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Our Grand Lobby and Grand Staircase on our Grand Opening Day.
These photos belonged to the archives of Rapp & Rapp Architects in Chicago, and remain our best resource on restoring Shea's Buffalo a hundred years later to its orginal historic state as it looked on Opening Day in 1926.
While today this space serves as our Spotlight Lounge for Shea's Donors, in 1926 this was the Musicians' Lounge where live music was played for audiences entering the lobby!
The Mens' Lounge (basement)
The Ladies' Room - each with a personal vanity.
The Petite Lobby, from the Pearl Street stairs.
Did you know? When Shea’s Buffalo Theatre first opened, the iconic red velvet seats weren't quite ready for their debut! Early audiences left the theater with an unexpected souvenir: red stains on their clothes from the fresh dye.
