PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
September 18, 2025
Palace Theater to Air Premiere of
America’s Stairway September 26

The much-anticipated premiere showing of America’s Stairway, the Erie Canal Flight of Five Documentary will take place at Lockport’s Historic Palace Theatre Friday, September 26 at 7 PM. The hour-long film will be followed by an exclusive interview with Producer/Director Paul Lamont and Producer Bob Borgatti.
“In addition to having a large audience of local supporters of the Flight of Five restoration and other Canal enthusiasts in attendance, we look forward to introducing several of the historians and chroniclers whose interviews comprise such an important part of this epic story,” explained Todd Alfonso, volunteer Project Manager of the documentary.
With the support of the Lockport Locks Heritage District Corporation, Alfonso headed up a committee that screened numerous film makers, selecting Toward Castle Films to write and produce a documentary that celebrates the engineering feat that enabled Erie Canal builders to surmount the Niagara Escarpment and complete the 363-mile Erie Canal in 1825.
“The release of this documentary during Lockport’s Erie Canal Bicentennial Week is very timely,” explained Alfonso. “The film portrays why the Flight of Five Locks was indeed one of America’s early 19th Century man-made wonders, and it reveals how the Flight of Five has become the transformational force for revitalizing a community in the 21st. Century.
“Attesting to the national significance of this message is the role of Tony Award winner Liev Schreiber as the narrator of America’s Stairway,” pointed out Alfonso. “The Lockport Locks Heritage District Corporation is most appreciative of the large number of businesses, organizations and individuals that contributed funds to enable this production to be successful. Our team looks forward to America’s Stairway enjoying national distribution in the not-too-distant future due to the support of WNED-TV Buffalo Toronto Public Media.”
Alfonso’s team of community backers that hired Toward Castle Films and raised the funds for the documentary consists of Dr. Jeffrey Schratz, Linda Roth and David Kinyon.
Tickets for the first-ever showing of America’s Stairway are on sale for $5 per ticket (general admission) at the Palace Theatre Box Office and at Mills Jewelers in Lockport.

For more information: David Kinyon ([email protected] or 716-638-1119)