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Movie Palaces

Books & Videos Movies The Snack Bar Theatre Organs Links Distribution & Exhibition Movie Palace Sites California • Ohio • Oregon • Washington

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Books & Videos

	"Cinema Treasures: A New Look At Classic Movie Theaters" [2004] by Ross Melnick & Andreas Fuchs Motorbooks Intl 12½x10¾ hardcover [10/2004] for $27.20 authors' bookpage Cinema Treasures website
	"The Southern Movie Palace: Rise, Fall & Resurrection" [2003] by Janna Jones Univ Press of FL 9½x6¼ hardcover [3/2003] for $16.97

"Popcorn Palaces: The Art Deco Movie Theatre Paintings of Davis Cone" [2001] Text by Michael D. Kinerk & Dennis W. Wilhelm Harry N. Abrams 8¾x11¼ hardcover [5/2001] for $23.96

"Old Cinemas" [2001] by Allen Eyles
Shire Publns 8x5 pb [6/2002] for $8.50

"America's Castles: Movie Palaces" [A&E special 2000]
A&E Home Video color VHS [2/2000] for $24.95

"Silent Screens: The Decline & Transformation of The American Movie Theater" [2000] by Michael Putnam Johns Hopkins Univ Press 8¾x10¼ hardcover [6/2000] for $27.97

	"Nickelodeon Theatres and Their Music" [1999] by Q. David Bowers Scarecrow Press 11x8.4 pb [11/99] out of print/used Scarecrow Press 11¼x8&fra34 hardcover [11/99] for $24.95
	"Palaces of The Night: Canada's Grand Theatres" [1999] by John C. Lindsay Lynx Images pb [10/99] for $24.95
	"The Last Remaining Seats: Movie Palaces of Tinseltown" [1999] by Robert Berger, photographs by Anne Conser Balcony Press 11x9 pb [1/99] for $22.40 Balcony Press hardcover [1/99] out of print/used
	"Cinema Under The Stars: America's Love Affair With The Drive-In Movie Theater" [1998] by Elizabeth McKeon & Linda Everett Cumberland House 10x8 pb [12/98] for $14.95 Magic Lantern's Drive-In Theaters Page
	"American Theaters: Performance Halls of The Nineteenth Century" [1997] by David Naylor & Joan Dillon Schiffer Publng 2nd edition 11x8½ hardcover [10/2006] for $30.36 Wiley & Sons 11x8½ hardcover [10/97] out of print/used
	"The Show Starts On The Sidewalk: An Architectural History of The Movie Theatre, Starring S. Charles Lee" [1994] by Maggie Valentine Yale Univ Press 10x8 pb [4/96] for $25.00 Yale Univ Press hardcover [3/94] out of print/used

"America Goes To The Movies: One Hundred Years of Motion Picture Exhibition"
[1993] by Barbara Stones
National Assn. of Theatre Owners hardcover [10/93] out of print/used

"Shared Pleasures: A History of Movie Presentation In The United States" [1992] by Douglas Gomery Univ WI Press 9x6 pb [5/92] out of print/used

"Ticket To Paradise: American Movie Theaters & How We Had Fun"
[1991] by John Margolies & Emily M. Gwathmey
320 photographs, 270 in color
Bulfinch Press 9¼x6¼ hardcover [11/91] out of print/used

"American Picture Palaces: The Architecture of Fantasy" [1991]
by David Naylor
S&S/Prentice Hall 11x8½ pb [1/91] out of print/used

"Movie Palaces: Survivors of An Elegant Era" (Architecture & Film Series)" [1988] Photos by Ave Pildas, text by Lucinda Smith Hennessey & Ingalls 12.4x9.4 hardcover [9/2000] for $20.37 Random House hardcover [12/88] out of print/used

"Great American Movie Theaters" [1987]
by David Naylor
National Trust 10¼x5¼ pb [10/87] out of print/used

The Snack Bar

Red Vines® licorice candy
Old Time Candy Company [Dots®, Good & Plenty®, Milk Duds®, Necco®, Sno-Caps®...]
Nehi® Soda {"The Tradition of Taste since 1924"} from The Soda Shop
Tootsie Roll Industries [concession candies]

more American Food Traditions at Spirit of America

	"Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America" [2004] by Steve Almond Algonquin 7½x6 hardcover [4/2004] for $15.37 Highbridge UNABR audio CD [5/2004] for $18.33 Highbridge UNABR audio [5/2004] for $18.33 author's website
	"Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn in America" [1999] by Andrew F. Smith Smithsonian 9x6 pb [3/2001] for $11.87 Univ of SC Press 9¼x6¼ hardcover [5/99] for $16.97

Valparaiso [IN] Popcorn Festival [Sept 2004 = #26]
Marion [OH] Popcorn Festival [Sept 2004 = #24]
Wyandot Popcorn Museum [est. 1982] in Marion OH
Popcorn Palace: The World's Best Gourmet Popcorn
The Popcorn Board / The Popcorn Institute [est. 1998]
Fireworks® Natural Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet® Popping Corn

Movie  Theater  Art

paintings by Edward Hopper [1882-1967]
Edward Hopper Art Page at Spirit of America Bookstore

"The Sheridan Theater" [1937] click for larger view

"New York Movie" [1939] click for larger view purchase 32"x30" art print at AllPosters.com

Movies  About  Movie  Theaters

"Cinerama  Adventure" documentary feature [Sept 2003]

Written & directed by David Strohmaier video not available; full credits from IMDb official website

"The  Last  Picture  Show"
[Columbia Pictures Oct 1971]

Between WWII and the Korean War, high-schoolers in a failing Texas town learn lessons about life and love and themselves, symbolized by the falling attendance at the local movie house. Co-written & directed by Peter Bogdanovich; co-written by Larry McMurtry, based on his novel; starring Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn, Eileen Brennan, Clu Gulager, Sam Bottoms & Randy Quaid; won Oscars for Best Supporting Actor [BJ] & Actress [CL], Oscar noms for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Script, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor [JB] & Actress [EB]; won BAFTA for Best Script, Best Supporting Actor [BJ] & Actress [CL], BAFTA noms for Best Film, Best Direction & Best Supporting Actress [EB]; nominated for DGA & WGA awards; listed on the National Film Registry in 1998 Sony 'Director's Cut' widescreen b&w DVD [11/99] for $14.99 Sony 'Director's Cut' widescreen b&w VHS [11/99] out of stock/used Sony b&w VHS [6/94] out of stock/used full credits from IMDb

"The Last Picture Show: A Novel" [Dial 1966] S&S 8x5¼ pb [1/99] for $10.01 Amereon 9x5¾ hardcover [6/66] for $23.95 BooksOnTape audio [1/84] out of print/used

"The Majestic" [Castle Rock / Warner Dec 2001]

Capra-esque tale of a screenwriter caught in the blacklist troubles of the 1950s who gets amnesia and revitalizes the movie theater in a small town. Directed by Frank Darabont; starring Jim Carrey, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey DeMunn, Hal Holbrook, Laurie Holden, Amanda Detmer & Martin Landau Warner color VHS [6/2002] for $19.99 Warner VHS w/Spanish subtitles [6/2002] for $19.99 Warner widescreen DVD [6/2002] for $22.99 Hollywood Rcds soundtrack CD [12/2001] for $13.49 full credits from IMDb official movie site (with links to 21 movie palaces)

"Nuovo  Cinema  Paradiso"
[Italy 1988; 155 min. release]

Written & directed by Giuseppe Tornatore; starring Philippe Noiret, Marco Leonardi, Salvatore Cascio, Jacques Perrin, Antonella Attili, Pupella Maggio & Brigitte Fossey (director's cut only); won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, 5 BAFTAs, Jury Grand Prize at Cannes & other awards HBO widescreen DVD [3/2001] out of stock/used HBO VHS w/English subtitles [3/2001] out of stock/used Ennio Morricone soundtrack CD [6/91] for $14.99 DRG 'Extra Tracks' CD [6/2001] for $19.98 full credits from IMDb June 2002 Director's Cut [3 hour release] info on different versions from IMDb

"The  Projectionist"  [Maglan 1971]

The multi-level fantasy worlds of a movie theater projectionist. Written, produced & directed by Harry Hurwitz; starring Chuck McCann, Ina Balin, Rodney Dangerfield & Mike Gentry; carefully preserved and newly restored by the New York Museum of Modern Art Image Ent widescreen DVD [4/2002] for $22.49 full credits from IMDb

"The  Purple  Rose  of  Cairo"  [Orion March 1985]

A Depression-era waitress goes to the movies for escape, and discovers that the hero of the movie has walked off the screen to escape into the real world. Written & directed by Woody Allen; starring Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Gil Shepherd, Danny Aiello, Dianne Wiest & Edward Herrmann. Anchor bay color VHS [9/90] out of stock/used MGM/UA widescreen DVD [11/2001] for $17.98 full credits from IMDb

"Sherlock Jr." [BKP/MGM 1924 silent film]

A movie theater projectionist is accused of stealing the pocket watch of his girlfriend's father; he fantasizes being a detective and solving the theft a la Sherlock Holmes. Co-produced & directed by and starring Buster Keaton [1895-1966]; also starring Kathryn McGuire & Joe Keaton; listed on National Film Registry (1991); listed on Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Movies (10/2005) Kino Video b&w VHS [11/2001] for $18.95 Kino Video b&w DVD [11/99] for $21.99 full credits from IMDb video/DVD includes "Our Hospitality" [Schenck/MGM 1923]: full credits from IMDb

Movie Palaces in the U.S.A.

Pollack Tempe Cinemas in Tempe, AZ
Fox Tucson Theatre [opened 1930, last movies 1974, now rental] in Tucson, AZ
Winslow Theater in Winslow, AZ
Lewis Auditorium [Orpheum Theatre 1929] in Phoenix, AZ
movie theaters in California: see below
Enzian Theater in Maitland, FL
Palace Theatre [1925] in Hilo, HI
Palace Theatre [1915] in Vinton, IA
Iowa Theater in Winterset, IA
Panida Theater [1927] in Sandpoint, ID
Biograph Theater [1914] in Chicago, IL
Chicago Theatre [1921] in Chicago, IL
Fine Arts Building [1885] & Sony Theaters in Chicago, IL
Palace Theater [1928 United Artists] in Louisville, KY
Brattle Hall [1890] & Film Foundation [est. 1953] in Cambridge, MA
Francis-Merrick Performing Arts Center [Hippodrome 1914] in Baltimore, MD
Senator Theatre [1939] in Baltimore, MD
State Theater [1929; now live performance] in Portland, ME
Railroad Square Cinema triplex in Waterville, ME
restored Fox Theatre [1928] in Detroit, MI
Palace Theater in Luverne, MN
Ragtag Cinemacafé [est. 1998] in Columbia, MO
The Missouri Theatre [1928] in Columbia, MO
Missouri Theater [1927; now live performance] in St. Joseph, MO
New Crescent Theater in Belzoni, MS
historic Wilma Theatre [built 1920] in Missoula, MT
Rockingham Theatre [1929] in Reidsville, NC
Fargo Theatre [1926] in Fargo, ND
Midwest Theater [May 1946] in Scottsbluff, NE
KiMo Theater [1927] in Albuquerque, NM
Old Lyceum Theatre [1920] in Clovis, NM {fansite}
Palace Theater [1931] in Albany, NY
Angelika Film Center art-house [1989] in New York City
movie theaters in Ohio: see below
Poteau Theater in Poteau, OK
movie theaters in Oregon: see below
Palace Theater [1926 Manos Theatre] in Greensburg, PA
Palace Theater [Flanze Building 1868] in Maryville, TN
Palace Theater [1938] in Crossville, TN
Cactus Theater [1938; restored 1995] in Lubbock, TX

National Theater [1922] in Richmond, VA
movie theaters in Washington State: see below
Timbers Theatres in Siren, WI

Movie Palaces in California
Cinema Treasures listing of classic movie theaters in California

Towne Theater [Barnes 1916] in Fillmore, CA
Lobero Theater - live performance [1924] in Santa Barbara, CA
Granada Theater [1924] in Santa Barbara, CA
Stanford Theatre [1925] in Palo Alto, CA
Arlington Theater [Fox 1926] in Santa Barbara, CA
La Paloma [1927] in Encinitas
California Theatre [1927-1977; restored 2004] in San Jose, CA
Fox Theater [1930] in Bakersfield, CA
Sebastiani Theatre [1933] in Sonoma, CA
Cascade Theatre [opened 1935; restored 2004] in Downtown Redding, CA
historic Plaza Theater [Dec 1936] - home of 'The Palm Springs Follies'
Fortuna Theatre [1938] in Fortuna, CA
Tower Theatre [1938] in Sacramento, CA
    Save the Tower Theater in Sacramento!
Trinity Theatre [built 1939] in historic Weaverville, CA
Noyo Theatre [1939] in Willits, CA
Tower Theatre [1939] in Fresno, CA
Tower, Fresno architectural history
Del Oro Theatres [1940] in Grass Valley, CA
Fremont Theater [1940] in San Luis Obispo, CA
Crest Theatre [1946] in Sacramento, CA
Rio Theatre [1946] in Santa Cruz, CA
State Theatre [1946] in Red Bluff, CA,
Cameo Cinema in St. Helena CA
Ridgecrest Cinemas in the Mojave Desert
The Varsity Theatre in Davis, CA
Mary Pickford Theatre in Cathedral City, CA
Cinemas Palme d'Or in Palm Desert, CA
Camelot Theatres [est. 1967] in Palm Springs, CA
independent Prime 11 Cinemas in Anderson, CA
The Coast Cinemas Four in Ft. Bragg, CA

Los Angeles, California Area
Movieville (active theaters in Los Angeles)

State Theater in Downtown L.A.
Tower Theater in Downtown L.A.
Fox Wilshire in Beverly Hills
Los Feliz 3 in East Hollywood
The New Beverly Cinema [repertory]
Palace Theatre [1911] in Downtown L.A.
Grauman's Million-Dollar Theater [1918] in Downtown L.A.
    Save the Raymond Theatre [April 1921] in Pasadena, CA
Egyptian Theatre [Oct 1922] in Hollywood
Vista Theater [est. Oct 1923 as Bard's Hollywood] in East Hollywood
The Art Theater - repertory cinema [1925] in Long Beach CA
Fox Fullerton [1925]
Alex Theatre [1925] in Glendale
El Portal Theatre [1926] in North Hollywood
Orpheum Theatre [1926] in Downtown L.A.
Henry Fonda Theatre [Music Box 1926] in Hollywood
El Capitan [1926] in Hollywood
Grauman's [now Mann's] Chinese Theatre [May 1927]
Balboa Theater on Balboa Island [1927]
Pantages Theatre [1930] in Hollywood
Warner Grand Theatre [1931] in San Pedro
Grand Vision Foundation preservation group [est. 1996]
Wiltern Theater [1931] in Mid-Wilshire area
Los Angeles Theatre [1931] in Downtown L.A.
Mann's Village Theater [1931] in Westwood Village
El Rey Theater [1936] on Wilshire 'Miracle Mile'
Mann's Bruin Theater [Fox 1938] in Westwood Village
Aero Theatre [1939] in Santa Monica
The Silent Movie Theater [1942] in Los Angeles
Bay Theatre [1947] in Seal Beach
Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo [est. 1968]
Mann's Plaza Theater in Westwood Village

San Francisco/ Oakland 'Bay Area'

Roxie Cinema in San Francisco [Poppy Theater 1912]
Golden Gate Theatre [1920] in San Francisco
Rafael Film Center [1918 & 1938] in San Rafael
The Castro Theatre [1922] in San Francisco
Oaks Theater [1925] in Berkeley
Balboa Theater [1926] in San Francisco
Grand Lake Theater [1926] in Oakland
Orpheum Theatre [1926] in San Francisco
Paramount Theatre [1931] in Oakland: tribute book [11/82] used
Orinda Theater [1941] in Orinda
Park Theater [1941] in Lafayette

Movie Palaces in Ohio

Ada Theatre [1938] in Ada, OH
Cla-Zel Theater [1926] in Bowling Green, OH
Ohio Theatre [1928] in Columbus, OH
Palace Theatre [1926] in Columbus, OH
Elder Theatre [1941] in Jackson Center, OH
Kenton Theatre [1930s] in Kenton, OH
Palace Theatre [1928] in Lorain, OH

Movie Palaces in Oregon

Fox Theatre in Dallas OR
Cameo Theater [1937] & 99W Drive-In [1953] in Newberg OR
McMenamins Bagdad Theater & Pub [1927] in Portland OR
Hollywood Theater [1926] in Portland OR
Laurelhurst Theater & Pub [1923] in Portland OR

Movie Palaces in Washington State

Everett Theater [1902 & 1924] in Everett WA
Cinerama [1963] in Seattle WA
Paramount Theatre [1928] in Seattle WA: performance & silent films
Landmark's Varsity Theatre [1940] in Seattle WA
Fox Theater [1931] in Spokane WA

Theatre Organs

J.S. Bach Toccata & Fugue in D Minor  

The Theatre Organ Home Page
American Theatre Organ Society [est. 1955]
Los Angeles [CA] Theatre Organ Society [est. 1961]
Orange County [CA] Theatre Organ Society [est. 19??]
Schantz Organ Company [est. 1873] in Orrville, OH
Pipe Organ WebRing
Scottish Theatre Organ Preservation Society
Puget Sound [WA] Theatre Organ Society
Cinema Organ Society [UK]
Eugene Hayek's Theatre Pipe Organ Page
PipeChat BBS
Organ Historical Society [est. 1956]
American Guild of Organists
Brent Johnson's 'Organ Live' Project

1924 Wurlitzer 3/17 organ at San Gabriel [CA] Civic Auditorium
1927 Wurlitzer organ [restored 1982] at Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles
1928 Wurlitzer organ at Bay Theatre [1947] in Seal Beach, CA
1928 Wurlitzer organ at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, CA
1929 Wurlitzer 4/37 organ at Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA
1934 Skinner organ at Royce Hall, U.C.L.A. in Los Angeles, CA
1938 Möller organ [installed 1980] at Pasadena [CA] Civic Auditorium [est. 1931]
Barton 3/13 organ at Wilshire Ebell Theatre [est. 1927] in Los Angeles, CA
Wurlitzer 4/22 [installed 1969] at Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, CA
Wurlitzer 4/31 organ at Founder's Church in Los Angeles, CA
Wurlitzer 4/73 organ at Nethercutt Museum {requires Flash} in Sylmar, CA

Gaylord Carter [1905-2000]: bio • 'Classic Themes' audio CD • credits at IMDb

Dennis James

Korla Pandit [1921-98]: recordings • official website • Virtual Museum page • credits at IMDb

	"The Mighty Wurlitzer: Music for Movie-Palace Organs" [1992] by Ann Leaf & Gaylord Carter New World records audio CD [12/92] for $17.99
	"All the Stops: The Glorious Pipe Organ & Its American Masters" [2003] by Craig R. Whitney Public Affairs 9¾x6¼ hardcover [4/2003] for $21.00
	"The Theatre Organ: Wurlitzer & Compton Theatre Organs" [1991] Played by Laurence James & Ronald Curtis Saydisc audio CD [4/95] for $17.98

Distribution  &  Exhibition

Natl. Assn. of Theatre Owners
Fandango movie tickets service [est. 2000]
MovieTickets.com service
MovieTunes {parked?}
Access Integrated Technologies & PreFlix services

list of U.S. movie theater chains at Wikipedia
A.M.C. Theatres
American Cinematheque
Brenden Theatres
Carmike Cinemas
Century Theatres
CineArts Theatres
Cinebarre
Cinemark Theatres
Cobb Theatres
Edwards Theatres
Hollywood Theatres chain of Portland, OR {48 theaters}
I.M.A.X.
Kerasotes Theatres

Movielink was bought by Blockbuster in August 2008

Premiere Theatres
R/C Theatres
Regal Cinemas • United Artists Theatres • Hoyts

Wehrenberg Theatres
Winchester Theatres

This and other original nostalgia art prints available from Stan Cline

Related  Links

Drive-In  Movie  Theaters  Page

Cinema Treasures [preservation worldwide]
Cinema Tours [listings around the world]
Silver Screen [listings for France & USA]
Theatre Historical Society of America [est. 1969]
League of Historic American Theatres [est. 1976]
MikeSpace Historic Movie Palace listings
Silent Era Movie Theaters - USA

Classic Movies on the Big Screen
BigScreenBiz: USA Independents
BigScreenBiz: USA Chains
University of Virginia 'American Picture Palaces' site
Drive-In & Hardtop Intermission Films Archive
Roadside Peek's Grand Theaters photo gallery
American Magic-Lantern Theater in East Haddam CT
Filmack Studios in Chicago - stock trailers [est. 1919]

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Lumière (French-language site about theaters in France)
Cinema Theatre Assn. [U.K.]
Cinema and Theatre Historical Society [Victoria, Australia]
Silent Era Theaters - Worldwide
Cinema Theatres in Sweden [English/Swedish]
Daj Mi Kino! organization: site in English or site in Croatian

Books & Videos • Movies • The Snack Bar
Movie Palace Sites • Theatre Organs • Links

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