Lets go back in time when the movie years were golden. There was no Television and nearly everyone went to the movies on a weekly basis to see their favorite movie stars. It was an important time in motion picture history. It was an exciting time for all of the fans to see the stars on the big screen. Here are some photo of those great theater marquis and the fans who waited in line with much anticipation to see them as they were meant to be seen…. “On the big screen!”
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— Kevin Wedman
Oh, that is BRILLIANT. Thank you. Where did you find these?? What a fantastic time machine.
Thank You. I am glad you like them as much as I do. I have been collecting them from various websites and articles.
Thank You to David DeWitt for working his magic and posting it for me.
I remember years ago seeing Robin Hood for the first time on a big movie screen with a full movie house audience. I was amazed by the details and brilliant colors of the ccstumes and the richness of the musical score heard in a theater. In particular, the sound of an arrow striking its target. Definitely, a different experience than watching the film on TV! I saw a lot of other old films particularly film noir on large screens and the effect is so much more impressive. It is easy to understand how amazing the old movie palaces were. I saw as many movies as I could in some of the remaining movie palaces and it was so much better than going to a sterile movieplex. Today, we have forgotten how it felt to see a movie in a theater fit for a King and Queen …
David – I too have seen many of these films in a couple of old and beautiful theaters made of the those times, such as the pic you show above; Miami and Hollywood (FLA.) – and also in New Jersey, New York and a couple in Europe. Your absolute 100% correct in what you say in the atmosphere, picture quality, and sound. Those flicks were attended for those theaters – The closest we come today is you have a big screen 4K TV with theater style speaker/sound system. Yet one cannot even imagine the total differences of actually being in one of those beautiful buildings with such grand surrounding and huge screens!
Today they are very few in between to even find any such places, and I am so blessed to have been able to experience these in that fashion for the few short years I was able too. To date, Robin Hood still top of the list as the best ever film, and it was such a huge thrill to see it in that phenomenal palace I did get to see it in; I truly felt like a little kid for the first time watching it and eyes wide open.
If anyone ever gets the chance, jump at the chance, I promise you will never, ever forget that experience.
Sergio, you describe the feeling perfectly. I saw Gone With I saw Gone With The Wind and Lawrence of Arabia in a Palace type theater and Dr. Zhivago … The immense scenery and intensity of the drama makes the landscape itself a character in such films. The lobbies and stairwells, the balconies, even the bathrooms made you feel you rich and excited to be in such luxurious surroundings. The countertops and display cases where you bought food and drinks were a treat for the eyes, too …
I couldn’t agree with yo more David. Isn’t it amazing to thing back in the days of 3os, and 40’s the immense beauty one had and they did not know the difference. I had spoken to my dad many years past of the same things and he also said the same; we did not appreciate what we really had until today. thank god you and I and many others have had that little taste of the actual being, as it was. I will be always in search of until I die, because I believe there’s always one that wants the same as we , with a few more dollars, continues to renovate these places so the few who really admire the movies of past can truly enjoy them as they should…Tally Ho..
Thanks, Kevin. Great post!
And then, between the Palaces and the Boob Tube, arrived the Drive-Ins:
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Yes! Those old theaters were as colorful as the films they displayed! The plush red and quite feeling, smells of popcorn and chocolate in the air. The sound systems back then were magic to my young ears. CinemaScope wrap around screens and I remember What’s New Pussycat” of all films ..LOL. Star Wars #1 was awesome in that theater.You were right there in the film kinda like “The Last Action Hero”……..
“What’s New Pussycat”????? Is that the best you have T..LOL!! That’s funny; not at you with you….
I often thought myself to go and buy the one they had in Hollywood Fl. (The Hollywood Theater) what a grand place it was, pure as the grand theaters of old, balcony and all. I believe its finally gone, haven’t been that way in quite a while…My wife talked me out of it, should have done it, even though it would have cost me a pretty bundle to bring back to the shiny penny it once was.
I believe in the long run it would have paid off.
My thoughts were play Classic Movies, 2 nights a week, and play the whatever the big game was out there of the time so to keep the theater afloat.
What a grand thing it would have been. I too David seen Gone with the Wind, I believe when they reran it in the sixties, and I seen it in this theater I mention.
Oh, and yes I still have my wife. LOL.. she’s still grander than any theater no mater how much I love the movies.
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Who knows, I’m not dead yet, could still happen somewhere else, right?
Well said, Sergio! Never give up hope, or a good wife!
Sergio…..Nah….I just kinda throw that in there as it popped into my head from some past memory cell in my brain..LOL!
So many films/Flicks I can’t even take the time to list them all.
David said it best!.
Here’s another for your collection, Kevin: Another Dawn with Errol and Kay playing at the Olympia Theater in Downtown Miami.
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And still here in Miami with its magnificent Mediterraen Revival architecture and spectacular Spanish Villa influenced interior:
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Thank you Tim. Nice photo. I like the film. Funny story on the backstory on the title of ANOTHER DAWN.
I’m uncertain if this qualifies for your glorious “marquis” collection above, Kevin, but, being from Down Under, it certainly deserves two thumbs up.
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Great picture Tim!
Isn’t that cool, Tony … and thank you for that IMDB tip on “In Like Flynn” scheduled for 2017, Luke Flynn’s “Beams End” film. Can’t wait to see that! Break a leg, Luke!
Here’s another Kevin! Against All Flags at the Ute Theater, Colorado Springs, January 1952.
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“Originally opened in 1911 as the Rialto Theatre, it was later renamed Chipita Theatre. It was remodelled/rebuilt in 1935 to the plans of architect Robert O. Boller of architectural firm Boller Brothers and renamed Ute Theatre.
The Pueblo Deco former Ute Theatre was a fixture of downtown Colorado Springs for decades, with its distinctive Native American-inspired blade marquee overlooking Pike’s Peak Avenue. Just down the street was the Chief Theatre, which has since been razed.
The Ute Theatre was dismantled and rebuilt after it closed in 1968 and moved to a new location nearby where it was rebuilt as a steakhouse, which it still serves as today.”
The lobby of The Maryland Theater, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1936, while showing “Charge of the Light Brigade”. Not a marqee, but in the same vein of Kevin’s great “Now Showing” post:
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Captain Blood at the Million Dollar Theater in Downtown LA:
www.getting-medieval.com…
Dodge City at The Rialto in Champagne, Illinois!
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And let’s not forget who’s doing the showing!
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Alhambra Theatre, 1936. Lower North Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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The College Theater, Brooklyn, New York, 1945
www.theerrolflynnblog.com…
Burns Theater – Newport, Vermont
cinematreasures.org…
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“The Michigan Theatre was opened in 1916, for the Lubliner & Trinz circuit, on the South Side of Chicago. It could seat nearly 1,400 and presented both vaudeville and motion pictures.”
“During the 1920’s and 1930’s, it was also a popular venue for jazz performances”
Dodge City at the Princess Theater in Modesto, California
bit.ly/2PqHljs…