UTICA — The revised entryway, ticket booth and facade at the Stanley Theatre, 259 Genesee St., which was unveiled last week, has drawn rave reviews.

The historic entrance to the theatre has undergone major renovations, including restoration of the brass facade, brand new front doors, the addition of new window boxes and a rebuilding of the theatre’s signature round box office.

The project, which began in June, included the help of Utica Glass Company and Steve Hale’s Restoration and Hot Rods.

“Along with the theatre’s marquee and historic facade, our doors are the gateway to experiencing one of the most iconic architectural treasures in the Mohawk Valley,” said Lisa Wilsey, executive director of the Stanley Theatre. “This project is the final piece in revitalizing our entrance. We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Robert Palmieri. The DRI has not only helped our city secure its history but, most importantly, our city’s
identity.”

The brass work on the outside of the theatre had experienced serious tarnishing and damage throughout the years, mainly due to the extreme weather, officials said, adding that between the harsh salt kicking up from Genesee Street in the winters and the hot sun fading the colors in the summer, the brass has “lost its beautiful shine that used to captivate patrons. Thanks to the hard workers at Utica Glass Co. and Steve Hale’s Restoration, the brass has been revitalized and shines brighter than ever before!”

“In addition, the front set of doors underneath the marquee, along with the window boxes that house our street-facing posters, have also experienced wear and tear over the years,” the announcement said. “Aside from being polished, the new doors are now adorned with the updated Stanley ‘S’ gold logo and the window boxes contain color-changing LED lights to make the posters pop at night.”

The round ticket booth that greets patrons as they enter the theatre has also been restored to its original, beautiful form. Once used as the only way to purchase show tickets, the ticket booth had experienced damage both structurally and electrically.

The revitalized booth features new flooring, crystal clear windows and shiny brass, the dream of utilizing the round ticket booth can now become a reality once again, officials said.

The Stanley Theatre operates as a not-for-profit organization run by the Central New York Community Arts Council.

Originally built as a movie theatre, The Stanley opened its doors in 1928 with 2,963 seats, a grand entry staircase that resembles the main staircase of the Titanic, a gold leaf interior and terra cotta and tiled mosaic exterior.

Stanley Theatre was designed by renowned architect Thomas Lamb.