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures, purchased the theatre from Shea-Publix.〔“Oldest and Youngest Honeymooners Attend Premier of “Niagara Falls”.” 25 Oct. 1941. The Niagara Gazette.〕 For their grand re-opening of The Bellevue, the world premier of ''Niagara Falls'', a Hal Roach comedy about newlywed life starring Tom Brown, Marjorie Woodward, Zazu Pitts, and Slim Summerville, was held On October 25, 1941 at 8:00 p.m.〔 Over 1,000 attended the film that local papers reviewed as being “one of the funniest comedies of the year”, including the acting mayor of Niagara Falls, John H. Keller.〔“’Niagara Falls’ To Be Given World Premier at Shea’s Bellevue Theatre.” 14 Oct. 1941. The Niagara Gazette.〕 Then, in the 1960s, it was purchased by the Strand Cataract Theatre Corp. and renamed The Rapids Theatre.〔“Bellevue Will Become Luxury Movie House.” 23 May 1961. The Niagara Gazette〕 Under new management of a woman named Miss Louise Marigia, many improvements and changes were made to the building.〔 It was decorated with “flame red and green” furnishings and was described by local newspapers as being “splendid” and “handsome.”〔800 Attend Opening of Rapids Theatre.” 15 July 1961. The Niagara Gazette.〕 Also during this time, the theatre was credited as having the first marquee in Western New York to use the Wagner type changeable letter mounting with transparent Plexiglas rails .〔“Rapids Installs New Sign.” 24 Nov. 1961. The Niagara Gazette.〕 It was installed by a local business named Cooper Neon Sign Company. The Rapids held its grand opening on July 15, 1961 with a premier of the movie, Exodus (starring Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint) in which over 800 people attended.〔 Eventually, business declined and the theatre, along with several other businesses in the economically stagnant Niagara Falls commercial district, closed down until it reopened in 1974 as The Late Show discothèque.〔 That business lasted until 1995, was closed down, and then reopened as yet another dance club called The Masquerade in 1996.〔 In 1998, it operated very briefly as a night club under the name, Centre Stage.〔“The Bellevue Theatre.” 19 April 1998. The Buffalo News.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Rapids Theatre」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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