US$45,000 (1858) ($1.58 million in 2023 dollars[2]) US$25,025 (1884) ($848,626 in 2023 dollars[2]) US$64,000 (1912) ($2.02 million in 2023 dollars[2]) US$115,000 (1936) ($2.53 million in 2023 dollars[2]) US$1,400,000 (1948) ($17.8 million in 2023 dollars[2])
Architect
Calvin N. Otis (1858) George J. Metzker (1884) Robert J. Reidpath (1912)
Main contractors
William F. Felton (1912) WPA (1936) W.F. Hendrich Company (1948)
Broadway Auditorium is a former multipurpose arena in Buffalo, New York. It was part of a complex that first opened as Broadway Arsenal in 1858 to accommodate the 65th and 74th Regiments of the New York National Guard. The facility was expanded in 1884 with the addition of a drill hall and administration building to become the Sixty-Fifth Regiment Armory. The armory was decommissioned in 1907, and the City of Buffalo opened the vacant drill hall as Broadway Auditorium in 1913.
After closing in 1940, the complex was used as barracks for the 712th Military Police Battalion during World War II. The former auditorium began serving as public works storage facility Broadway Garage (known colloquially as Broadway Barns) after the arsenal was demolished in 1948. Following renovations slated to begin in 2024, the building will reopen as a sports complex.
New York State funded the facility's conversion to the Sixty-Fifth Regiment Armory in 1884, adding a drill hall and administration building at a cost of $25,025.75.[6]Major George J. Metzker of the 65th Regiment designed and oversaw construction of both the drill hall and administration building. President-elect Grover Cleveland dedicated the new drill hall during a ceremony on January 13, 1885.[7]
The armory was decommissioned on February 1, 1907, when the 65th Regiment moved to newly built Masten Avenue Armory.[8][9]
Opening and reception
The City of Buffalo acquired the former armory in 1908 and began using the drill hall for public gatherings. Buffalo Common Council had rejected a proposal to reopen the facility as Technical High School in favor of using it as a convention hall.[10] The city formally opened the drill hall portion of the complex as Broadway Auditorium on May 19, 1913. Dedication festivities lasted several days, and included a speech by New York Governor William Sulzer and concert performance by tenor Charles Morati.[11]
A soft opening had commenced in 1912 while the building underwent $64,000 in renovations, which included the addition of a lighted marquee, bleacher seating, and a stage that could accommodate big band orchestras.[12] Robert J. Reidpath designed the building's new roof, which added clerestory windows for lighting and ventilation. William F. Felton, who had constructed many of the buildings for the Pan-American Exposition, completed the masonry work.[13]
The venue was home to the Buffalo Bowmans of the Indoor Professional Lacrosse League in 1932. The Bowmans were the first box lacrosse team in the United States, and featured future Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame member Harry Smith. Smith would later find fame as an actor, using the stage name Jay Silverheels.[16]
Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee Ross Powless recounted during a speech how Smith acquired the nickname "Silverheels" while playing for the Buffalo Bowmans:
Judy "Punch" Garlow told me how Harry got the name Silverheels. One time the boys won new white lacrosse shoes for playing good and Harry ran so fast in them new white shoes, all you could see was flashes of white at his heels. I guess they couldn't very well call him Whiteheels, him being Mohawk and all, so they called him Silverheels.[17]
Renovations were carried out by the Works Progress Administration in 1936 to make the venue more suitable as a convention hall. The $115,000 project included the installation of gallery seating, and a wooden floor that could accommodate basketball.[12]
An accidental fire heavily damaged the original arsenal building on August 30, 1948, while it was undergoing renovations.[23] The arsenal was then demolished so that garage doors could be added to the auditorium for accommodation of public works vehicles.[12] The only surviving feature of the arsenal remains its original concrete portal that connected it to the rear of the auditorium.[24] Architecture that made up the exterior of the auditorium, including its original façade, was encapsulated behind yellow colored brick as part of the $1,400,000 project. The building was renamed Broadway Garage in 1948 when the City of Buffalo began using it for public works storage.
Reopening
Competing interests often discussed either demolishing or restoring the facility.[25] The building was nearly condemned by the New York State Department of Labor in 2001.[26] In 2022, the City of Buffalo placed the 5.3 acre property out to bid for private redevelopment.[27]
The venue hosted the 5th Annual National Bowling Association Tournament in March 1911, which was won by Joseph West who defeated 1,451 other competitors.[32][33][34][35] Mayor Louis P. Fuhrmann rolled the Ceremonial First Ball to open the event.[36]
The venue hosted the 14th Annual American Bowling Congress National Tournament in March 1914, which was won by Larry Sutton who defeated 450 other competitors.[37][38][39]
The venue hosted the 21st Annual American Bowling Congress National Tournament in March 1921, which was won by Fred Smith who defeated 940 other competitors.[40][38][39]
The venue hosted the 25th Annual American Bowling Congress National Tournament in March 1925, which was won by Al Green who defeated 2,200 other competitors.[41][38][39]
The venue hosted the 31st Annual American Bowling Congress National Tournament in March 1931, which was won by Walter Lachowski who defeated 2.639 other competitors.[42][38][39]
Jimmy Slattery defeated Lou Scozza by majority decision during a February 10, 1930 boxing card at the venue, lasting 15 rounds to win the vacant NYSAC Light Heavyweight Title. The contest drew 11,000 fans and is considered Buffalo's Greatest Fight of the 20th Century.[47]
Future World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis defeated Young Stanley Ketchel by knockout in a boxing exhibition at the venue on January 11, 1937.[48]
Bob Pastor defeated Charley Eagle by unanimous decision in the venue's final event on June 28, 1940. The bout had been scheduled for Civic Stadium, but was moved to the auditorium due to cold weather.[49][50]
The venue was host to the annual Lew Horschel Barn Dance, a themed gala to benefit local charities that transformed the auditorium into a rural village.[63] Horschel was the resident concessionaire for Broadway Auditorium and other local entities including Erie County Fair.[64][65]
High school
The inaugural Interscholastic Indoor Championship, a multisport competition between local high schools, was staged at the venue on March 28, 1919.[66]Buffalo Enquirer sponsored the event, and Hutchinson High School was awarded the Enquirer Cup for their victory.[67]
The Buffalo Majors won their inaugural game at the venue on January 25, 1931, by defeating the Duluth Hornets 3–2 in overtime before 7,000 fans. It was the first professional hockey game played in the city, and Mayor Charles E. Roesch dropped the ceremonial first puck.[15]
President Woodrow Wilson spoke before a crowd of 13,000 at the venue on November 1, 1916, as part of his reelection campaign for the 1916 United States presidential election.[82]
President Woodrow Wilson spoke at the venue as an invited guest of the 37th-annual American Federation of Labor convention on November 12, 1917.[83][84]
Ellsworth Vines defeated Lester Stoefen by scores of 8–6, 8–6 and Bill Tilden tied George Lott with scores of 7–9, 6–3 at the venue on January 23, 1935, as part of their World Championship Series tennis tour. The match between Tilden and Lott was ended prematurely so both competitors could catch their train.[99]
Fred Perry defeated Ellsworth Vines at the venue on January 20, 1937, before a crowd of 8,167 as part of their World Championship Series tennis tour by scores of 6–4, 6–8, 6–2. Perry led the series 4 matches to 3 at the end of the night.[100][101]
Fred Perry defeated Ellsworth Vines at the venue on April 27, 1938, as part of their World Championship Series tennis tour by scores of 6–2, 1–6, 8–6. Vines led the series 35 matches to 27 at the end of the night.[102]
Don Budge defeated Ellsworth Vines at the venue on January 20, 1939, as part of their World Championship Series tennis tour by scores of 8–6, 1–6, 6–4. Budge led the series 9 matches to 4 at the end of the night.[103]
Don Budge defeated Fred Perry at the venue on May 1, 1939, as part of their World Championship Series tennis tour by scores of 6–1, 2–6, 6–2. Budge led the series 21 matches to 8 at the end of the night.