Senate Resolution No. 2473

BY: Senator JACOBS

COMMEMORATING the Centennial Anniversary of the
North Park Theatre in Buffalo, New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
tribute to those cultural institutions and organizations whose
commitment to promoting the richness and diversity of the arts and
entertainment world has contributed to the strength, vitality, and
cultural enrichment of their communities and the great State of New
York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its
long-standing traditions, it gives this Legislative Body great pleasure
to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the North Park Theatre; and

WHEREAS, The North Park Theatre is a historic single screen movie
theatre in Buffalo, New York's North Park Neighborhood, it opened and
has functioned as a cinema since November 21, 1920; and

WHEREAS, Michael Shea, the original owner of the North Park Theatre
in the 1920s, believed a movie theatre should capture the imaginations
of filmgoers as soon as they enter the building; a theatre should lift
the common man out of his daily routine and place him in a setting so
grandiose, so richly detailed, that he should think it the most natural
thing in the world to watch his dreams come to life on the silver
screen; and

WHEREAS, As the years passed, new owners came along and had to
sacrifice the North Park Theatre's original splendor for the sake of
budget; lowering the high ceiling and boarding up stained-glass windows;
unfortunately, with each year, this beautiful landmark became more
neglected; yet despite how mistreated it became, the community held a
special place in their heart for this little theatre; and

WHEREAS, When it became clear a massive investment into digital
projection would be necessary for the North Park Theatre to survive,
building owner and local defense attorney Tom Eoannou saw an opportunity
to go above and beyond, and invested in this beloved neighborhood jewel
to restore it to its 1920s glory; and

WHEREAS, In May of 2013, Tom Eoannou partnered with Left Bank
Restaurant and Mes Que owner Michael Christiano to assume full
operational control of the theatre, and a full-scale restoration began;
and

WHEREAS, This Centennial Restoration saw the original front lobby
brought back to life; as well as the restoration of the original windows
above the marquee, the entranceway lobby, and the chandeliers; other
transformations included a state-of-the-art digital projector, new
seats, new windows, new lighting, newly exposed marble floors in the
lobby, and a new concession stand; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of co-owners Tom Eoannou and
Mike Christiano, the North Park Theatre is a crown jewel along Hertel

Avenue, and has become the true epicenter of a community who never gave
up hope and never let the lights go dark; and

WHEREAS, As the North Park Theatre looks back with great pride to
its beginnings, viewing, with just satisfaction, its successful
evolution, it renews both its dedication to supporting artistic
excellence, and its commitment to the community it has served since
1920, expressing its appreciation to all those who have helped to
sustain and enhance it over the years; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the North Park Theatre; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the North Park Theatre, Buffalo, New York.