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"Show World Pays Tribute to Shea"

"Show World Pays Tribute to Shea"

To many in the industry, the city of Buffalo was synonymous with Shea. In honor of his golden jubilee celebrating 50 years of show business, Variety magazine surprised Michael Shea with a feature article, interviews, and well-wishers from many friends and fans. But only a few months later, the news would be filled with posthumous tributes.

Mary's Scrapbook

Mary Shea Giffioniello complied a scrapbook of obituaries for her father, Michael Shea. These were donated to Buffalo State and are now part of their Archives & Special Collections Department (E. H. Butler Library). This scrapbook was digitalized and is available for viewing through the Digital Commons.

Photo Credit: Buffalo State Archives & Special Collections Department, E. H. Butler Library - July 6, 2016

Photo Credit: Variety - January 2, 1934

In January 1934, Variety honored Mike Shea for surpassing his golden jubilee anniversary in show business with a two-page spread and a smattering of accolades from his peers, friends, and stars of the stage and screen.

Photo Credit: Variety - January 2, 1934

In January 1934, Variety honored Mike Shea for surpassing his golden jubilee anniversary in show business with a two-page spread and a smattering of accolades from his peers, friends, and stars of the stage and screen.

Photo Credit: Variety - January 2, 1934

An RKO film wouldn't have played at Shea's Buffalo (as a Paramount studio).

Photo Credit: Variety - January 2, 1934

An RKO film wouldn't have played at Shea's Buffalo (as a Paramount studio).

Yes, it's <b><i>that</b></i> Mae West - although as far as we know, she never performed at a Shea's theater!

Photo Credit: Variety - January 2, 1934

Yes, it's that Mae West - although as far as we know, she never performed at a Shea's theater!

Photo Credit: Variety - January 2, 1934

May 16, 1934 - Michael Shea Dies

After over fifty years of show business and and giving his name to no less than a dozen theaters across Western New York and Toronto, Michael Shea died on May 16, 1934 at the age of 75. His death was widely covered in newspapers across the country with many stars of stage, screen, and behind the scenes giving him praise.

From Michael Shea's Last Published Interview:

"I've lived through worse times than these and come out on top, and I'm going to again. You can't keep a young Irishman down - at least, not a young Irishman who'll be 75 next All Fools' Day. Know what I'm going to do? I'm going to book more and better shows and forget about what money I've lost. I'm going to get it back."
"There's just one thing I wish you'd do, Mike." vaudevillian Joe Laurie Jr. urged. "I wish you'd let me write your biography."
"Not a chance, you young jackanapes. I don't want any books written about me. And what do you know about show business?"

“Mike Shea was a decent man and a great showman and the best liked and most popular theatrical manager in America. He was my friend for 40 years. He did all his own booking and in an amazing manner. Now here was a man, a simple soul from upstate, no continental sophisticate, and yet he's come down to New York and pick a foreign act at the snap of his fingers - and that act never failed. Why in those days his bills made his house in Buffalo the finest show shop in America. He had an astonishing flair for picking what the public liked.”

- George M. Cohan

Shea's theaters:

• Shea's Music Hall (1892 - 1893)
• Shea's Tivoli (????)
• Shea's Garden Theatre (1898)
• Shea's Teck Theatre (1900 – 1982)
• Shea's Vaudeville House (1905)
• Shea's Elmwood Theatre (1914 - 1965)
• Shea's Hippodrome (1914 - ????)
• Shea's North Park Theatre (1920 - today)
• Shea's Criterion Theatre (1920 - 1924)
• Shea's Riviera (1920 - today)
• Shea's Century Theatre (1921 - 1980s?)
• Shea's Buffalo Theatre (1926 - today)
• Shea's Kensington (1926 - 1979)
• Shea's Roosevelt (1927 - 1962)
• Shea's Bailey (1928 - 1977)
• Shea's Seneca (1929 - 1970)
• Shea's Great Lakes Theatre (???)
• Shea's Niagara (1940 - 1960)
• Shea’s Vaudeville (Toronto, ???)
• Shea’s Hippodrome (Toronto, 1914 - 1957)