This month marks the 70th anniversary of the opening of what was then the Jewel in the Crown of the Schine Theater chain, and one of architect John Eberson's best creations. I visited this theater constantly from the time it was 15 years old until it was 25. I count it as one of the advantages of growing up in Auburn in the '50s and '60s. I know it will sit silently and largely forgotten on its birthday, but not by everyone.

Even a small city like Auburn could have its 1,800 seat movie palace in the days when TV was two channels from Syracuse and radio was local AM stations. I actually consider young people today as deprived of the sheer delight of entering a magic place to see great movies. Rochester, my home of these past 40 years, lost all its grand movie palaces to some idiotic notion of urban renewal which was more intent on creating parking lots and drab commercial buildings than uplifting the civic spirit.

Similarly, Auburn lost its downtown heart to a disastrous bypass highway and that same “plow it under” excuse for tearing down irreplaceable structures. Auburn is very fortunate, however, to still have the Schine's Theater building with a new roof to slow further deterioration. I'm sure a full restoration to its Art Deco glory will cost in the millions of dollars, although there are federal and state grants for significant historic buildings.

Times are tough, Auburn, and the easiest thing to do is convince yourself that a magnificent historic movie palace and performing arts center will do nothing for the quality of life, give no sense of civic pride, and won't have any good economic impact of the community. Or look down South Street and think about what can be.

Carlos Mercado

Rochester