Landmark Theatre

This is my husband's grandfather, and I am looking for more examples of his architecture. I understand he built a large number of these palaces and would like to gather as complete a listing as possible

Thank You, Diane Lamb

Theater style: Indo-Persian-Romanesque.
From: 1981-1984, I worked in the theater as the Stage Mgr.,& House Electrician. Has a working 10-Scene Resistance Stage/ 2-Scene House Westinghouse Switchboard. Five Screw-Jack Style Electric Lifts, 2 on deck, & 3 in Band-Car.

32-Line Set Rail/ Counter Weight system, Stage is shallow only 29'0" deep, but we've hosted a regular compliment of Yellow Card Shows since 1928. All Stage Systems lovingly maintained by Members of I.A.T.S.E. Local #9 Syracuse, of which I am a Member.

I remember visiting this theatre back when it still showed movies. My parents were aware of my interest in old movie theatres and graciously drove me the 60 miles to Syracuse to see a film here. When I first stepped into the lobby I staggered back about 1 or 2 steps because of the sudden explosion of ornament and color that burst over me. Every surface is heavily decorated with persian/hindu/oriental themes. There is a huge mural taking up one wall of the main lobby, and the whole thing was once illuminated by a chandelier which Louis Tiffany had originally designed for the Vanderbilts. Unfortunately the chandelier was sold when the theatre closed in the mid 70's, its' been replaced by a smaller moorish style fixture, which matches the decor, but it's not the same.

Here is a photo of the box office of the Landmark aka Loew's State Theatre in Syracuse, NY.

Just today I was told about this must-see theatre in Syracuse so may have to check it out!

Recent color photos of this theatre can be found on the site: "America's Stunning Theatres" by photographer and stagehand Noah Kern at: http://www.pbase.com/affablebeef/theatres Comments and information may be left there without registration; such can be public view or only to Mr. Kern. Scroll down the page to find the name, and then click on the sample image above it to be taken to the page of photos of it.

Ms. Lamb: It was interesting to read your July 2001 post. Since it was posted 4 years ago I hope that you still visit CT from time to time. I plan to stop and see this 'landmark' Landmark Theatre in October and am so pleased to read that SALT restored it. If you go to the word architect on this site, you should find a list of theatres that the name Lamb was associated with in years gone by.

There are 147 theatres listed with Thomas Lamb as the architect. The Century is listed with photos that was in Buffalo NY, but is now a Burger King!

I have now seen the Landmark Theatre, in person and found it to be a true gem in downtown Syracuse, but was sorry to learn that the pipe organ is no longer in residence.

"The 1,400-pipe Wurlitzer organ offered its own exotic flavor, treating patrons to such sounds as a glockenspiel, marimba, bird whistles, hoof beats and surf sounds." I feel a sense of loss whenever I visit a grand theatre such as the Landmark and realize that their Mighty Wurlitzer is gone as it was such an important piece of history for these theatres and would complete the theatre's special ambience. And I hope that Diane Lamb whose husband's grandfather was Thomas Lamb contributes again to this site and other Lamb related theatres in the near future.

This is an incredibly beautiful theatre! I played here in the early '80's with some touring bus and truck shows.

I remember attending a B.B.King blues concert here, circa 1986, while I was a student at Syracuse University (a friend of mine dragged me there, figuring I would be the most "open-minded" one to share his "unique" tastes in music). I have no strong visual memories of the place. I can only remember it being very dark inside, sitting in the rear orchestra seats beneath a low ceiling (I believe it was the balcony). It was difficult to see the performance at times, only because the audience was on its collective feet, especially towards the end of the show (as I recall, the floor did not have much of a slope, which didn't help).

That was my only experience there. With plenty of campus activities and concerts in the Carrier Dome to keep me occupied, there wasn't much need to venture "downtown" (and it was usually best not to, especially at night). However, in the mid-1990s, the city's center underwent something of a "renaissance", spurred largely by the rapid redevelopment of the Armory Square district and its growing nightlife and cultural scene (it reminded us NYC people of Greenwich Village's bohemian atmosphere, if I may dare to make such a comparison in Upstate NY).

Here is a 1997 night view of the Landmark Theater in Syracuse.

Diane: I'm Jennifer Warren and the historian for the Waco Hippodrome Theater built in 1913 in Waco, TX. The architect for our building was Roy E. Lane of Waco and two other gentlemen of Dallas. I've not found in any record that our building is related but the uncanny resemblance of our Hippodrome to the one in Baltimore is stunning.

If you can shed any light on which architectural firms in Texas might have been related to our building, I'd appreciate the feedback or information.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Warren
Waco Hippodrome Historian

Here is a 1977 article about the State:
http://tinyurl.com/ybhvgk

Since my link went kaput, here is the text:

CHAPIN ATTRACTS NEARLY 3,000

It was a downtown phenomenon. The throng of people — almost 3,000 of them — came to hear Harry Chapin sing. They also came to save Loew's State Theater. The line for tickets began forming before 6 p.m. A little after 7 p.m. the line of people stretched three and four
deep along S. Salina and W. Fayette streets. By 7:30 p.m. the line curved around the block, past the corner of W. Fayette and Clinton streets and almost over to Jefferson Street. By 8 p.m. ushers were hunting inside the theater for empty seats to accommodate the people streaming into the sold out house.

The people in the audience paid $6, $7 and $8 dollars apiece to hear Chapin. The benefit concert was organized by Syracuse Area Landmark
Theater (SALT), a group that is trying to raise $100,000 to restore and revive Loew's State.

SALT is attempting to raise the money by Nov. 12 in order to buy the
theater. The cost for the theater section of the building is $65,000. Another $35,000 is sought for roof and other repairs. The building is owned by Button Real Estate Co. If it is not bought by
the November deadline, it is expected to be torn down, probably to make way for a parking lot.

Inside the theater, people gazed in awe at the ornately carved columns, filigree railings and brocade walls. Before Chapin's erformance, a band played in the foyer — like in the good old days when live music was heard in the theater. Loew's was one of the great movie houses. Built with a blend of Oriental, Arabic and other exotic motifs, Loew's opened in February, 1928. Its architect, Thomas W. Lamb, built more than 300 movie theaters in the United States after completing Loew's.

According to Peter Baum, vice president of SALT'S Board of Directors,
Loew's was the first of the great Oriental-style movie theaters. Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood,Calif., and two huge Loew's "Oriental palaces" in New York City followed. An octagonal design covers the expanse of the ceiling in Loew's. The walls of the theater itself are decorated with huge arches, depicting lion-like animals, graceful designs and arabesques. An immense proscenium arch
frames the stage. Curving columns and a pool that was used as a fish pond decorate the balcony level. The fourstory tall Grand Foyer, with a painting straight out of "The Arabian Nights," greets people as they enter.

Was the proposed theater in the 400 block of Salina Street ever built? I keep reading articles about the plans in 1967, but nothing about the actual opening of the theater.

Here is an excerpt from a 1990 article about the marquee:

A loftier beautification idea surfaced last week when the head of the Landmark Theatre proposed installing a curved, 1940s-era marquee over the theater entrance at 362 S. Salina St. at a cost of about $100,000. "I think this project is great," Landmark Executive Director Frank Malfitano said of the beautification. "But it lacks a centerpiece." Malfitano said the marquee could be the centerpiece that draws the public's attention to the improved downtown. A similar project in Chicago has great success, he said.

Malfitano said the marquee could draw attention to the theater, which may draw in more shows, more customers and more people downtown. City Development Director Joe Mareane said the city wants to name the 300 block of South Salina Street the Landmark Theatre district. He said the city is interested in the marquee plan, but that none of the $10 million can go to the project. The law says that money has to be spent on city-owned property or public rights of way, he said. Mareane said the city has a special plan for the 300 block. It has asked the state for $300,000, which would be lent to businesses there at low interest for facade improvements.

I went to this theatre a number times for concerts while attending Syracuse University in the 1980's, including the Stray Cats and the Monkees. Sorry I missed Frank Zappa there, that's a big regret. The place was one of the first old movie palaces I'd been in and lived up to its reputation. Fantastic decor, probably equal to the most lavish palaces like the Los Angeles or the Fox in San Francisco.

Seating capacity for the Landmark was 2,908 in 1936 according to the FilmTV Daily Yearbook of Motion Pictures and Television. The interior is a virtual duplicate (slightly smaller) of the Loew's 175th St. Theatre in New York City.

Here is a photo of the Landmark Theater.

the Landmark Theater was always amazing for me, especially as a child. We went to a lot of shows there in elementary school ( I remember going to Pippy Longstockings the night after a Marilyn Manson concert took place and being afraid of what we would find there ^_^). The theater seems so enormous even now that I'm grown (well, 18 is kind of grown), but it seemed as large as the world itself as a mystified 1st grader. I also had the opportunity to perform there several times, and being on the stage is an experience in and of itself. The decor is fantastic with the cherubs and other mystical creatures, and there's something to examine everywhere that you look. It is fabulous that the Landmark is considered a landmark and will be preserved for future generations of wide eyed children to take a glimpse into the great days of the enormous movie house.

Here is a 1948 ad from the Syracuse Post-Standard:
http://tinyurl.com/3armvy

I saw many movies there back in the day. I remember the photos of all the MGM stars posted along the walls near the entrance. Was there ever a more ornate place built in Syracuse ? RKO Keiths and the Paramount were the closest competition. Great times.

Well, cinema fans, if you want to imagine someone coming into the Loew's State in 1955, while attending Syracuse University. It was the first performance of "Love Me or Leave Me" starring Doris Day being presented in CinemaScope and 6-track Sterophonic sound. I was sitting in the Loge (where I would always sit.
Suddenly, midway thru the film, Doris Day is presented singing "Shaking the Blues Away" I was blown away by the sound, the film and this incredable theatre I was watching this movie in!

Thank God for Syracuse, New York for preserving this landmark!!!

Another view of the Landmark Theater can be seen here.

This is a December 2008 photo.

How gratifying to see such a large number of events listed on the marquee!

A couple of summers ago I was walking past the Landmark Theatre (I almost typed "Loew's State" since that's still how I think of it) and the marquee had its soffit removed, possible for repairs. What was exposed was the arched soffit of the original marquee, still intact! It would be great to see the marquee restored to its original appearance, and to have the vertical sign replicated as was done with Shea's Buffalo

This is a close-up of the box office.

Loew's in 1968

Landmark in 1981

Here is a January 1973 ad from the Syracuse Herald Journal:
http://tinyurl.com/nulbab

A 2009 photo is here.