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Richard Breland in a 2008 file photo.

(Li-Hua Lan/The Post-Standard)

DEWITT, N.Y. - A fixture at local cinemas for the past quarter century took his last ticket this week.

Richard Breland, who retired Thursday, has worked as an usher, in concessions and in management over the course of his career. He'd been at the Regal Cinemas at ShoppingTown Mall since 1997.

He gained fame with local moviegoers as a greeter.

His reputation for cheer is legendary, said Don Gormel, an assistant manager at the ShoppingTown Regal.

"Customers come in if he has a day off and ask where he is," Gormel said. "He could be having the worst day. Whatever's going on, he's just friendly with everyone."

Now that Breland is retired, Gormel said he expects plenty of questions from patrons. Many who knew about his plans have been showing up with cards.

Breland was about 2 years old when his parents moved to Syracuse from York, Pa. in search of better jobs. The family settled in the city's 15th Ward.

Breland graduated from Central High School and was drafted into the Army in 1952 during the Korean War. He trained in Germany and England, but the war ended before he got in.

When he returned to Syracuse, he landed a job at General Electric, where he worked for 35 years before retiring in 1991.

He's also a neighborhood activist and has served on the boards of Neighborhood Watch Groups of Syracuse and Syracuse United Neighbors.

Breland first began working in theaters part time in 1988 at the old Fayetteville Mall.

Contact Kevin Tampone at ktampone@syracuse.com or (315) 454-2112. Follow him on Twitter @ktampone.