In what way was Thomas Lamb “quite a character”. I know that architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright was very unique and could be described as “quite a character” also.
After comparing the archive photo of 1945 to the above photo I see the changes and am not pleased although the building’s exterior seems to have been untouched!
I recently received information about a former Lamb theatre called the Capitol which was demolished nearly 3 years ago. “There wasn’t so much as a whimper, as far as I know,about it being torn down. The city let it fall into disrepair (no heat, leaking roof). Prior to that it had been whittled away. First the grand entrance and lobby had been demolished (looked like the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles) leaving only the secondary entrance on the side street as the remaining entrance to the theatre. Then they chopped the theatre up into two screens, covering up all of Lamb’s work.” This is a theatre crime and was repeated more times than we CT members would like to admit.
Cinema Tour shows 2 lobby photos and several other exterior photos along with the ticket kios which I hope has not be altered or removed, but will wait for an official answer and hopefully a few auditorium photos showing how the atmospheric feel was changed.
I’m afraid if I were go inside this Eberson theatre that was once a grand atmospheric theatre and see it as it is today I would be sadly disappointed. Hope someone posts more recent interior photos.
Michael: One of the photos posted by Lost Memory shows the area that has no seats which looks very strang, imo and would look better if restored back to the original concept and as architect, John Eberson intended!
Albany has the Pepsi Arena where many of the pop concerts could be help which would leave the Palace Theatre perfect for organ recitals, classic movies, plays, etc.
And if you’ve ever compared photos of the original Palace exterior and marquee you will see that even though the current marquee is similar to the original in design the flashing marquee does leave much to be desired, imo.
ERD: I totally agree! I didn’t get to the Proctors Theatre, but hope to one day. The Palace is a very beautiful theatre and should have its Wurlitzer to provide that type of concert rather than just concentrating on concerts for today’s generation. The night before my tour there was a huge crowd waiting to enter the Palace to see and hear this Rob Thomas! In today’s world I guess many of these historical theatres have to rely on today’s youth to fill the seats which is understandable, but lets appeal to everyone’s musical interest!
ERD: This past summer I toured the Palace in Albany and mentioned this request to the young man who provided the tour. At the time of my visit the staff had just had a concert there the night before (Rob Thomas) and the tour guide was more concerned with the fact that I might notice a beer smell from the night before! So that’s the mindset of that theatre and not having their organ back! But that could change and I hope that will be the case!
Chad: Did find great b/w vintage photos on the archives site! And then decided to enlarge and print out the one marquee/store front photo! It looks like a F.W. Woolworths store to the right with their familiar red and white striped awnings. There was one near me while growing up and it is now the Lucy Desi Playhouse in Jamestown NY. (www.lucy-desi.com) Thanks.
“The former lobby space is still standing, and houses a restaurant today.” At least something of Mr. Lamb’s theatre in Hamilton still stands today though it is a restaurant today.
This is great to read the many Lamb related theatre posts and will be of such help to Mr. Lamb’s namesake, Tom Lamb. And yes, Mr. Lamb’s work does reflect his greatness!
There are 150 Lamb theatres listed on CT so lots to read and research. Unfortunately, many of them have been demolished yet many are listed as simply closed and therefore should be saved and restored, if at all possible!
“At some point, the Liberty lost its Moderne facade, including the vertical sign, and compared to the original, the current one is rather plain.” You can say that again!
While surfing the CT site I came upon your theatre in Libertyville Illinois. I was looking at the b/w photo then found another photo in a 9/17 post. I think I see a big difference in that the original photo showed smooth decorative tile with a rather neat art deco vertical marquee. What happened? And thanks for providing your email address.
So glad to see this important notice included on CT and I hope that those who read it will choose to help preserve the Raymond in Pasadena CA by sending in their donation, as I did.
And the other photo shows the Shea’s before the vertical BUFFALO sign was added which makes such a difference!
Lost Memory: Great night photo of the Shea’s in Buffalo. I will be seeing Movin Out at the Shea’s in April which is a musical tribute to Billy Joel.
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And I wonder if Lamb ever met FLW? If so, that would have been some meeting of the minds!
In what way was Thomas Lamb “quite a character”. I know that architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright was very unique and could be described as “quite a character” also.
“….the 2259-seat auditorium was demolished.” What a shame!
After comparing the archive photo of 1945 to the above photo I see the changes and am not pleased although the building’s exterior seems to have been untouched!
cnyarts: How does one find the Mark Hellinger (Times Square Church) as I couldn’t find it listed on CT?
I recently received information about a former Lamb theatre called the Capitol which was demolished nearly 3 years ago. “There wasn’t so much as a whimper, as far as I know,about it being torn down. The city let it fall into disrepair (no heat, leaking roof). Prior to that it had been whittled away. First the grand entrance and lobby had been demolished (looked like the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles) leaving only the secondary entrance on the side street as the remaining entrance to the theatre. Then they chopped the theatre up into two screens, covering up all of Lamb’s work.” This is a theatre crime and was repeated more times than we CT members would like to admit.
Cinema Tour shows 2 lobby photos and several other exterior photos along with the ticket kios which I hope has not be altered or removed, but will wait for an official answer and hopefully a few auditorium photos showing how the atmospheric feel was changed.
I’m afraid if I were go inside this Eberson theatre that was once a grand atmospheric theatre and see it as it is today I would be sadly disappointed. Hope someone posts more recent interior photos.
Michael: One of the photos posted by Lost Memory shows the area that has no seats which looks very strang, imo and would look better if restored back to the original concept and as architect, John Eberson intended!
Albany has the Pepsi Arena where many of the pop concerts could be help which would leave the Palace Theatre perfect for organ recitals, classic movies, plays, etc.
And if you’ve ever compared photos of the original Palace exterior and marquee you will see that even though the current marquee is similar to the original in design the flashing marquee does leave much to be desired, imo.
ERD: I totally agree! I didn’t get to the Proctors Theatre, but hope to one day. The Palace is a very beautiful theatre and should have its Wurlitzer to provide that type of concert rather than just concentrating on concerts for today’s generation. The night before my tour there was a huge crowd waiting to enter the Palace to see and hear this Rob Thomas! In today’s world I guess many of these historical theatres have to rely on today’s youth to fill the seats which is understandable, but lets appeal to everyone’s musical interest!
ERD: This past summer I toured the Palace in Albany and mentioned this request to the young man who provided the tour. At the time of my visit the staff had just had a concert there the night before (Rob Thomas) and the tour guide was more concerned with the fact that I might notice a beer smell from the night before! So that’s the mindset of that theatre and not having their organ back! But that could change and I hope that will be the case!
Chad: Did find great b/w vintage photos on the archives site! And then decided to enlarge and print out the one marquee/store front photo! It looks like a F.W. Woolworths store to the right with their familiar red and white striped awnings. There was one near me while growing up and it is now the Lucy Desi Playhouse in Jamestown NY. (www.lucy-desi.com) Thanks.
Chad: Where does one go to find more inforamtion on the Capitol when clicking on the Hamilton site?
“The former lobby space is still standing, and houses a restaurant today.” At least something of Mr. Lamb’s theatre in Hamilton still stands today though it is a restaurant today.
This is great to read the many Lamb related theatre posts and will be of such help to Mr. Lamb’s namesake, Tom Lamb. And yes, Mr. Lamb’s work does reflect his greatness!
I just visited Cinema Tour and looked at the photos there of this theatre that should never have been changed and thus lost its unique charm!
There are 150 Lamb theatres listed on CT so lots to read and research. Unfortunately, many of them have been demolished yet many are listed as simply closed and therefore should be saved and restored, if at all possible!
A Lamb theatre turned into a parking lot! There are no words to describe my reaction to reading this and then seeing the parking lot photo!
“At some point, the Liberty lost its Moderne facade, including the vertical sign, and compared to the original, the current one is rather plain.” You can say that again!
While surfing the CT site I came upon your theatre in Libertyville Illinois. I was looking at the b/w photo then found another photo in a 9/17 post. I think I see a big difference in that the original photo showed smooth decorative tile with a rather neat art deco vertical marquee. What happened? And thanks for providing your email address.
So glad to see this important notice included on CT and I hope that those who read it will choose to help preserve the Raymond in Pasadena CA by sending in their donation, as I did.