What is SoWal's knowledge of great theaters in America?

[TooFarTampa]

Many of these theaters appeared to have been built in the roaring '20s, that most tacky and splendiferous and spectacular spending era. So I think what we see as stunning now was way over the top and ego-driven back then.

On a smaller scale, it kinda reminds me of the stainless steel and granite countertops of the housing boom. Soon to be 'tacky,' probably, but maybe eventually they will be 'historic!'

 

[NoHall]

The Fox Theater in St. Louis is one of those grand old theaters, and looks surprisingly similar to the one in Atlanta, from the pictures on your link...even the sign! i wonder if they were built by the same people...

I just looked it up...William Fox had a BUNCH of them! The ones in Atlanta, St. Louis, and San Francisco opened the same year. (1929) I can't find it in black and white, but I'm led to believe that it's the same Fox family as 20th Century Fox...they were opened as movie palaces.

Here are the others, from our friend Wikipedia:
List of Fox Theatres

See the following articles for information about specific theatres.

• Atlanta, Georgia -- Opened 1929
• Aurora, Illinois --Opened 1935
• Bakersfield, California -- Opened 1930
• Banning, California -- Currently open with 3 screens
• Boulder, Colorado -- Opened 1926 as the Rialto Theatre
• Detroit, Michigan -- Opened 1928
• Fullerton, California -- Opened 1925
• Green Bay, Wisconsin -- opened [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_14"]February 14[/ame], 1930
• Hanford, California -- Opened 1929 and is currently used for live concerts, restoration is ongoing [1]
• Hutchinson, Kansas -- Opened 1931
• Joplin, Missouri -- Opened as Electric Theatre, recently converted to a church
• Oakland, California -- Opened 1928
• Paso Robles, California -- Opening and closing dates unknown, still standing but abandoned
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomona_Fox_Theater"]Pomona, California[/ame] -- Opened 1931
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Tower"]Portland, Oregon[/ame] -- Opened 1911
• Redlands, California -- Opened 1928
• Redwood City, California --Opened in 1929, remodeled in the 1950s, put on national register of historical places in 1993 [2]
• San Bernardino, California -- Opened 1929
• San Francisco, California -- Opened 1929
• [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_Theater"]Santa Barbara, California[/ame] -- Opened 1930
• Seattle, Washington -- Opened 1929, renamed Roxy in 1933
• Spokane, Washington -- Opened 1931
• St. Louis, Missouri -- Opened 1929
• Stockton, California -- Opened 1930
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada -- Opened 1914
• Tucson, Arizona -- Opened 1930
• Visalia, California -- Opened 1930

 

[John R]

like the Fox, many Orpheums

http://www.orpheum-theater.com/?gclid=CJqg4PDu6pQCFQKfnAodGW6BRA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheum_Theater_(New_Orleans)
a favorite of mine.

 

[meigsart]

I believe I saw "Hair" at the Palace in Columbus in 1973ish. It was such the scandal at the time.

 

[Minnie]

like the Fox, many Orpheums

http://www.orpheum-theater.com/?gclid=CJqg4PDu6pQCFQKfnAodGW6BRA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheum_Theater_(New_Orleans)
a favorite of mine.

Thanks JohnR, I did not realize that there were others. This is has been a very interesting thread.

I would love to visit some of the other theaters.

When you look at old theaters and churches, why do you think we have fallen away from the splendor? Money? Laziness? Are we just tacky now?

Good question NoHall, I don't know it's everything has changed and not for the better. People used to be quiet in movie theaters, now we have to have several messages before the movie begins to remind everyone to behave.

And don't even get be started on how people behave on airplanes. Am I dating myself when I say, I remember getting dressed up to fly.

I do know that one bank here in Memphis chose the grandeur when they build it. My niece is having her wedding reception there in a week. It is a beautiful building.

 

[Jdarg]

Louisville Palace - look at the virtual tours on the website. It is just as fun to poke around the place as it is to see a show!

http://www.louisvillepalace.com/

 

[NoHall]

Louisville Palace - look at the virtual tours on the website. It is just as fun to poke around the place as it is to see a show!

http://www.louisvillepalace.com/

We had to wander all over the place at the Fox last night, too...

I noticed that the Louisville Palace was one of Eberson's creations, too. Beautiful...

 

[Mango]

Wow, these theatres are beautiful. TFT, I am going to have to make a road trip to Tampa- ladies night out.That theatre is pretty cool and definitely over the top.

One of my favorite theatres is The New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. I've been to see Beauty and the Beast several times just to see this theatre. It is quite ornate and this picture doesn't do justice to the detail. The Beast is ok too. I read that it was renovated by Disney.

The ceiling is more beautiful live.
The New Amsterdam is among Broadway's oldest surviving legitimate theaters. Commissioned in 1902 by theater moguls Marc Klaw and Abraham Erlanger and designed by architects Henry B. Herts and Hugh Tallant, this landmark space boasts a beaux-arts entrance and a magnificent art nouveau interior of painted plaster, carved stone, fine wood, murals and tiles.

 

[NoHall]

Wow, these theatres are beautiful. TFT, I am going to have to make a road trip to Tampa- ladies night out.That theatre is pretty cool and definitely over the top.

One of my favorite theatres is The New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. I've been to see Beauty and the Beast several times just to see this theatre. It is quite ornate and this picture doesn't do justice to the detail. The Beast is ok too. I read that it was renovated by Disney.

The ceiling is more beautiful live.

I would love to see some Disney there!

Beautiful!!!

In my next life, I want to be an architect.

 

[Mango]

I would love to see some Disney there!

Beautiful!!!

In my next life, I want to be an architect.

This is one of those theatres where sitting further back and higher up is not a bad thing. if you are blind, like me, you can see the ceiling better and take in the whole place from up there. Plus, the salt and pepper shaker actors won't be insulted when they see you go into a hysterical fit of laughter. Sorry, DKA.