Palm Beach County, FL - Ghost buildings: The lost movie theaters of Palm Beach County

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on May 19, 2017 at 4:28 am

From the Palm Beach Post: There was a time when going to the pictures in Palm Beach County had a special cachet.

Local theaters featured elaborate lobbies with smoking rooms and painted tropical murals. One theater bragged about its giant curved screen and “Ultravision” technology. Others advertised balcony seating and “all rocking chairs.”

And being South Florida, every theater claimed to have the best air-conditioning in town. After the ’60s, balky, single-screen theaters were demolished as multiplexes took over. Atomic age drive-ins ate up valuable land. Some proud movie palaces became X-rated peep shows in the ’70s, or stood disheveled for years, their neon marquees dark, a shabby monument to glory days gone by.

But the lost picture shows of Palm Beach County haven’t been forgotten. Let’s roll the final credits on some of your favorites.

Full story, with “Then and Now” photo gallery, at: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/entertainment/ghost-buildings-the-lost-movie-theaters-palm-beach-county/JR3HksX4rLOpSzsxsZk91O/

ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres.

Learn more about historic theatres in the THS American Theatre Architecture Archives and on our website at historictheatres.org

Visit our site also to learn about our Los Angeles Conclave this June!