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Preserving Historic Theaters
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Theaters hold a special place in the hearts of many Americans. They are places of magic and invention, places where anything can, and just might, happen. From the spectacular performing arts halls built in the 19th century to the "Movie Palaces" of the 1920s to the drive-in cinema of the 50s, theaters have adapted to changing trends in entertainment with varying degrees of success. Today, as a part of a growing trend of urban renewal, many theaters are finding new life as performing arts centers, their rebirth made possible by the dedicated efforts of preservationists, concerned citizens, and community-minded civic leaders. This topic provides information on the history of historic theaters, gives examples of rehabilitation projects across the country, and suggests related resources for interested individuals to track down for more information.
The first documented playhouse in America was built in 1716 in Williamsburg, Virginia, and by the 1770s, most major American cultural centers - Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston - had playhouses. None of them survives. Population growth, westward expansion, and rising incomes due to industrial and commercial growth led to a significant increase in theater construction during the 19th century. Theaters were built at the centers of towns and used for a wide variety of performances from travelling vaudeville shows to opera.
The introduction of film in the late 1890s first sparked the creation of "Nickelodeons" - flat floored structures with little ornamentation that projected early short silent films quite cheaply. Sometimes called "storefront theaters," Nickelodeons often mixed films with other forms of entertainment, and used bedsheets as projection screens with a loud piano accompaniment to drown out the noise of the projector.
With the arrival of sound film in 1915, and spurred by the economic expansion of the 1920s, a "movie palace" building boom commenced. These ornate and large buildings were constructed in a wide variety of exotic and opulent styles - Moorish, Egyptian, Mayan, and Oriental. Following the Depression, theaters were constructed at a slower pace and in simpler styles, but the popularity of film as entertainment continued. Movie going was, through the second World War, the most common form of popular entertainment. People would often attend movies two or three times a week. In 1946, the peak of the movie industry's attendance figures, 90 million people a week attended the movies. This would change, however, with the rapid rise of television and shifting demographics as families moved to the suburbs. A 1948 Supreme Court decision settled an Anti-Trust case brought against movie studios and ordered them to divest their holdings of theaters, effectively ending the era of the movie palace.
Over the subsequent decades many theaters were lost - either through neglect or demolition. However, beginning in the late 1960s, interest in restoring and preserving historic theaters began to grow. In 1970 Gene Chesley, scenic designer, theatre historian, and teacher, created the National List of Historic Theatre Buildings. This list attempted to document historic theaters still standing. These efforts led, in 1976, to the formation of The League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT), an organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and use of historic American theatres. Today, historic theaters continue to be restored, often as performing arts centers, serving to revitalize communities and neighborhoods across the country.
Examples of Restored Theaters
Thousands of theaters across the country have been restored. Here are but a few examples:
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The Silver Theater
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Built in 1938, the Silver Theater was designed in an Art Deco style by noted theater architect John Eberson and was a key part of Silver Spring, Maryland's vibrant growth and expansion during the 1940s and 50s. By the late 70s, however, the theater was in decline. Starting in 1984, concerned groups including the Art Deco Society of Washington mounted a historic preservation effort to save the Silver Theater. Their work resulted in the theater's being placed in the National Register of Historic Places and included in Montgomery County, Maryland's master plan for historic preservation.
In the late-1990's the American Film Institute began significant reconstruction and restoration of the theater for use as it's headquarters. This work was recently completed, and the Silver Theatre has opened its doors and re-lit its screens. This restoration is a central part of broader redevelopment projects in downtown Silver Spring that will bring new shopping and restaurants to the area.
Links:
The Art Deco Society of Washington
This page was created as part of the campaign to restore the Silver Theater, a campaign instigated and carried through by the Society. It includes photo galleries of both the exterior and interior of the theater dating back to its construction, before the renovation.
The Silver Spring Historical Society
This page tells the story of the twenty-year-long battle to restore the Silver Theater. Before and after photographs of the theater are included.
This page contains information about educational programs and other activities at AFI, as well as current information about the Silver Theater's screenings.
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The Fox Theater
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The Fox Theater was designed in 1930 by the architectural firm of Balch and Stanberry. In a departure from the Silver Theater's Art Deco style, this theater shows off some of the architectural opulence typical in theaters of the time, including a ceiling with twinkling stars and "atmospheric lighting" that could simulate sunrises and sunsets. The theater thrived at the center of Visalia until 1976, when the main screen was split into three screens in order to be able to show more films. It continued to operate in this manner until 1996, when it closed its doors. Slated for demolition, the theater was saved by the work of a grassroots community organization called "Friends of the Fox" which was led by Visalia Adult School teacher Rami Cherami. Today it is run by a non-profit organization as a performing arts venue, and is the home of the Tulare County Symphony.
Links:
This web site provides detailed descriptions of the history and restoration of this theater. A particularly interesting section of the web site is entitled "Fox Tales," and includes the reminiscences of people who visited and worked at the theater from its beginning.
Where to go for Help in Restoring a Historic Theater
Do you know of a theater slated for demolition? Don't know who to contact? Here is a short list of organizations and groups that may be of help.
The League of Historic American Theaters
334 N. Charles Street -- 2nd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
410-659-9533
http://www.lhat.org
A resource for people involved in restoration efforts of theaters of all types, nationwide. LHAT provides consulting services, maintains resource lists of people in various specialties related to theater restoration, advocates on behalf of historic theater preservation, hosts conferences and seminars on restoring and operating historic theaters, and serves as a national network for interested individuals.
National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO)
Suite 342 Hall of the States
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 624-5465
http://www.ncshpo.org/
This organization will be able to direct you to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in your state. These SHPOs are sources of information, funding, and support for any historic preservation project.
Theater Historical Society of America (THSA)
152 N. York Street, 2nd Floor
Elmhurst, IL 60126
630-782-1800
http://www.historictheatres.org/
The society has, for over 30 years, been dedicated to the collection of archival material documenting more than 9,000 theaters nationwide. Their materials are open to the public and an invaluable resource for preservationists.
For More Information: Print Sources
Ham, Roderick. Theaters: Planning Guidance For Design and Adaptation. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. 1987.
Headley, Robert. Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington, D.C.: An Illustrated History of Parlors, Palaces, and Multiplexes in the Metropolitan Area, 1894-1997. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland and Company, 1999.
Margolies, John and Emily Gwathmey. Ticket to Paradise: American Movie Theaters and How We Had Fun. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1991.
National Trust for Historic Preservation. Curtain Up! New Life for Historic Theaters. Information Series, No. 72, 1993. Washington D.C.: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1993.
Naylor, David. Great American Movie Theaters. Washington, D.C.: Preservation Press, 1987.
John Eberson Archival Collection - University of Pennsylvania
Housed in the Architectural Archives of the University of Pennsylvania, this collection includes some of Eberson's studio work as well as plans and materials on four of his "atmospheric" theaters Loew's Theatre (Louisville, KY; 1927), Loew's Theatre (Akron, OH; 1928), Avalon Theatre (Chicago, IL; 1925), Paradise Theatre (Chicago, IL; 1928).
League of Historic American Theaters
See description above.
Theater Historical Society of America
See description above.
For More Information: Web Links
