Thank God the world of “theater design” still has the magnificent talents of JOSEPH MUSIL and his American Museum of Theatrical Design in Santa Ana, California. 714-667-6959
Mr. Musil is THE final word when it comes to fabulous Art Deco design. But Joe does branch out in the 1920’s era of movie palaces. Disney’s El Capitan in Hollywood tops his list of numerous triumphs across this country!
There is almost NO showmanship in cinemas today… just candy merchants showing flicks to a bunch of loud, ill mannered kids who are completely obsessed with their GD cell phones.
Courtesy and respect for other movie fans? Pardon me while I vomit!
This website is absolutely fabulous! Thank you for showing the world some of JOSEPH MUSIL’S amazing theatrical re-designs of the Majestic Crest and the El Capitan…
Simply breathtaking, to say the least. The man is a living legend and I’m proud to have been associated with his museum in Santa Ana.
Not too far from Portland is the pride and joy of Salem’s historic and magnificent Elsinore Theatre. They have a wonderful silent film program on Wednesdays plus live Wurlitzer organ accompanyment.
Nearby, in Newberg, is another veteran and lovely single screener, the Cameo Theatre. And across the valley in Silverton is yet one more cinema to watch the latest release; the Palace Theatre. They, too, have an organ!
brucec… You are SO RIGHT about the City and its lame efforts in “theater preservation.” And I thought Gavin Newsom (now Mayor) was all for it a few years ago at a specially hearing I attended and spoke at.
Yes, in deed, San Francisco really lives up to its well known tradition of being “The City That Knows How”… starting with the “fabulous” Fox and numerous others… Need I say more?
Saw Hitchcock’s “Psycho” there in 1960. We also had a frightening thunderstorm with enough rain to float a battleship, thunder to wake up the dead and lightening to burn your eyeballs!
After the LeJune closed it was demolished for a big chain hotel and a series of ramps in and out of the airport.
You might think of offering a variety of “themed” films, including seasonal, noir, musicals, comedy, sci-fi, epics… on a daily basis for a maximum of a two week engagement… plus alternating times so as to attract kids early in the day and adults at night.
Depending what type of city and WHERE you are located, you might check on San Francisco’s www.castrotheatre.com because they have survived 80 plus years because of their fabulous programming AND showmanship!!!
Re-open with a splashy night of red carpet treatment, sky searchlights, wear a tux, greet everyone, free FRESH popcorn, invite some celebrities and press/tv, make it reservations only etc.
I hope your stage has curtains… USE THEM (bare screen =UGHHH), personally introduce the show, have a door prize (free return tix for two) each night.
I’m jealous with envy and really hope you make it!!!
This is a charming, small town theater but sadly the signs of aging are clearly visible due to shabby and peeling paint under the multi-bulb marquee.
The center aisle seating has been recently replaced while the stylish but older ones on house ‘left and right’ need help.
I wish they could afford a set of better looking traveler curtains because the present set look like a huge white bed sheet stretched tightly across the screen, offering no fullness.
I also noticed, interestingly, there were two organ consoles sitting under covers in the auditorium; one electronic while the other was made for traditional pipes. How wonderful if the latter could be fully installed and used for silent films, concerts and during intermission. This would certainly pull in larger audiences.
Another (nameless) theater I was associated with had the same old problem of trees blocking complete view of the marquee.
A little while after drilling some holes near the base, iron filings were then added and watered regularly… then, the trees gradually gave up living and were promptly removed by the city. Vwalla!
Will someone please load this “little beauty” onto a trailer and ship it up to the greater Salem area of Oregon. I’d consider my guardian angel had finally made my dream come true!
The same problem occurred with San Francisco’s ROYAL THEATRE on Polk Street. Ted Nasser, the owner (also Castro & Alhambra Theatre’s) suddenly closed the place.
The projector lamp had hardly enough time to cool down when the homeless bums moved into the outer lobby, unloading their bowels and leaving trash everywhere. To add to the theater’s tragic demise, the idiot graffiti clowns left their revolting trade mark on the doors and poster cases.
My wife and I often made two or three trips a week to remove the stinking trash and so-called artistic (ha!) work.
Finally, Mr. Nasser, who refused my generous offer to re-opening the Royal, as an all British film center, sealed off the front to the vagrants. Not too long after that the demolition crew added this lovely place to the massive list of San Francisco theaters that had “gone with the wind.”
Ken MC… Good but tragic photographs… I wish you could have captured the auditorium.
How about someone contacting the City of Long Beach Library’s collection and sharing with us former locals now living out of state? Pretty please?????
At the rate Regal is quickly devouring other small cinema chains across the country, soon, they will be the only chain left of candy merchants showing films!
My wife and I took the long awaited LA Broadway tour prior to moving out of California last October. We were basically VERY disappointed for many reasons;
It started off inside of Grauman’s beautifully restored but badly light Million Dollar Theatre. From theren on, we zoomed along a very crowded and extremely noisy street. Vehicular traffic made it extremely difficult to hear the guide, who should have used a bullhorn.
We only visited inside a couple of other theaters; one was a congested dump of a Mexican flea market and the other was the former Warner Theatre -now a diamond shop -and photo-taking was strictly banned! All others were closed, especially the fabulous Orpheum Theatre.
Thanks William… I never got to see that theater when I lived in socal -shame on me!
Do you know if there is anything published about this wonderful form of decoration which Fox redecorated so many of their theaters with?
We should also add Mr. Winston’s recent and extremely talented work in IRON MAN… and who knows what else?
Thank God the world of “theater design” still has the magnificent talents of JOSEPH MUSIL and his American Museum of Theatrical Design in Santa Ana, California. 714-667-6959
Mr. Musil is THE final word when it comes to fabulous Art Deco design. But Joe does branch out in the 1920’s era of movie palaces. Disney’s El Capitan in Hollywood tops his list of numerous triumphs across this country!
Terry, how sadly true your last two lines are!
There is almost NO showmanship in cinemas today… just candy merchants showing flicks to a bunch of loud, ill mannered kids who are completely obsessed with their GD cell phones.
Courtesy and respect for other movie fans? Pardon me while I vomit!
Are you anywhere near Oregon?
This website is absolutely fabulous! Thank you for showing the world some of JOSEPH MUSIL’S amazing theatrical re-designs of the Majestic Crest and the El Capitan…
Simply breathtaking, to say the least. The man is a living legend and I’m proud to have been associated with his museum in Santa Ana.
It’s possible to locate photographs through the Los Angeles Public Library, by either visiting in person or via your computer.
Not too far from Portland is the pride and joy of Salem’s historic and magnificent Elsinore Theatre. They have a wonderful silent film program on Wednesdays plus live Wurlitzer organ accompanyment.
Nearby, in Newberg, is another veteran and lovely single screener, the Cameo Theatre. And across the valley in Silverton is yet one more cinema to watch the latest release; the Palace Theatre. They, too, have an organ!
Jim… It’s a pity you gave such short notice!
brucec… You are SO RIGHT about the City and its lame efforts in “theater preservation.” And I thought Gavin Newsom (now Mayor) was all for it a few years ago at a specially hearing I attended and spoke at.
Yes, in deed, San Francisco really lives up to its well known tradition of being “The City That Knows How”… starting with the “fabulous” Fox and numerous others… Need I say more?
Larry Goldsmith’s brief submission of this theater may not be totally correct in as much as “being demolished.”
Wile visiting the B of A at the address of where the Redwood Theatre was located shows some apparent signs of the original theater.
I was informed by a manager that the original building was saved and converted into the present day bank. Three cheers for the B of A!
Saw Hitchcock’s “Psycho” there in 1960. We also had a frightening thunderstorm with enough rain to float a battleship, thunder to wake up the dead and lightening to burn your eyeballs!
After the LeJune closed it was demolished for a big chain hotel and a series of ramps in and out of the airport.
You might think of offering a variety of “themed” films, including seasonal, noir, musicals, comedy, sci-fi, epics… on a daily basis for a maximum of a two week engagement… plus alternating times so as to attract kids early in the day and adults at night.
Depending what type of city and WHERE you are located, you might check on San Francisco’s www.castrotheatre.com because they have survived 80 plus years because of their fabulous programming AND showmanship!!!
Re-open with a splashy night of red carpet treatment, sky searchlights, wear a tux, greet everyone, free FRESH popcorn, invite some celebrities and press/tv, make it reservations only etc.
I hope your stage has curtains… USE THEM (bare screen =UGHHH), personally introduce the show, have a door prize (free return tix for two) each night.
I’m jealous with envy and really hope you make it!!!
This is a charming, small town theater but sadly the signs of aging are clearly visible due to shabby and peeling paint under the multi-bulb marquee.
The center aisle seating has been recently replaced while the stylish but older ones on house ‘left and right’ need help.
I wish they could afford a set of better looking traveler curtains because the present set look like a huge white bed sheet stretched tightly across the screen, offering no fullness.
I also noticed, interestingly, there were two organ consoles sitting under covers in the auditorium; one electronic while the other was made for traditional pipes. How wonderful if the latter could be fully installed and used for silent films, concerts and during intermission. This would certainly pull in larger audiences.
Another (nameless) theater I was associated with had the same old problem of trees blocking complete view of the marquee.
A little while after drilling some holes near the base, iron filings were then added and watered regularly… then, the trees gradually gave up living and were promptly removed by the city. Vwalla!
Will someone please load this “little beauty” onto a trailer and ship it up to the greater Salem area of Oregon. I’d consider my guardian angel had finally made my dream come true!
The same problem occurred with San Francisco’s ROYAL THEATRE on Polk Street. Ted Nasser, the owner (also Castro & Alhambra Theatre’s) suddenly closed the place.
The projector lamp had hardly enough time to cool down when the homeless bums moved into the outer lobby, unloading their bowels and leaving trash everywhere. To add to the theater’s tragic demise, the idiot graffiti clowns left their revolting trade mark on the doors and poster cases.
My wife and I often made two or three trips a week to remove the stinking trash and so-called artistic (ha!) work.
Finally, Mr. Nasser, who refused my generous offer to re-opening the Royal, as an all British film center, sealed off the front to the vagrants. Not too long after that the demolition crew added this lovely place to the massive list of San Francisco theaters that had “gone with the wind.”
Ken MC… Good but tragic photographs… I wish you could have captured the auditorium.
How about someone contacting the City of Long Beach Library’s collection and sharing with us former locals now living out of state? Pretty please?????
How about screen movies for free by using store bought DVD’s?
I should add that this one was the first of two Plaza’s in Southampton, the latter being the biggest and much more luxurious.
What else can be said other than “absolutely fabulous.” Hopefully, this will keep the rowdy “lowlife” away. And let’s have a dress code… PLEASE!
There is a small town of Canby, here in Oregon, just north of Salem (the capitol) but regretfully NO Canby Cinema.
Hello, from Aurora, Oregon. This is where I am formulating plans to open a small “ABC” house; Aurora Bijou Cinema.
At the rate Regal is quickly devouring other small cinema chains across the country, soon, they will be the only chain left of candy merchants showing films!
My wife and I took the long awaited LA Broadway tour prior to moving out of California last October. We were basically VERY disappointed for many reasons;
It started off inside of Grauman’s beautifully restored but badly light Million Dollar Theatre. From theren on, we zoomed along a very crowded and extremely noisy street. Vehicular traffic made it extremely difficult to hear the guide, who should have used a bullhorn.
We only visited inside a couple of other theaters; one was a congested dump of a Mexican flea market and the other was the former Warner Theatre -now a diamond shop -and photo-taking was strictly banned! All others were closed, especially the fabulous Orpheum Theatre.