By Darlene Brace
The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in downtown Jamestown has become a prominent venue leading in the arts and entertainment in the area for almost a century. Originally it was called the Palace Theater, which first opened its doors Feb 5, 1923. It hosted events like vaudeville acts, silent movies, and plays. This continued for decades, adding attractions; concerts and “talkie” movies. In 1956, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s premier of Forever Darling was shown here, and Lucy and Desi came for this premier.
year, with a year fi lled with celebratory events.
The Reg Lenna takes pride in continuing to
focus on quality programming of all the arts,
fi lms, and live programs for the community.
By the early 1980’s, the theater was in desperate need of renovations. Some residents, the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency, and the Gebbie Foundation, worked together to begin the renovations. Some performances were still held at the theater as a source of revenue. Around this time, The Palace Theater was renamed The Palace Civic Center. For years, funds were raised, and most renovations were completed by the late 1980’s. Local philanthropists Reginald and Elizabeth Lenna gave a very generous donation toward these renovations, and the theater was renamed as the Reg Lenna Civic Center in 1990.
In 2014, the theater was renamed again to The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts as it’s called today. During the next few years, more renovations were completed. In 2023, the Reg Lenna celebrated its 100th year, with a year filled with celebratory events. The Reg Lenna takes pride in continuing to focus on quality programming of all the arts, films, and live programs for the community.
The Reg Lenna is a 1,165-seat theater, and this year new seats were installed. It also includes a multimedia arts studio and the WRFA-LP 107.9 FM community radio station. The building features an array of spaces that can be rented out for private gatherings and programs including parties, gallery shows, weddings, and workshops, and it is often utilized by many community organizations.
Throughout the years, “The Reg” has hosted incredible live events, including concerts, national touring acts, plays, and movies on the big screen. Local groups such as the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony, and the Banff Movie Series have been hosted at the Reg Lenna repeatedly. The Reg has also hosted National Comedy Center and Lucy Fest events in recent years.
December is always a busy month at the Reg Lenna. Just last week, the annual holiday performances of The Nutcracker took place that has been a holiday tradition for many years.
This weekend, the Reg Lenna invites you to go back in time to the 1920’s New Orleans Jazz scene that was the inspiration for Squirrel Nut Zippers. They will perform Saturday December 14th starting at 7:30pm. The Squirrel Zippers are on their national Christmas Caravan Tour. Their musical style delights audiences with original tunes along with their renditions of beloved classics. Their performance of their unique jazz and bluesy sounds are sure to entertain you and get you in the Christmas spirit.
To close out 2024, the heartwarming romantic comedy Love Actually (2003), starring Hugh Grant along with a notable cast, will be playing on December 20th at 7pm. This delightful movie follows eight couples that are interconnected around the Christmas holiday.
Moving forward to 2025, the Reg Lenna will have an exciting line up of entertainment. On March 22nd, The Reg is excited to present the Celtic rock band The Young Dubliners. They perform a unique energetic fusion of rock and Celtic music that is sure to get the audience moving to the beat in their seats. Then on April 26th, the band Gangstagrass will entertain the audience with their blend of bluegrass, hip hop, and other genres, creating their own original style. Both concert’s tickets are on sale now.
They will continue to offer the Youth Series in which area schools can attend daytime performances of plays and other programs as field trips. February 25th will feature a performance of A Year with Frog and Toad at 12:30pm. On March 11 at 10am, Hero: The Boy from Troy will be featured, and then on April 10th, Goodnight Moon and the Runaway Bunny will start at 10am. All three of these shows still have available seating for school groups to make reservations
For the Reg Lenna to continue this level of events, it takes a great deal of funding. Support from the NY State Council of the Arts and other local foundations play a big role. Ticket sales, rentals, donations, and fundraisers contribute as well. Currently, the Legacy Seats Fundraiser is taking place. People that donate money can have names and/or messages engraved on plaques on the new theater seats. You can find information about this on the Reg’s website. This fundraiser and others help make it possible for the Reg Lenna to continue to be the entertainment hub of the area.
More live performances and movies for 2025 are being planned and will be posted soon on reglenna.com. There you can always find out what fun and exciting programing awaits you at the historic Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. You can also call 716-484-7070 for more information.