I Love Havana “Cuba” found on the web site www.ILoveHavana.com here are 2 photo’s of the Yara that were taken On April 1, 2007 View link View link View link
we have asked our photographer in Havana to make a special effort to take photo’s of other theaters in not only Havana by also other cities in Cuba.
Tim
I do appreciate all your photo’s and have shared them with Charlie, also thanks for the letter you sent to me a year ago, Charlie remembers you well and at 91 is as sharp as ever.
I wish I was still in the Milwaukee area, I surely would have salvaged a few mementoes. I remember well the Red door that had painted (Cut Rope in case of fire) and I also remember the heavy fabric curtains. In one of the photo’s from the book, pictured is an ornate table in the lobby area, the table up to about 20 years ago was still in the dressing room area, under the stage. The condition was poor, but probably wasn’t getting any worse.
Scott: Although we have never met, I do appreciate you commentary. It provides a future, to a soon, to be a grass corner on 37th Street.
In my posting of Dec 26, 2003 I mention that I travel to Cuba. This is still the case, I have started the development of a web site www.ILoveHavana.com In Cuba there are still many theaters that have not changed for the past 50 years, they are still used as a movie house, although most if not all are in need of much repair.
Several years ago The Cuban Government paid honor to Steven Spielberg and for 1 week showed in the theaters of Havana his films. My travels coincided with this event.
For a creative writer and photographer I think 2 weeks in Cuba would provide an opportunity to investigate and catalogue many of the fine old theater buildings.
If anyone has an interest in making a documentary in Cuba, please let me know.
Time is running.
Looking back I wish I had paid more attention to saving at least on Film the interior, even as early as 1960 the interior while not in pristine condition was pretty much intact. I still remember the curved stair rail that allowed access to the balcony from both sides of the lobby. I can be contacted directly so as not to clutter this wonderful site.
Steve
Dear Mr. Rankin:
I was the first to post information on December 26, 2003. Well, it has been a pleasure reading about the Venetian, although sadly to learn of it fate. A quick note on My uncle “Charlie” well he’s over 90 now and just had a pacemaker put in. As I mentioned I started working part-time at the Venetian in 1959 or 1960, I was 12 at the time. Exploring the building back then was thrilling to say the least, especially for a 12 year old. I’ll describe several of the areas that took real courage to venture into.
The boiler room, this was one terrifying place, a series of fire doors had to be opened to gain access, the stairs were metal and lighting was a premium, so I always took a flashlight. Under the stairs in the boiler room was what I think was a terra cotta fountain, this was taken apart and moved there before my exploration. The electrical panels were on the left side of the walkway to the boilers, this would have been the back wall of the theater basement along the alley. Turn right and the monstrous boilers with their wide mouths were waiting. Across from the boilers, under the sidewalk (37th Street)were huge rooms for coal, these however we not in use as a small gas boiler was already
in place. As I recall and only ventured into this area a few times was a tunnel that was accessible by climbing a ladder in the boiler room, this tunnel went around the seating area in a big U shape, I don’t remember any thing of interest or value in the concrete tunnel, no old candy wrappers or what today would be great memorabilia. Under the stage area accessible via the Orchestra pit as we called it, were a series of small rooms, probably dressing rooms, several ornate tables that probably sat in the lobby, some old telephone books from the 1950’s and normal abandon trash.
The stage of the theater had a room, one level up, that housed an air conditioner on the west side, and on the east side accessible by a staircase was several other rooms, during the 60’s we stored boxes from merchandise that was on display. That way we could retrieve the box to repackage the item if it was the last one.
The balcony, no longer had any seats, on each side (West side and East side) were what might have been ornate turrets, this I know is not a proper description, the projectionist booth, only a few trampled frames of film, a couple of empty film reel holders, nothing of any value or interest.
What I do remember as having some hidden treasure was the up-lighting, this was a strip of lights, different color bulbs that were mounted on the north wall about 5-6' high, concealed from view so as to only give a soft indirect light. Probably a great place to through your old gum, cigarette and candy wrappers, I remember finding a raffle ticket dating from the 20’s or 30’s for a chance to win a car, it must have been a special event of some sort. The mezzanine, bathrooms and offices that occupied the second level were initially un-used, the bathroom fixtures were either gone, broken, and definitely not working, a few ornate bronze signs (EXIT) were the only items that could be easily removed, and by the 1970’s were no longer there. I can still remember the ornate hand rail, it was curved, with wood on top and iron spindles, hopefully it lives on in someone’s home. The ceiling of the theater had small holes with lights above, the ceiling was actually a false ceiling with plenty of walking space above it, the lights I am told looked like stars in the night.
Good luckk on your tour.
Steve
I Love Havana “Cuba” found on the web site www.ILoveHavana.com here are 2 photo’s of the Yara that were taken On April 1, 2007
View link
View link
View link
we have asked our photographer in Havana to make a special effort to take photo’s of other theaters in not only Havana by also other cities in Cuba.
Tim
I do appreciate all your photo’s and have shared them with Charlie, also thanks for the letter you sent to me a year ago, Charlie remembers you well and at 91 is as sharp as ever.
I wish I was still in the Milwaukee area, I surely would have salvaged a few mementoes. I remember well the Red door that had painted (Cut Rope in case of fire) and I also remember the heavy fabric curtains. In one of the photo’s from the book, pictured is an ornate table in the lobby area, the table up to about 20 years ago was still in the dressing room area, under the stage. The condition was poor, but probably wasn’t getting any worse.
Scott: Although we have never met, I do appreciate you commentary. It provides a future, to a soon, to be a grass corner on 37th Street.
In my posting of Dec 26, 2003 I mention that I travel to Cuba. This is still the case, I have started the development of a web site www.ILoveHavana.com In Cuba there are still many theaters that have not changed for the past 50 years, they are still used as a movie house, although most if not all are in need of much repair.
Several years ago The Cuban Government paid honor to Steven Spielberg and for 1 week showed in the theaters of Havana his films. My travels coincided with this event.
For a creative writer and photographer I think 2 weeks in Cuba would provide an opportunity to investigate and catalogue many of the fine old theater buildings.
If anyone has an interest in making a documentary in Cuba, please let me know.
Time is running.
Looking back I wish I had paid more attention to saving at least on Film the interior, even as early as 1960 the interior while not in pristine condition was pretty much intact. I still remember the curved stair rail that allowed access to the balcony from both sides of the lobby. I can be contacted directly so as not to clutter this wonderful site.
Steve
Dear Mr. Rankin:
I was the first to post information on December 26, 2003. Well, it has been a pleasure reading about the Venetian, although sadly to learn of it fate. A quick note on My uncle “Charlie” well he’s over 90 now and just had a pacemaker put in. As I mentioned I started working part-time at the Venetian in 1959 or 1960, I was 12 at the time. Exploring the building back then was thrilling to say the least, especially for a 12 year old. I’ll describe several of the areas that took real courage to venture into.
The boiler room, this was one terrifying place, a series of fire doors had to be opened to gain access, the stairs were metal and lighting was a premium, so I always took a flashlight. Under the stairs in the boiler room was what I think was a terra cotta fountain, this was taken apart and moved there before my exploration. The electrical panels were on the left side of the walkway to the boilers, this would have been the back wall of the theater basement along the alley. Turn right and the monstrous boilers with their wide mouths were waiting. Across from the boilers, under the sidewalk (37th Street)were huge rooms for coal, these however we not in use as a small gas boiler was already
in place. As I recall and only ventured into this area a few times was a tunnel that was accessible by climbing a ladder in the boiler room, this tunnel went around the seating area in a big U shape, I don’t remember any thing of interest or value in the concrete tunnel, no old candy wrappers or what today would be great memorabilia. Under the stage area accessible via the Orchestra pit as we called it, were a series of small rooms, probably dressing rooms, several ornate tables that probably sat in the lobby, some old telephone books from the 1950’s and normal abandon trash.
The stage of the theater had a room, one level up, that housed an air conditioner on the west side, and on the east side accessible by a staircase was several other rooms, during the 60’s we stored boxes from merchandise that was on display. That way we could retrieve the box to repackage the item if it was the last one.
The balcony, no longer had any seats, on each side (West side and East side) were what might have been ornate turrets, this I know is not a proper description, the projectionist booth, only a few trampled frames of film, a couple of empty film reel holders, nothing of any value or interest.
What I do remember as having some hidden treasure was the up-lighting, this was a strip of lights, different color bulbs that were mounted on the north wall about 5-6' high, concealed from view so as to only give a soft indirect light. Probably a great place to through your old gum, cigarette and candy wrappers, I remember finding a raffle ticket dating from the 20’s or 30’s for a chance to win a car, it must have been a special event of some sort. The mezzanine, bathrooms and offices that occupied the second level were initially un-used, the bathroom fixtures were either gone, broken, and definitely not working, a few ornate bronze signs (EXIT) were the only items that could be easily removed, and by the 1970’s were no longer there. I can still remember the ornate hand rail, it was curved, with wood on top and iron spindles, hopefully it lives on in someone’s home. The ceiling of the theater had small holes with lights above, the ceiling was actually a false ceiling with plenty of walking space above it, the lights I am told looked like stars in the night.
Good luckk on your tour.
Steve