Photographs

Larry Grossman’s “Movie Palace” artwork, as featured for five days on Cinema Treasures(Sept.’04), can be viewed and purchased on the RetroVisions web site: www.RetroVisions.com

Other art by the innovative artist/photographer can also be seen and purchased.

The day was not too long ago that a night at the theatre was a very special thing. When a young man wooing a lady friend would take her to the vaudville house, or the latest opera from france. They would be decked out in tails and flowing gowns. Theatre was a social event. As much a place to be seen as to see a show. The theatres built during this time were a testament to that aura of occasion. The 20’s saw a surge in large houses going up with ever increasing granduer. The major chains, especially, grew ever larger. Orpheums and Paramounts, amoung others, sprang up all over the country, and ‘the circut’ was institutionalized. The theatre was a major part of the town’s life. It was in a theatre in Schenectady, NY, that TV was introduced to the public. After the great depression, many of the grand old houses fell into a kind of sleep. Mimicing in many ways the downtowns that they occupied. Some were revived in the 70’s as movie theaters. Others were knocked down. The late 80’s held a sort of reintroduction of these old friends. Millions were spent on restoration, grand reopenings were held. These Grand Dames still hold the power to awe. And they know how to put on quite a show. 

‘THE LAST FRAME OF PICTURE’ Recently expanded collection of black and white theater facade photographs from an on-going documentation effort. Now displaying sample images from 26 states. Non-profit project’s work is funded by sales of box set and individual archival prints.

Photographer, Andrew Moore has color photos of the Selwyn, Liberty, Times Square and New Amsterdam theatre interiors prior to their renovation.
In addition, the site features one exterior of the Lyric as well as the Grand Luncheonette which was next door to the Selwyn.
There are also 4 recent exterior photos of the Times Square area.
Hauntingly beautiful photos of 42nd street theatres in their delapidated state before renovation.

Tampa, florida photographer, specializing in infrared photography, black and white photography, and historical photography

Photographic tour of the old Los Angeles theater district on Broadway.

Oakland based art photographer Suzy Poling has posted ten black and white pictures taken in Chicago’s decaying Congress Theater and Uptown Theater. Titled “Palace of Mold,” the exhibit consists of photographs of parts of theaters never meant to be seen by the public, including the attics above the interior domes. Depressing, but interesting.

Photographs of Cinema architecture from around the world, depicting either a purpose built cinema or a cinema adapted from an earlier building is welcomed - whatever state the building is currently in!

Kjell Furberg is a Swedish photographer and cinema historian who has published several books on the cinemas of Sweden and Stockholm. You can find some of his beautiful pictures and information here. In English and Swedish. Note that the links to his subpages are small and on the right.

Remarkable visualization of architecture for cinemas and theatres.