Theatre Historical Society of America
Encyclopedia
The Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, located in Elmhurst, Illinois
on the second floor of Classic Cinemas
historic York Theater.
Founded in 1969, THS is the only organization in the U.S. which exclusively documents, preserves and celebrates the rich architectural, cultural and social history of America's theatres. Its archive
contains material on more than 15,000 theatres, primarily in the United States
. This unique resource is utilized in its publications and available to researchers.
The organization is administered by Executive Director Richard J. Sklenar and Archive Director Kathy McLeister, on behalf of a volunteer board of directors and officers. A corps of dedicated volunteers assists with many of the day-to-day activities at the Society's headquarters.
The Theatre Historical Society is an organizational member of the American Association for State and Local History, National Trust for Historic Preservation
, Illinois Association of Museums, Association of Midwest Museums, Kane/DuPage Regional Museum Association, and is an individual member of the Society of American Archivists
.
, author of the first book celebrating America's movie palaces, The Best Remaining Seats. After Hall's untimely death in 1970, Brother Andrew Corsini Fowler, Frank Cronican, Terry Helgesen and others were instrumental in shaping THS into the foremost organization of its kind in the U.S. From just a handful of interested enthusiasts, it has grown into a national organization with an international membership of 1,000 individuals, university and public libraries, theatres, performing arts organizations and other interested firms and groups.
The American Theatre Architecture Archive, contains an extensive collection of artifacts, photographs, negatives, slides, books, blueprints/architectural drawing
s, newspaper and magazine clippings, videos, printed programs, and other material on all types of historic theatres, primarily in the U.S. The archive is also a rich source of information on theatre architects such as John Eberson
, Thomas W. Lamb
, the Boller Brothers
, Rapp and Rapp
, and theatre chains like Keith-Albee-Orpheum
, Warner Bros.
, Loews Theatres, Paramount Pictures
, etc.
The American Movie Palace Museum, features exhibits
of photographs, artworks, artifacts, and other memorabilia relating primarily to the "golden age of the movie palace." Notable items include the large (3ft.x4ft.) original rendering of the famed Roxy Theatre (New York City), designed by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager
, and decorated by the Rambusch Decorating Company
. There is also a large scale model of Chicago's Avalon Theater, later known as the New Regal Theater
, as well as the conductor's podium from Chicago's Granada Theater (demolished).
The archive and museum are open to members and the public. Admission to the museum is free, but research in the Archive is by advance appointment only and research fees apply.
February 10, 1969
Dear Friend,
Does this letterhead appeal to you? Well, let me tell you more!
For a long time some of us have talked about forming a club that would foster our interest in the fast-vanishing motion picture theatre and all the wonderful things that used to happen in it. I am delighted to be able to report that someone is finally doing something about it. My longtime friend, Brother Andrew Corsini Fowler, has decided that it is time for action and he, together with a bunch of hard-core theatre buffs from all parts of the country, have had our heads together (perhaps it would be more honest to say that Andy has knocked them together) and come up with an idea.
We are forming the Theatre Historical Society. The name is purposely all-purpose; though we all love movie palaces best, deep down we share an appreciation for any place where people are entertained in rows of seats - from nickelodeons to the newest Kultur Komplexes - in other words, all kinds of theatres and auditoriums. But in case you have misgivings, our main concern will be those picture pagodas of fragrant memory with the jeweled curtains the fountained goldfish, the rising orchestras (and falling organists), the tinkling tap shoes, the gold-braided ushers, the rose-budded cashiers, the yapping wonder dogs, the chirping Sunkist Beauties, the Antarctic air conditioning (and the frost-bitten marquees),the clouds in the ceiling, and the silvery Magnascope screens where "The End" used to ripple on the peanut curtain as it closed in for the organlogue. Remember...?
The Theatre Historical Society will have a magazine called Marquee (that's the logo Lester Glassner has designed for us at the top of this page) which will be published six times a year ... on a modest scale at first., more lavishly and more frequently as we get rolling. It will be filled with pictures and articles on every phase of movie palace lore -- portfolios of tantalizing newspaper ads, articles on everything from how to build your own model movie palace, how a Publix seat indicator works, how to operate the Brenkert F-7 Master Brenograph, to what to do in case of a stink bomb attack; picture stories on leading theatre architects (maybe special issues devoted to the work of one man); reports on everything from the animal rooms on the Keith Circuit to the hospital facilities in the super-palaces. The possibilities are endless.
The editor of MARQUEE will be Brother Andrew, and there is no one in the country more dedicated or more knowledgeable when it comes to our favorite subject. Frank Cronican has volunteered to be treasurer of the Society; Frank is one of the nation's most skillful model builders and is presently re-creating Chicago's Avalon Theatre in his basement (besides, he has an honest face). A board of directors will be elected later; meanwhile we need lots of help from people like you. For my part, I will sit on a side aisle and give lots of free advice to everybody, and contribute a regular column called "Around The Circuit" as well as an article from time to time. Your contributions, in the form of stories, photographs, "memorabilia" and suggestions will always be welcome.
For those of us who are members of A.T.O.E., membership in T.H.S. should entail no conflict of interest -- simply an extension of a special enthusiasm. MARQUEE plans to limit its concern with theatre organs to their consoles, grilles, players and presentation -- all externals in a manner of speaking - and at the same time hopes THEATRE ORGAN BOMBARDE will continue with its wonderful "Acre of Seats in a Palace of Splendor" feature. And subscribers to the CONSOLE need have no fear of cross-purposes in the pages of MARQUEE; there is enough material on theatres to keep everybody fascinated for years to come.
I would like to invite you to join with us in this interesting and worthwhile venture by becoming a Founding Member of The Theatre Historical Society. In return, we need three things from you: (1) A check for $10.00. (2) A list of names and addresses of people you think would like to join the Society as regular members (dues are $5.00 which includes the first six issues of MARQUEE). (3) Your comments, ideas and suggestions on how the Society and MARQUEE can best serve us all in our mutual and rather unique interest. This last request is very important as it gives you a chance to help guide the club in its formative period.
I hope you will join in the fun. Send your check for $10.00 made out to The Theatre Historical Society, your prospective-member list, and your comments to me at [old address]. Please do it this week. We want to get the first issue of MARQUEE out as soon as possible, and we need your support before that can happen.
With best remaining wishes,
Ben M. Hall
Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. The population is 46,013 as of the 2008 US Census population estimate.-History:...
on the second floor of Classic Cinemas
Classic Cinemas
Classic Cinemas is an Illinois movie theatre chain based in Downers Grove, Illinois. It operates 13 locations with 97 screens...
historic York Theater.
Founded in 1969, THS is the only organization in the U.S. which exclusively documents, preserves and celebrates the rich architectural, cultural and social history of America's theatres. Its archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
contains material on more than 15,000 theatres, primarily in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This unique resource is utilized in its publications and available to researchers.
The organization is administered by Executive Director Richard J. Sklenar and Archive Director Kathy McLeister, on behalf of a volunteer board of directors and officers. A corps of dedicated volunteers assists with many of the day-to-day activities at the Society's headquarters.
The Theatre Historical Society is an organizational member of the American Association for State and Local History, National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
, Illinois Association of Museums, Association of Midwest Museums, Kane/DuPage Regional Museum Association, and is an individual member of the Society of American Archivists
Society of American Archivists
The Society of American Archivists is the oldest and largest archivist association in North America, serving the educational and informational needs of more than 5,000 individual and institutional members...
.
History
The Theatre Historical Society was founded in 1969 by writer and theatre historian Ben M. HallBen M. Hall
Ben M. Hall was an author and theater historian. His 1960 book, The Best Remaining Seats, was a seminal work in the history of theaters...
, author of the first book celebrating America's movie palaces, The Best Remaining Seats. After Hall's untimely death in 1970, Brother Andrew Corsini Fowler, Frank Cronican, Terry Helgesen and others were instrumental in shaping THS into the foremost organization of its kind in the U.S. From just a handful of interested enthusiasts, it has grown into a national organization with an international membership of 1,000 individuals, university and public libraries, theatres, performing arts organizations and other interested firms and groups.
Publications
The Society's publications, distributed to members and available as back-issues, are: Marquee, a quarterly illustrated journal [ISSN 0025-3928], published continuously since 1969; an Annual, a special illustrated publication [ISSN 0885-3940] focussing on a specific theatre or aspect of theatre history, architecture, or design, and a quarterly Newsletter, with news items of interest on members, theatres and events nationwide. Back issues of Marquee and the Annual may be purchased by mail or online on the THS website www.historictheatres.org.Archives
The Theatre Historical Society operates the following at its headquarters:The American Theatre Architecture Archive, contains an extensive collection of artifacts, photographs, negatives, slides, books, blueprints/architectural drawing
Architectural drawing
An architectural drawing or architect's drawing is a technical drawing of a building that falls within the definition of architecture...
s, newspaper and magazine clippings, videos, printed programs, and other material on all types of historic theatres, primarily in the U.S. The archive is also a rich source of information on theatre architects such as John Eberson
John Eberson
John Eberson was an American architect best known for his movie palace designs in the atmospheric theatre fashion.Born in Czernowitz, Austro-Hungarian Empire , Eberson went to highschool in Dresden and studied electrical engineering in Vienna. He arrived in the United States in 1901 and at first...
, Thomas W. Lamb
Thomas W. Lamb
Thomas White Lamb was an American architect, born in Scotland. He is noted as one of the foremost designers of theaters and cinemas in the 20th century.-Career:...
, the Boller Brothers
Boller Brothers
Boller Brothers, also spelled as Boller Bros., was an architectural firm based in Kansas City, Missouri which specialized in theater design in the Midwest of the United States during the first half of the 20th century...
, Rapp and Rapp
Rapp and Rapp
The architectural firm Rapp and Rapp was active in Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The brothers Cornelius W. Rapp and George Leslie Rapp of Carbondale, Illinois were the named partners and 1899 alumnus of the University of Illinois School of Architecture...
, and theatre chains like Keith-Albee-Orpheum
Keith-Albee-Orpheum
The Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation was the owner of a chain of vaudeville and motion picture theatres. It was formed by the merger of the holdings of Benjamin Franklin Keith and Edward Franklin Albee II and Martin Beck's Orpheum Circuit, Inc..-History:...
, Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
, Loews Theatres, Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, etc.
The American Movie Palace Museum, features exhibits
Art exhibition
Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which art objects meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhibition". In American English, they may be called "exhibit", "exposition" or...
of photographs, artworks, artifacts, and other memorabilia relating primarily to the "golden age of the movie palace." Notable items include the large (3ft.x4ft.) original rendering of the famed Roxy Theatre (New York City), designed by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager
Walter W. Ahlschlager
Walter W. Ahlschlager was a twentieth century American architect who had his offices in Chicago for many years. Later he established an office in Dallas, Texas...
, and decorated by the Rambusch Decorating Company
Rambusch Decorating Company
The Rambusch Decorating Company was founded in 1898 in New York, New York by Frode Rambusch, a Danish immigrant.In the 1920's, it was the decorator for many elaborate movie palaces, including the famed Roxy Theatre in New York City, which seated 6,214 and opened in March, 1927. That project was...
. There is also a large scale model of Chicago's Avalon Theater, later known as the New Regal Theater
New Regal Theater
The New Regal Theater is located at 1641 East 79th Street, in Chicago, Illinois. The theater opened as the Avalon Theater in 1927. The design is an "atmospheric" Moorish Revival movie palace designed by John Eberson, who was nationally known for the atmospheric design...
, as well as the conductor's podium from Chicago's Granada Theater (demolished).
The archive and museum are open to members and the public. Admission to the museum is free, but research in the Archive is by advance appointment only and research fees apply.
Annual meeting
THS produces an annual Conclave, or theatre tour, each summer in a different part of the country. It is usually five days and includes visits to two dozen historic theatres in the area, from small neighborhood movie houses to large, ornate urban movie palaces, along with various social activities. More information is available on the THS website www.historictheatres.org.Membership
Membership is open to anyone interested in historic theatres. Regular U.S. membership starts at $55 per year. There is a reduced rate of $30 for full-time U.S. students. Members receive all publications and a discount on registration for our annual Conclave. Complete information, including rates for other countries, is on the THS website www.historictheatres.org. One can also join online.Founding letter
Ben M. Hall circulated the following letter founding the Theatre Historical Society of America:February 10, 1969
Dear Friend,
Does this letterhead appeal to you? Well, let me tell you more!
For a long time some of us have talked about forming a club that would foster our interest in the fast-vanishing motion picture theatre and all the wonderful things that used to happen in it. I am delighted to be able to report that someone is finally doing something about it. My longtime friend, Brother Andrew Corsini Fowler, has decided that it is time for action and he, together with a bunch of hard-core theatre buffs from all parts of the country, have had our heads together (perhaps it would be more honest to say that Andy has knocked them together) and come up with an idea.
We are forming the Theatre Historical Society. The name is purposely all-purpose; though we all love movie palaces best, deep down we share an appreciation for any place where people are entertained in rows of seats - from nickelodeons to the newest Kultur Komplexes - in other words, all kinds of theatres and auditoriums. But in case you have misgivings, our main concern will be those picture pagodas of fragrant memory with the jeweled curtains the fountained goldfish, the rising orchestras (and falling organists), the tinkling tap shoes, the gold-braided ushers, the rose-budded cashiers, the yapping wonder dogs, the chirping Sunkist Beauties, the Antarctic air conditioning (and the frost-bitten marquees),the clouds in the ceiling, and the silvery Magnascope screens where "The End" used to ripple on the peanut curtain as it closed in for the organlogue. Remember...?
The Theatre Historical Society will have a magazine called Marquee (that's the logo Lester Glassner has designed for us at the top of this page) which will be published six times a year ... on a modest scale at first., more lavishly and more frequently as we get rolling. It will be filled with pictures and articles on every phase of movie palace lore -- portfolios of tantalizing newspaper ads, articles on everything from how to build your own model movie palace, how a Publix seat indicator works, how to operate the Brenkert F-7 Master Brenograph, to what to do in case of a stink bomb attack; picture stories on leading theatre architects (maybe special issues devoted to the work of one man); reports on everything from the animal rooms on the Keith Circuit to the hospital facilities in the super-palaces. The possibilities are endless.
The editor of MARQUEE will be Brother Andrew, and there is no one in the country more dedicated or more knowledgeable when it comes to our favorite subject. Frank Cronican has volunteered to be treasurer of the Society; Frank is one of the nation's most skillful model builders and is presently re-creating Chicago's Avalon Theatre in his basement (besides, he has an honest face). A board of directors will be elected later; meanwhile we need lots of help from people like you. For my part, I will sit on a side aisle and give lots of free advice to everybody, and contribute a regular column called "Around The Circuit" as well as an article from time to time. Your contributions, in the form of stories, photographs, "memorabilia" and suggestions will always be welcome.
For those of us who are members of A.T.O.E., membership in T.H.S. should entail no conflict of interest -- simply an extension of a special enthusiasm. MARQUEE plans to limit its concern with theatre organs to their consoles, grilles, players and presentation -- all externals in a manner of speaking - and at the same time hopes THEATRE ORGAN BOMBARDE will continue with its wonderful "Acre of Seats in a Palace of Splendor" feature. And subscribers to the CONSOLE need have no fear of cross-purposes in the pages of MARQUEE; there is enough material on theatres to keep everybody fascinated for years to come.
I would like to invite you to join with us in this interesting and worthwhile venture by becoming a Founding Member of The Theatre Historical Society. In return, we need three things from you: (1) A check for $10.00. (2) A list of names and addresses of people you think would like to join the Society as regular members (dues are $5.00 which includes the first six issues of MARQUEE). (3) Your comments, ideas and suggestions on how the Society and MARQUEE can best serve us all in our mutual and rather unique interest. This last request is very important as it gives you a chance to help guide the club in its formative period.
I hope you will join in the fun. Send your check for $10.00 made out to The Theatre Historical Society, your prospective-member list, and your comments to me at [old address]. Please do it this week. We want to get the first issue of MARQUEE out as soon as possible, and we need your support before that can happen.
With best remaining wishes,
Ben M. Hall