This is Baby Doll

Motion Picture Herald, October 20, 1956:

“For ‘Baby Doll’: Warners this week completed its sign, probably the largest amusement display ever, for the run at the Victoria, Times Square, New York.”

“Warner publicists  put its size this way: a third of an acre.”

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

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Baby Born in Circleville

 

Original Description:
Amusements, Circleville, Ohio

Photographer: Ben Shahn
1938

United States Farm Security Administration

Excerpts from Today in Civil Liberties History, April 11, 1938:
“Life magazine published 35 photographs from the public health education film, Birth of a  Baby. Some moralist on this day called the pictures ‘obscene.'”

“The film The Birth of a Baby, from which the photographs were taken, was banned in New York, Cincinnati, Omaha, and Lynchburg, Virginia. The New York State censorship board found the film ‘indecent,’ ‘immoral’, and likely ‘to corrupt morals.’ It did, however, approve a special license to show the film for ‘educational purposes,’ but not in ‘places of amusement.'”

 

From The Birth of a Baby, Iconic Photos

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

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Going to the Movies in Elkins

Photographer: John Vachon

June 1939

United States Farm Security Administration

 

Hippodrome Theatre
Davis Avenue, Elkins, WV

Original Description:
“There are two movies in town, both offer games of chance, win a dollar, three nights a week.”

 

Manos Theatre
205 Davis Avenue, Elkins, WV

Original Description:
“There are two movies in town, both offer games of chance three nights a week to drum up trade on slack nights.”

 

Outside These Walls

 

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Walks also available at Local Expeditions

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

AboutMe

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Cowboy Plays the Granada

Granada Theatre
207 E. Holland Avenue
Alpine, Texas

Photographer: Russell Lee
May 1939

United States Farm Security Administration

Original Description:
Children in front of movie theatre, Alpine, Texas

Alpine by David W. Keller:
“The Granada Theatre, built in 1929, was Alpine’s introduction to motion pictures. Eventually closed down and boarded up for decades, in 2009 the Granada was renovated and reopened as a modern performance and event center complete with an upstairs yoga studio.”

 

Rotten Tomatoes

Wikipedia

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Walks also available at Local Expeditions

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

 

Idle Men Attend the Movies at the Isis

Isis Theatre, 124 W. Reno Avenue, Oklahoma City

Dorothea Lange June 1937
United States Farm Security Administration

Original Description:
“Idle men attend the morning movies. There are three such movies in one block”

Desert Guns

The Singing Vagabond

The above photo appears on numerous websites without proper credit to Dorothea Lange

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Walks also available at Local Expeditions

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

AboutMe

Goodreads

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Palace Theatre, 133-135 Essex Street, New York

Photo:  P. L. Sperr, March 13, 1932

Opened by Charles Steiner, in 1914, the Palace replaced an earlier theatre on the site.

The Evening Telegram, January 18, 1908:
“Plans have also been filed… for remodeling the stable at No. 333 Essex street for occupancy as a moving picture exhibition, the change to be made for Markowitz & Elliot. L. C. Maurer and Steiner & Weiss are the architects.”

The Evening Post, September 1, 1908:
“Plans have been filed for remodeling the moving picture amusement show at 133 Essex street into a concert hall with a stage. The change of occupancy being made for  Steiner & Weiss, lessees, and D. Felix Towns, as owner.”

Beyond the Screen: Institutions, Networks, and Publics of Early Cinema, 2016
“A pivotal figure in this M & S circuit was Charles Steiner, who had started out in 1908 around the corner from Golden Rule Hall. In 1914, his old Essex Street nickelodeon gave way to the brand-new Palace Theatre (133-135) Essex) which seated six hundred.”

Despite what appears to be posters in the above photo, the marquee advertises  Loyal Furniture (“Shop Here!”).

In 1959, the building became the first Kosher-Chinese restaurant in New York, Bernstein-on-Essex Street, “where kashrut is king and quality reigns.”

New York World Telegram and Sun, April 22, 1966

 

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Walks also available at Local Expeditions

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

 

 

Taft Theatre, 37-11 Main Street, Flushing, NY

Photograph: Percy Loomis Sperr, 1935

The Film Daily, January 18, 1932:
“The Taft, formerly the Flushing, has reopened under the management of the Kesena Amusement Corp.”

Excerpts from the Queens Chronicle, August 24, 2006:
“Following the death of William Howard Taft in 1930, the Kissena Amusement Corporation opened a movie theater in downtown Flushing to honor the memory of the 27th President of the United States.”

“Entrepreneurs David Rosenzweig and Micheal Kay were president and vice president of the Kissena Amusement Corporation. The movie theater managed on a day to day basis by Edward Sachs.”

“Following World War II, the Taft Theater was squeezed out by its competition, the RKO Keith’s and the Prospect Theaters, and was the first Flushing theater to close its doors. The site was quickly taken over by the W. T. Grant Department Store.”

 

On the marquee:

No More Ladies

Now or Never

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Walks also available at Local Expeditions

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom