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The 1930's

The 1930's

The Marx Brothers - Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo: December 5 - 12, 1931

Photo Credit: Buffalo Jewish Review - December 4, 1931

The Marx Brothers - Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo: December 5 - 12, 1931

September 5, 1930

September 5, 1930

Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Band

May 23, 1931

Ray Bolger "The Eccentric Dancer" (later better known for playing the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz) headlines

July 7, 1930

Baritone George Dewey Washinton headlines

August 5, 1930
Did You Know? Willis Haviland Carrier invented air-conditioning in Buffalo, NY!

Did You Know? Willis Haviland Carrier invented air-conditioning in Buffalo, NY!

Michael Shea opened his first theatre in 1881 - and was still entertaining Buffalo by 1931!

Michael Shea opened his first theatre in 1881 - and was still entertaining Buffalo by 1931!

George Burns and Gracie Allen headline

May 20, 1932

Rudy Vallée and his Connecticut Yankees set a house record at the theater, grossing $42,000 in one week.

July 15 - 20, 1932 / February 12 - 18, 1937

The Zany Ritz Brothers Headline

October 29, 1932

Dance team of Buck and Bubbles headline

June 27, 1933

Great Comedy Team of Smith and Dale appearing in "Crazy Quilt"

September 3, 1933
The "NRA" referred to in this article stands for the National Recovery Administration, an agency established President Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression. By December 1933, the national unemployment rate was at 24.9% but Mike Shea insisted on keeping his theaters fully staffed during these hard times.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo Evening News - December 14, 1933

The "NRA" referred to in this article stands for the National Recovery Administration, an agency established President Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression. By December 1933, the national unemployment rate was at 24.9% but Mike Shea insisted on keeping his theaters fully staffed during these hard times.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo Times - May 16, 1934

Mike Shea was known to personally hand each performer their weekly paycheck and he kept a sharp eye on all the shows to make sure the audiences were enjoying them or if it was "not so good".. A deserving actor might find an extra $100 slipped into his envelope or another actor down on their luck might find themselves booked and paid top price to perform.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo Times - May 16, 1934

Mike Shea was known to personally hand each performer their weekly paycheck and he kept a sharp eye on all the shows to make sure the audiences were enjoying them or if it was "not so good".. A deserving actor might find an extra $100 slipped into his envelope or another actor down on their luck might find themselves booked and paid top price to perform.

Michael Shea was a friend to performers, both feline and human.

Photo Credit: The Buffalo Times - May 20, 1934

Michael Shea was a friend to performers, both feline and human.

Great "Hoofer" George Raft headlines

May 26, 1934
July 26, 1936

July 26, 1936

Phil Spitalny's "All-Girl Orchestra"

April 8, 1939
December 15, 1939

December 15, 1939

Glenn Miller and his Orchestra

October 14, 1939 / July 24, 1942