Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Arts & Culture

Location

6811 Main St, Red Creek, NY 13143, USA

Lat/Long

43.247286, -76.722511

Grant Recipient

Red Creek Historical Association

In early 1894, a fire destroyed a brick block on Main Street in the village of Red Creek in Wayne County, NY. Later that year, the block was rebuilt with a new opera house located on the second floor. The opera house was completed in time to host a New Year’s Eve party that year, and through the winter the Red Creek Social Club held a series of dances in the new opera house. Over the years, the opera house was host to dances, minstrel shows, lectures, political and social meetings, graduation ceremonies, and silent movies. It was later named Powers Theater, and in May 1926, the theater was showing silent movies three days a week. According to Red Creek resident Grace M. Frost, “the theatre was closed due to ‘talkies,’ improved means of transportation and a new school building with an honest-to-goodness stage.” The new Red Creek High School opened in 1927. “Talkies” debuted at the Palace Theater in nearby Wolcott in 1929. However, Powers Theater was in use until at least 1932, having served as the location of a Bible school graduation ceremony that year.