THSA Awards

Theatre Historical Society of America

The Theatre Historical Society recognizes special efforts on behalf of THSA and historic theatres through four awards:

The President's Award

The President's Award was established in 2002 to recognize individuals who have made distinguished and exemplary contributions to the Society. It is not necessarily given every year, but rather only when merited. The president forwards the name of the designee to the board of directors for confirmation.

2002 - Willis and Shirley Johnson

Owners of Classic Cinemas, Downer's Grove IL, and dedicated supporters of THSA. Read about their award.

2003 - Brother Andrew C. Fowler

Co-founder of and moving force behind THSA.

2004 - Steve Markham

Outstanding efforts in preserving the legacy of historic theatre curtains.

2005 - Joseph R. DuciBella

Devoted service to THSA for 36 years as a founding member, president, archive director and regional director.

2008 - Gregory Davis, CPA

26 years of dedicated service and wise counsel to THSA as Treasurer, director and member of the executive committee.

Outstanding Book Award

The Outstanding Book Award, begun in 2005, is given to the book judged to have best exemplified documentation and appreciation of historic theatres, in keeping with the purposes of THSA. It is not necessarily awarded every year.

The 2005 award went to Cinema Treasures: A New Look at Classic Movie Theaters, a beautiful book by Ross Melnick and Andreas Fuchs which celebrates our surviving historic theatres. [To order this title]

In 2006, the honor went to The Theatres of Boston: A Stage and Screen History, a thorough and exhaustively-researched book by the late Donald C. King, a longtime THSA member and contributor to Marquee®. [To order this title]

The 2007 award was a tie between two excellent books: Robert Headley's Motion Picture Exhibition in Baltimore: An Illustrated History and Directory of Theaters, 1895-2004, a narrative history of theatres and the moviegoing experience in Baltimore. [To order this title]; and

Craig Morrison's Theaters, a monumental illustrated compendium and sourcebook of theatre types and architectural styles. [To order this title].

The 2008 award was also a tie between two fine books:
David Welling's Cinema Houston: From Nickelodeon to Megaplex, a celebration of a century of theatres in Texas's largest city. [To order this title]; and

Dave Kenney's Twin Cities Picture Show, a highly readable account with dazzling pictures and rich histories of some of the grandest theaters ever constructed. [To order this title].

Members of THSA may submit nominations for the Outstanding Book Award to Awards Committee chair Don Bohatka. Nominations should include the title, author and publisher of the book and, if possible, a short description of it. Nominations are voted on by the Board of Directors and the winner is announced at the awards banquet during the annual Conclave.

Member of the Year Awards

The Member of the Year Award is given each year to an individual or organizational member of THSA who has continuously demonstrated outstanding leadership, achievement, and contribution to the organization and its purposes, or been instrumental in work on outside projects in keeping with the aims of THSA.

The Honorary Member of the Year Award is given annually to a non-member individual or organization who has demonstrated outstanding efforts for THSA or been instrumental in work outside the organization in keeping with its purposes.

Members of THSA may submit nominations for the Member and Honorary Member of the Year to Awards Committee chair Don Bohatka. Nominations should include a detailed description of the individual or organization's efforts and accomplishments, along with any pertinent background information. Nominees are placed on a ballot and voted upon by the Board of Directors; winners are announced at the awards banquet during the annual Conclave.

Past recipients of the Member of the Year Award are:

1970 - Brother Andrew Corsini Fowler (THSA Co-founder)
1971 - Ernest Emerling (Loew's Theatres)
1972 - Mary Bishop (Ohio Theatre, Columbus OH)
1973 - Joseph DuciBella (THSA Founding Member)
1974 - Jack M. Bethards (Paramount Theatre, Oakland CA)
1975 - Frank C. Caglin (Pantages Theatre, Fresno CA)
1976 - Michael Miller and Alfred Buttler (NYC Conclave)
1977 - Curt Mangel (Shea's Theatre, Buffalo NY)
1978 - James Foley (Loew's Theatre, Syracuse NY)
1979 - Terry Helgesen (THSA Co-founder)

1980 - Fred Beall (THSA Secretary)
1981 - Richard McCann (Architect)
1982 - George Quirk (THSA Archives)
1983 - Robert Headley (THSA Marquee® Editor)
1984 - Mary Strauss (Fox Theatre, St. Louis MO)
1985 - Irvin Glazer (THSA President)
1986 - Bill Benedict (THSA Archives)
1987 - Willis & Shirley Johnson (Tivoli Theatre, Downer's Grove IL)
1988 - Thomas DuBuque, DDS (THSA Conclave)
1989 - Joseph Rector (THSA Newsreel Editor)

1990 - Gregory Davis (THSA Treasurer)
1991 - Frank Cronican (Co-founder of THSA
1992 - Alan Michaan (Owner, Grand Lake Theatre, Oakland CA)
1993 - William Ikert (THSA Archives)
1994 - Tom Jeffery (THSA Newsletter Editor)
1995 - Leon Fernandez (Metropolitan Theatre, Boston MA)
1996 - Michael Hauser (THSA Detroit Conclave Chair)
1997 - Ron Brodie (THSA Director)
1998 - Van Summerill (THSA Utah Conclave Chair)
1999 - Lowell Angell (THSA President)

2000 - Steve Levin (THSA Publications Editor)
2001 - Herb Stockinger (THSA Director)
2002 - Frank Sherwood (THSA supporter)
2003 - Mr. and Mrs. Elias Weiss (THSA Weiss Award benefactors)
2004 - Dale Carter and Annon Adams (THSA Editorial Sub-committee)
2005 - Barry Goodkin (THSA Director and Marquee® contributor)
2006 - John Kiesendahl, DDS (THSA Elections Chair and Conclave photographer)
2007 - Don Bohatka (THSA Midwest Director)
2008 - Ted Gooding (THSA SoCal Director and Los Angeles Conclaves Chair)

Past recipients of the Honorary Member of the Year Award are:

1970 - Drew Eberson (Theatre Architect)
1971 - B. Marcus Priteca (Theatre Architect)
1972 - Adolph Zukor (Paramount Publix founder)
1973 - Beatrice Spachner (Auditorium Theatre, Chicago IL)
1974 - Mason Rapp (Theatre Architect)
1975 - A. Frederic Adams (Designer)
1976 - Edward E. Eichenbaum (Architect)
1977 - Mrs. Francis Vitali (Albee Theatre, Cincinnati OH)
1978 - S. Charles Lee (Theatre Architect)
1979 - Joseph Patton (Fox Theatre, Atlanta GA)

1980 - Harold Rambusch (Theatre Decorator)
1981 - [No Award Given]
1982 - Joseph Papp (NYC Producer)
1983 - John Hemsath (Playhouse Square Theatres, Cleveland OH)
1984 - Dorothy Mavrich (Rialto Theatre, Joliet IL)
1985 - Marshall Holleb (Chicago Theatre)
1986 - Bernard O. Greunke and Bernard E. Greunke (Theatre Decorators)
1987 - Luis Era and Rodrigo d'Escoto (Theatre Architects)
1988 - Bruce Corwin (Metropolitan Theatres)
1989 - David Dunlap (New York Times)

1990 - Michael and Marian Illitch (Fox Theatre, Detroit MI)
1991 - Dominic Temporale (Palace Theatre, Waterbury CT)
1992 - Nicholas Van Hoogstraten (NYC author)
1993 - Robert Forman (Pacific Theatres)
1994 - Christopher Gray (NYC writer)
1995 - Ed Mirvish (Toronto, Canada theatres)
1996 - David DiChiera (Detroit Opera House MI)
1997 - Garth Drabinsky (Livent, Toronto, Canada)
1998 - Jon Olivan (Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles CA)
1999 - Chuck Forbes (State and Gem Theatres, Detroit MI)

2000 - John Hemsath (Playhouse Square, Cleveland)
2001 - Ida Cole (Paramount Theatre, Seattle WA)
2002 - Michael and Chris Forman (Pacific Theatres)
2003 - Tony Heinsbergen (Theatre decorator)
2004 - Miss Frances DiBella (Palace Theatre, Syracuse NY)
2005 - Edward Collins (Operations Dir., El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood CA)
2006 - Bob Ohmann (Theatre owner and entrepreneur, Lyons NY)
2007 - Jack Tillmany (Theatre historian, Walnut Creek CA)
2008 - Robert Nudelman (Theatre preservationist, Hollywood CA)

Jeffrey Weiss Literary Award

The Theatre Historical Society also annually conducts the Jeffrey Weiss Literary Award Competition for papers comprising original research on aspects of American theatres. The competition was established in 1984 by Mr. and Mrs. Elias Weiss of New York in memory of their son Jeffrey. Papers are submitted for publication in Marquee®.

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