The old place looks pretty good. Actually it looks great. It's hard to believe that the Riviera Theatre just turned 90 years old. According to co-director Jim Pritchard "a lot of work has been done to improve the building, which is our mission."
There are some big plans for the North Tonawanda showplace which includes a twenty-three thousand square foot expansion. That will add new restrooms, a blackbox theatre, and "better accommodations for patrons and artists."
It will be "in with the new" but not "out with the old", that's because there is an appreciation of history at the Riviera. There are still some of the original light fixtures, tiles in the lobby and a ticket stub box all dating back to 1926.
According to Jim Pritchard without the volunteers "There would be no Riviera today." A group of about seven volunteers tinker with and keep the Mighty Wurlitzer working. Donald Lange is 95 years old and he's been fixing the Wurlitzer organ at the Riviera since 1978.
To help celebrate the 90th Anniversary, for a $90 donation to the non-profit theatre you can get your own star on the wall.
