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 The Reg Lenna Civic Center was first opened on February 5, 1923 as the Palace Theatre, a "High Class Vodvil" house. Films, usually a short comedy plus a feature, were shown before and after the twice-a-day vaudeville performances. Three years later Nikitas Dipson bought the facility and continued with film and vaudeville shows. In 1930 Dipson leased the Palace to Warner Brothers for 20 years. For a short time the format of films and vaudeville was continued, but live performances were slowly downplayed to emphasize the cinema. By 1934 films were the only entertainment available on a regular basis. In 1950 Warner terminated their lease and Dipson Theatres, still the owners, once again took over management. The Palace was remodeled by installing new heating and cooling systems, carpeting, wall coverings and new seats. At the reopening Dipson reaffirmed his intention to feature not only first run films of the best quality, but also stage shows, orchestras and vaudeville. In 1956, Forever Darling, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, had it's world premiere at The Palace. With the passing years fewer and fewer people attended the theater, equipment was wearing out, and the building needed repairs. On September 10, 1981, the last movie was shown: The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.
In June of 1981, Harry Chapin gave the first live show in the theatre in 25 years. During the concert, both performer and audience got rained on.Some people in the balcony were using umbrellas! Harry Chapin pledged to come back and do a fund raiser if the people would organize to save the building. Tragically, Chapin died six months later, but he had started the process. A group of citizens, with the help of the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency and the Gebbie Foundation, banded together to repair and clean up the old theatre. By October 1982 the Palace was once again ready to host live performances to "test" where there was enough interest to warrant further renovation. In February 1986 a 3.35 million dollar campaign was started to completely renovate the old Palace. The Reginald and Elizabeth Lenna Foundation made an early donation of one million dollars and one year later, when the goal for funds was met and surpassed, the Palace was officially renamed the Reg Lenna Civic Center.
Renovation, which began in 1989, included taking out all the seats for reupholster, recontruction of the orchestra pit, new stage lighting andequipment, new curtains, new house lights, handicapped seating created, new floor coverings, original artwork repaired and cleaned, new stage entrance, new heating and cooling systems, and a new stage floor. The grand reopening was held October 12, 1990.
The beautifully restored 1,269 seat Reg Lenna Civic Center received an award from the League of Historic American Theatres for the quality and workmanship of its restoration. It boasts a 35' movie screen, state of the art projection and sound equipment, and a Steinway 9' Model D concert grand piano. The Reg Lenna Civic Center is host to the Lucy-Desi Days Lucy-Desi Days celebration Memorial Day Weekend and Lucy's birthday celebration in August.
In February 2000, our community lost a great friend and benefactor with the death of Reg Lenna. We enclose the following words in grateful appreciation of Reg Lenna for making the arts a vital part of our community:
"Reg knows something we don't know. How often could any of us have uttered such a phrase in the time we have known Reg? It bears repeating today--Reg knows something we don't know.
My association with Reg Lenna has spanned the final fifteen years of his life. During that time I saw a man of immense business acumen apply those skills to the betterment of the community in ways overt and compelling and in ways quiet and invisible. He negotiated with his head - he gave from his heart.
Many of you can think of examples of your own where Reg, the businessman, employer and partner, made you do the work better, and Reg, the caring friend, patron, citizen, parishioner, neighbor and relative, made so many things possible.
When do we make our real marks in life, our finest gestures? When we are young, innocent and dependent? When we are fiercely independent, focused and productive? When we are powerful and wise or when we are infirmed and vulnerable?
I would like to suggest that Reg made his most enduring statement when he was lacking any tangible power, utterly dependent, in fact dying. And the statement was love.
Reg knows something that we don't know but we're working on it. And as always, Reg, we are grateful to you." Excerpt from words given by Thomas Becker, Vice President for Development, Chautauqua Institution, at Reg Lenna's funeral, February 9, 2000
Reg was born in Jamestown, graduated from Jamestown High School, Manlius Military School, and from the engineering school at Lehigh University. He became assistant to the President of Blackstone in 1947 and brought with him new technical concepts and was instrumental in entering the Blackstone Company in the international market. When he became President of the corporation in the early 1960's he opened the first Swedish Blackstone plant. The company expanded under his leadership to open factories in Canada and other parts of the world. Reg Lenna was one of the first to recognize the realities of a world economy and he acted upon it.
Reg was knighted by the King of Sweden, the Royal Order of the North Star, in 1976 and received an honorary doctorate in 1981 from St. Bonaventure University. In 1975 he received the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He was active in many other organizations such as the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, the United Jewish Appeal, the Jamestown YMCA, Chautauqua Institution and was president of the Lenna Foundation.
Both Reg and Betty Lenna have made innummerable contributions to our community. The Reg Lenna Civic Center in Jamestown and the Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall at Chautauqua Institution are two large examples of their generosity, however, there are many others. They both have served on many committees and boards; from the Community Foundation, Community College, WCA Board of Directors, Creche, Chautauqua Institution, S.S. Peter and Paul Parochial School, and more. They have given generously of their time and talent to encourage the renewal of Jamestown, to encourage the betterment of their community, and the improvement of standards, and working conditions.
Betty Lenna was born in Louisville, KY and moved to the area at the age of 5. She graduated from S.S. Peter and Paul Parochial School, Jamestown High School and Jamestown Community College. She has always enjoyed art and music, and has visited Chautauqua Institution all her life.
 Betty is a member of the Chautauqua Development Council, a former member of the Chautauqua Board of Trustees, and a former director of WCA Hospital. She is a trustee of the T. James Hazel Clarke Trust, a member of the advisory board for Marine Midland Bank and a former president of The Creche Inc. She was a director of the Blackstone Corporation and is Vice President of the Lenna Foundation.
Betty was one of the "Founding Fathers" of the Community Foundation, and served on the Board of Directors, holding the office of First Vice President until retiring last June. She continues to serve the Foundation as a member of the Investment Committee. Together Betty and Reg have showered the Foundation with their generosity, and have been instrumental in setting up several funds.
Together Reg and Betty's dedication to the improvement of the area has been an inspiration to us all. We're grateful to have had the opportunity to know them.
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