I don’t think young people have much choice. The shoeboxes are what they will remember when they are older. I grew up in the sixties, and I missed out on what was ostensibly the golden age of theaters in the thirties and forties. I did get to see the Fox in Philadelphia before it was razed, as well as the Boyd. Those were palaces.
I haven’t been there on a weekend yet. I was there for the CT get together and then I cut through the theater on the Tuesday to get to Juniors. I haven’t seen a movie there, nor am I likely to.
There are a bunch of USC pictures showing Shriners parading down Broadway, presumably on their way to the Shrine auditorium. It was always a big deal back then, lots of banners proclaiming “Welcome Shriners!”
Here are some March 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/yv8vwo
http://tinyurl.com/yskebl
http://tinyurl.com/2fo7sj
http://tinyurl.com/yq66ea
William’s description states that the Forum opened as the Warner. I think that should be an aka. Here are some photos I took today:
http://tinyurl.com/youwog
http://tinyurl.com/25sz37
http://tinyurl.com/276adp
http://tinyurl.com/23alrx
http://tinyurl.com/27xrsv
http://tinyurl.com/ytvv3w
http://tinyurl.com/yv2dnp
http://tinyurl.com/296swz
http://tinyurl.com/29lfe2
http://tinyurl.com/ypkpwo
http://tinyurl.com/2dodoj
http://tinyurl.com/2d2hja
http://tinyurl.com/2bu7qj
http://tinyurl.com/yqbgav
http://tinyurl.com/28r3nw
The sign is visible for blocks on a clear day:
http://tinyurl.com/23l4s5
Here are some March 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/2nru58
http://tinyurl.com/2ogqah
http://tinyurl.com/34at2f
I don’t remember this one. I wonder how long the Franks operated it.
You’re welcome, Bill. You can easily go inside and walk around as long as you don’t start taking pictures. Then you get chased out.
Hard ticket?
An intermittently reliable source states that J.J. Frankenfelder designed the Plaza in 1926. This is unconfirmed, however.
Here is a 1988 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2vohab
Here is a photo, circa late 1970s:
http://tinyurl.com/yu2dtk
Here is a November 1931 ad from the NYT:
http://tinyurl.com/22rhlq
Here is a February 1931 ad from the NYT:
http://tinyurl.com/ynwcyq
Here is a February 1931 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/3xmmtj
I don’t think young people have much choice. The shoeboxes are what they will remember when they are older. I grew up in the sixties, and I missed out on what was ostensibly the golden age of theaters in the thirties and forties. I did get to see the Fox in Philadelphia before it was razed, as well as the Boyd. Those were palaces.
I haven’t been there on a weekend yet. I was there for the CT get together and then I cut through the theater on the Tuesday to get to Juniors. I haven’t seen a movie there, nor am I likely to.
Given all the staff I saw on a Tuesday night a few months ago, and no customers, there must be some heavy red ink.
There are a bunch of USC pictures showing Shriners parading down Broadway, presumably on their way to the Shrine auditorium. It was always a big deal back then, lots of banners proclaiming “Welcome Shriners!”
Flags, I think. Maybe some holiday.
Here is a recent article about the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/3b7f5m
That’s interesting. The first photo is estimated to be from the late 70s. They don’t even look like the same building.
Here is an interior photo, circa 1922, from Ben Hall’s book “The Best Remaining Seats”:
http://tinyurl.com/24tvja
This small photo is all I’ve come across so far. If anyone finds a larger picture, please add it to the page:
http://tinyurl.com/23uqu4
Here is a 1937 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/23dxqj
Here is a November 1946 ad from the NYT:
http://tinyurl.com/24bxsz
Here is a 1932 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2w3krb