Books

This 1996 homage to the work of the prolific theater architect S. Charles Lee, whose work stretched from the early 20s to the early 50s, from Spanish Baroque to Streamline, mainly working in California, author Maggie Valentine presents a wide range of Lee’s work, and how his movie houses reflected the rapidly-changing cultural life of America, and how his designs greatly inspired modern movie theater architecture. 

Search through thousands of ads within your city, near your zip code or define your own region. You can place your own classified ad for free.

Fine rare and out of print film books including books and other material relating to movie theatres. Also posters and books on art, photography, graphic design, gay and lesbian, fiction, poetry, signed books and more. 

The only guide to classic movie theaters still operating in the Midwest.  Maps, histories, contact info, wonderful nostalgia movie memories, all here.

In this book by Nicholas Van Hoogstraten, its second edition published in 1997, the history of many of the theaters of the Great White Way is told, from the late 19th century Casino to the Art Deco RKO Roxy, from some of the best-known Broadway houses (the New Victory, the New Amsterdam, the Lyric) to long-forgotten theaters which deserve to be remembered. Profusely illustrated, this book shows a Broadway that once was, and is filled with fascinating tales of the theaters and the men who built them and the men and women who performed on their stages. While the majority of the houses in the book are no more, some have been saved (like the New Amsterdam, by Disney) and some have been recycled (like Hammerstein’s, now home to David Letterman’s late-night show) and some are still being torn down (like Henry Miller’s, which will be razed next year). 

Society - publishes books on British cinema building history. Registered as an educational charity. Includes profiles of book list, advertisement section, and galleries of cinema buildings and equipment.

The definitive guide to the theaters of Detroit, Stuart Galbraith IV’s book covers the history of the Motor City’s movie houses from the days of the nickelodeon to megaplexes. Entries include brief descriptions of hundreds of Detroit (and Detroit-area) theaters and drive-ins, and many black and white illustrations. (Only one caveat--this book was written over a decade ago, so it’s a bit out of date with regards to many of the more modern theaters, some of which have closed/been torn down since, but nonetheless, this book is a must for not only fans of Detroit’s theaters, but fans of theaters in general).

Autobiographical book by Jonathan Rosenbaum, a film critic, who was the son and grandson of movie theater exhibitors in northwestern Alabama. (Their theater chain lasted from 1919 until 1960.) (Rosenbaum has recently posted a description of and link to Cinema Treasures on his own website, www.jonathanrosenbaum.com.) This book was published originally by Harper & Row in 1980, and the University of California Press published a second edition in 1995. (A French translation with the same illustrations, Mouvements, was published in France by P.O.L in 2003.) It is now available for free in online form, and copies of the first and second editions are still available from individual booksellers reachable through Amazon, Alibris, etc. The book includes many photographs of theaters as well as personal details about the theaters, their employees, and their operations.

Over 41,000 original movie posters and related ephemera dating from the silent era through current releases. featuring material ranging lobby cards through billboard sized 24 sheets. Site’s inventory contains large number of original pressbooks, the marketing manuals sent to movie theatres by the studios. Filled with ad slicks and promotional suggestins (some rather bizarre), pressbooks offer an insight as to how individucal theatre owners used to act as true showmen. 

The 2001 book of Davis Cone’s brilliant ultra-realistic paintings captures every imaginable detail of dozens of Art Deco and Art Moderne-era movie houses, from burnt out marquee lightbulbs to rain-slicked streets in front of the theaters, this book reminds us of theaters that have since been lost, theaters that have slipped even further into disrepair, and theaters that are still alive and well.