Vintage Theaters

[J. M. Stovall]

The old theatre lobby *has* been beautifully restored, grand staircase and all, and is used for office space for a local architectural firm (the old office lobby has been restored and reused for offices as well, and the elevator lobby has been restored for use of the residents of the tower).

Can we see some shots of those too?

 

[Atomic Glee]

Can we see some shots of those too?

I'll do my best! The lady who took the pics of the theatre ruins works for said architectural firm, so I'm sure I can pay her a visit and snap a couple of pics of the old lobby - and of course, the elevator lobby is doable, since I go through it every day. The office lobby I'll try to get a pic of, and I do have one small pic of it from back when the building was being restored. The original ornate ceiling was found intact, hidden by a generic dropped ceiling installed by the bank in the '70s:

 

[Pilgrim]

Fascinating shots! Thanks for for sharing them!

And I'm EXTREMELY impressed by the image of the main theater area that the "Mr. Contrast" filter pulled out of that drk shot. That's amazing!

 

[Atomic Glee]

Been a while, but I promised to get some more shots of the old Hollywood. Thus far, I have this - a quick shot through the doors of the old Hollywood lobby, now used as an office for a local architectural firm. The back part of the lobby is even more beautiful, and still features the old staircase to the balcony lobby - but I haven't had a chance to get back in there yet.

 

[Atomic Glee]

And here are shots of our two operating theatres in downtown - both are fairly new, but very, very old-school style. There's the Sundance, which is all Art Deco-y, and built amongst several historic buildings on either side of it and a new highrise apartment building behind it (a bit of it can be seen in the back right - it's not the big glass tower in the back left, which is a condo tower):

and the Palace (on the left side of the first pic), which is done in the Streamline Moderne style and built alongside a Streamline Moderne Barnes & Noble/office building:

Downtown Fort Worth is an amazing success story of revitalization, and the place is absolutely PACKED with people, especially on the weekends. There are usually lines stretching down the block in front of both these theatres. Yes, that's right - our two downtown theatres have actually thrived in the face of competition from the big suburban megaplexes.

 

[Twitch]

The Crest In Long Beach was around a long time http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics34/00036923.jpg I grew up in this ornate theater in St. Louis http://cinematreasures.org/theater/934/ http://www.buildingmuseum.org/recovery/project_granada.asp

 

[skillbilly]

Grand Lake Theater in Oakland

This theater has been around since 1926 and has been beautifully restored. One of the theaters inside has an Egyptian theme with Hieroglyphics on the walls!


There is also the Paramount Theater which no longer shows movies, but still has show/concerts. It is stunning as well.

http://www.paramounttheatre.com/southext.html

 

[Mike in Seattle]

The Crest In Long Beach was around a long time http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics34/00036923.jpg

Oh my God! That's the neighborhood theatre we always went to. But big theatres were already on the way out - Lakewood Center remodeled from one theatre into several in the 1970's. In the early-to-mid 70's, Cerritos Mall was built and with it, the first "multiplex" around. The Crest was already scheduled for demolition long before Cerritos opened. Across the street and down a bit from Russell's, which had the best burgers and potato salad in town. I understand, sadly, Russell's is gone as well. Not sure about Hamburger Henry's and Polly's Pies.

The last thing I saw at the Crest was Gone with the Wind in high school in 1977 - up on the big screen and they still had ushers. But the Crest was the theatre that had the Saturday kid's matinees we all flocked to. The Towne, about two blocks north, was newer and flashier, and right across from Bixby Knolls Shopping Center. But the Towne came down about the same time as the Crest. An office complex replaced the Towne, and a strip center replaced the Crest. I'm sure a few years later, there would've been a big outcry to save it and designate it as historic. I knew at the time I should've grabbed one or two of the short rows of seats (4-6 seats) - everything was just ripped out and thrown away.

Thanks for sharing the picture - brought back more than a few memories!

 

[Girl Friday]

The Lakewood Theater Dallas, Texas

http://www.lakewoodtheater.com/photos/

I love this place they need to start showing classic movies again, we've seen African Queen, White Christmas and Goldfinger. :eusa_clap

A friend of ours grandparents met there in the 30's? I think. They mostly have concerts there currently. And a great bar connected to it, the Balcony Club:

 

[Quigley Brown]

Any of you UK members ever been here?

http://www.blythweb.co.uk/News/epp2002/

Michael Palin's 'East of Ipswich' is a very sweet film.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

From my hometown, Buffalo -

Where I was married -

The inside of same said -

A couple of my other favs -

 

[LizzieMaine]

Really enjoying all these pics -- thanks, everyone, for sharing them!

Those of you who read Architectural Digest magazine might want to take a look back at the March 2006 issue -- there's a very nice illustrated article about the Rockland Strand (where I work), and its restoration. Some lovely interior shots too!!

 

[The Wingnut]

This theater has been around since 1926 and has been beautifully restored. One of the theaters inside has an Egyptian theme with Hieroglyphics on the walls!


There is also the Paramount Theater which no longer shows movies, but still has show/concerts. It is stunning as well.

http://www.paramounttheatre.com/southext.html

Went there on New Year's Eve, saw Chronicles of Narnia. Best date I've been on.

 

[Story]

Broadway Theater, Pitman NJ

Gala Marks Reopening of Historic NJ Theatre
by KYW’s Ed Kasuba

A “Bring Back Broadway" gala is being held in Pitman, NJ on Saturday to mark the reopening of the Broadway Theatre.

The 80-year-old former Vaudeville house closed a year and a half ago. It’s been restored to its former glory with a six-show subscription theatre season kicking off in January.

Artistic director Charles Gill says he first looked the place over five months ago:

“It was not in the best of condition, yet there was a certain heart that you could feel beating there. I stood center stage and looked out, and you could -- if you listened really carefully -- you could hear the applause and hear the laughter.”

Among those who appeared at the Broadway during its early days were Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Sally Rand. As recently as 20 years ago, Johnny Cash performed there.

Gill says the theatre still has its original pipe organ:

“We have one of the few three-eighths Kimball organs left -- it’s a theatrical organ that has all kinds of bells and whistles and birds. It’s amazing. It has several hundred pipes.”

The organ will be featured on October 29th when the silent film version of “Phantom of the Opera” will be featured at the Broadway.


More information at:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1014/

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Hey, this is just up the street from where I work!

 

[Air Boss]

Massive, massive thanks to my friend Mary Bess for letting me share her amazing photos.

Kevin -

Our thanks too.

 

[doghouse]

The Perot Theater in Texarkana

 

[Girl Friday]

This is in my hometown Greenville, Texas. I am glad at least they are using the building, I remember seeing movies there when I was a little kid.

http://www.greenville-texas.com/texan/index.htm

 

[BJonas]

In Florida...

Haven't checked if anyone has mentioned this one yet, but if you're ever in Tampa, be sure to check the Tampa Theatre (http://www.tampatheatre.org/). It's beautiful, and HAUNTED too.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I reckon that all old theaters are haunted. Really!

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