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Wanted: Paramount/Publix Usher Uniform Photo
posted by
adkemp
on
December 6, 2007 at 7:44 am
I am looking to re-create an usher uniform in the style used by Paramount/Publix theatres from the late 1920s/early 1930s. Does anyone have a photo of such a uniform? If you are willing to sell an actual period uniform or part thereof from any theatre(not limited to Paramount), I would be interested in that as well. Thanks!
Comments (8)
I found one picture of 1930s theatre ushers, but you gave no email address to forward the picture to.
Philbert Gray
Hi Philbert – Thanks so much for responding! Could you send the photo to ?
When my dad was in high school in the early 1930s, he worked as an usher at the Paramount Theatre (originally Publix)in Salem, MA, designed by Rapp & Rapp of Chicago with 2,187 seats. I believe that the uniform there in his time was black pants, red jacket and red cap, quite similar to hotel bellhop garb of the era. I once saw a picture of the ushers at the Salem Paramount c. 1930 (there were a considerable number in the photo), but being in the Salem Evening News, it was a black and white picture. As I think back to the 1950s when I used to see movies there, the uniform seemed the same.
Phil – Thank you for the photos. Unfortunately, I am specifically looking for an image of the uniform used by “Paramamount Pictures” or their “Publix” Theatre chain. Please let me know if you find any.
Thanks Dave – Please let me know if you ever come accross a photo of your dad in his uniform. I’d appreciate seeing that.
There’s a gentleman by the name of Miles Krueger. He is founder of the Institute of the American Musical in Los Angeles. I visited his museum about 20 years ago, and he has an original usher (or doorman) coat from the Times Square Paramount. I don’t recall the colors, but it was VERY heavy!
adkemp: If nothing else works for you I would recommend contacting the Theatre Historical Society in Elmhurst, Illinois. They would almost certainly have photos of what you’re looking for. They also have a museum that, if memory serves, has one or two uniforms. Anyway, if you contact them I’m pretty sure they can help you. Here is their info:
Theatre Historical Society of America
York Theatre Building
152 N. York Street, 2nd floor
Elmhurst, IL 60126-2806
Ph. (630) 782-1800
http://www.historictheatres.org/
e-mail:
i am looking for those old theatre sound equipment like speaker cabinet drivers amplifier i will paid good money and come to pick them up.773-339-9035