Downtown Chicago S Historic Movie Theatres

The story of downtown Chicago—its early development, later struggles, and current restoration—is mirrored in the history of the theatres that occupied its streets. This vivid chronicle tells the tale of the Windy City’s theatres, from mid-nineteenth century vaudeville houses to the urban decline and renewal of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Discussed are the rebuilding efforts after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the first nickel theaters showing “moving pictures,” the ornate silent movie palaces, the move to “talkies,” the challenges of the Great Depression and the introduction of television, and urban decline. Today, Chicago has preserved some of its most historic movie palaces, landmarks of cultural vibrancy in its reawakened downtown. With nearly 200 photographs from the Theatre Historical Society of America, this work brings to life all of the theatres that have enlivened Chicago’s entertainment district, reflecting the transformation of downtown Chicago itself.

This history and catalog of the movie theaters of Illinois follows their evolution from the early opera houses, to the storefront nickelodeons, to the awe-inspiring movie palaces, to the post—World War II theaters and the advent of the multiplex. Each theater has its own story, and together these stories make up a fascinating history of cinema viewing in Illinois. This richly illustrated book—the first dealing exclusively with Illinois theatres— contains nearly 3,000 descriptions of historic movie houses, from the early 1880s to 1960. The alphabetically arranged entries, which include such information as the theater’s name, location, number of seats, and the dates it opened and closed, cover cities and towns from Abingdon to Zion, including Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. The book opens with a history of the movie house, beginning with silent movies shown on walls and ending with the multiplex era. It also includes a chapter on television’s impact and information on renovated historic theatres in the state. Appendices include lists of Illinois-operated movie theatre circuits, theatre websites and include a bibliography.

New Mexico's theatrical ties span over one hundred years. The Fountain Theatre, once a Civil War hospital and headquarters, produced plays, opera and vaudeville performances until 1929, when the venue started airing talkies. Today, it holds the title of oldest operating theatre in New Mexico. Albuquerque drive-in attendees enjoyed personal screens for each car at the Circle Autoscope. And Rio Grande Theater operated for over seventy years before showing its final screening of U.S. Marshals in 1998. Author Jeff Berg details the Land of Enchantment's iconic movie houses.

Who produced the first stage adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" in 1902-nearly forty years before the movie classic?

A pictorial history of the movie theater business of the Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation in Chicago.

Documenting the evolution of the American movie theatre and exploring its role in American culture and architecture, this work focuses on the career of S. Charles Lee, who designed more than 300 theatres between 1920 and 1950, buildings that became prototypes for the whole country.

“Illuminates the experience of an entire generation of women . . . This small gem of a book is worthy of a Tiffany box.” —The New York Times Book Review “A memoir every reader will wish to copy in her own size.” —Glamour “Ilene Beckerman’s sleek little memoir . . . strikes a startling chord. . . . Unsettling and oddly powerful.” —People “Surprisingly poetic.” —Entertainment Weekly “[A] poignant biography. . . . This little book will charm anyone with an interest in style.” —USA Today The book behind the Off-Broadway sensation, adapted by Nora and Delia Ephron. Ilene Beckerman’s runaway bestseller articulates something all women know: that our memories are often tied to our favorite clothes. From her Brownie uniform to her Pucci knockoff to her black strapless Rita Hayworth-style dress from the Neiman Marcus outlet store, Ilene Beckerman tells us the story of her life.

The spokelike grid of wide grand avenues radiating out from downtown Detroit allowed for a concentration of theaters initially along Monroe Street near Campus Martius and, after the second decade of the 20th century, clustered around Grand Circus Park, all easily accessible by a vast network of streetcars. In its heyday, Grand Circus Park boasted a dozen palatial movie palaces containing an astonishing total of 26,000 seats. Of these theaters, five remain today, fully restored and operational for live entertainment. Detroit, more so than any other North American city, illustrates how demographic and economic forces dramatically changed the landscape of film exhibition in an urban setting.