American Theatre
Architecture Archives

The Theatre Historical Society's American Theatre Architecture Archives is the largest such resource facility of its kind in the U.S. dedicated to preserving the architectural, cultural and social history of America's theatres. It contains information on more than 15,000 theatres, primarily in the United States. Every period and style is represented: 19th century opera houses, nickelodeons, vaudeville "houses," small town and neighborhood theatres, open-air theatres, drive-ins, and giant "movie palaces."

Holdings consist of photographs, slides, negatives, books, periodicals, magazines, clippings, corporate and business records, playbills and programs, blueprints, drawings, postcards, supplier and trade catalogs, architectural artifacts, theatre furnishings, ushers' uniforms, and countless other items relating to theatres and their history.

Many of the most interesting items are on display in the adjacent American Movie Palace Museum, open to the public at no charge.

The Archives is located at the Society headquarters in the historic York Theatre building, 152 North York Street, 2nd floor, Elmhurst, Illinois (located approximately 16 miles West of Chicago's Loop).

[Directions on how to get there.]

Hours of operation are: Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and most third Saturdays of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Call to reconfirm third Saturdays.) Research is by advance appointment only and research fees apply (see below).

Major Collections and Holdings

IMAGES

THSA Slide Collection

Approximately 27,000 slides (35mm and other formats, including 800 stereo slides) of theatres from various sources; mostly color transparencies, generally after 1965. All states are represented. Indexed. 9 linear feet.

THSA Theatre Files

Approximately 9,000 photographs of theatres from various sources. Mostly 4x6 color snapshots, also 3x5 color and black & white snapshots and 8x10 black & white photographs. Not indexed. Some images from other THSA collections.

THSA Editor's Collection

Approximately 6,000 photographs of theatres; various sizes 3x5 to 8x10, mostly black & white photos. Indexed.

THSA Negative Collection

Approximately 6,000 negatives of more than 1,600 theatres. Mostly black & white and 4x5, but also some 35mm and 8x10 negatives. Many of the negatives are contemporaneous to the opening of the building. Indexed.

Loew's Collection

Approximately 2,235 photographs; also blueprints, in-house publications, including the "Lo Down," and other material on Loew's Theatres across the country. More than 25 linear feet.

Terry Helgesen Collection

Photographs and clippings covering the entire country, with emphasis on vaudeville and presentation houses. Probably the largest private collection of its kind, much of it gathered while Mr. Helgesen was performing as a pianist on the Vaudeville circuit. 26 scrapbooks (some with 600 pages), with more than 2,000 photographs of theatres across the country, mostly from the 1920s and 1930s. With donor's index and notes. 11 linear feet.

Chicago Architectural Photographing Company Collection

Photographs taken for architects and builders. Includes 1,400 photographs and 1,100 negatives of 255 theatres, mainly in the Midwest with others across the country, particularly those designed by architects C.W. and George L. Rapp. Mostly 8x10 film negative but some 8x10 glass plate negatives and 4x5 copy negatives.

Ben M. Hall Collection

Documents, pamphlets and programs covering the development of movie theatres and the growth of the motion picture exhibition business, assembled by the late founder of THSA. Theatres represented are circa 1880 to 1970 throughout the U.S. Includes several hundred photographs and slides, dispersed to the THS Theatre Files.

Michael R. Miller Collection

Approximately 10,000 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts, indexed.; approximately 1,088 snapshots, mainly color, not indexed; approximately 1,200 35mm negatives of the preceding snapshots (with some additional views), not indexed.

Edward Gibbs Slide Collection

Approximately 3,400 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts. Indexed.

THSA Stage Show Collection

Approximately 3,450 8x10 black & white photos of stage show sets. Indexed.

Jack Tillmany Slide Collection

Approximately 2,500 color 35mm slides in cardboard mounts taken by him and other photographers, primarily circa 1980-1986, of large city and small town theatres in 32 states, Canada and Mexico, with largest holdings for CA (1,400 slides), WA, OR, IL, OH, NY, TX. Fully indexed.

Bill Benedict Slide Collection

Approximately 2,800 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts. Indexed.

Eric Ellis Slide Collection

Approximately 2,010 35mm color slides in cardboard or plastic mounts. Partially indexed.

Bill Peterson Collection

Approximately 1,100 black & white photographs in 7 scrapbooks. Primarily of West Coast theatres. Indexed.

Gene Gladson Slide Collection

Approximately 1,045 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts. Not indexed.

Richard Hay RKO Collection

Approximately 800 black & white photographs of RKO theatres. Indexed. Dispersed to THS Theatre Files.

Jim Foley Collection

Approximately 400 35mm color slides. Not indexed.

New England Special Collection (aka MGM Collection)

Approximately 608 3x4.5 black & white snapshots mounted on 5x8 cardstock reports on MGM theatres. Indexed.

Jeffrey Weiss Collection

Approximately 280 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts, not indexed; 120 127-size transparancies in plastic mounts, not indexed.

Ray Gingell Collection

Approximately 55 black & white photographs of the Hiser Theatre, Bethesda MD. Not indexed.

DOCUMENTS AND OTHER MATERIAL

Balaban & Katz Collection

Corporate records of the Midwest theatre chain from the 1930s, promotional literature, and several thousand blueprint sheets of theatres managed by them, including those designed by Rapp and Rapp, W.W. Ahlschlager, Edward Eichenbaum, Levy & Klein, Pereira, Aroner and others.

THSA Blueprint Collection

More than 350 sets of original plans of theatres designed by Thomas Lamb, Rapp and Rapp, W.W. Ahlschlager, John Eberson, Levy & Klein and others.

THSA Postcard Collection

1,500 vintage postcards; street scenes and individual buildings; mainly small town theatres and nickelodeons; exterior views and some interiors. Often the only record of these early theatres.

Bill Clifford Collection

Original drawings and sketches of theatres done in various media by Bret Eddy.

Paul S. Moore Collection

4 boxes (approx. 1 cu.ft. ea.) containing 1,000+ files of research material (all photocopies) focusing on Chicago theatres and nickelodeons, but also including some files on New York City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee, Detroit, Orlando, Tampa, Cleveland, Toledo, St. Louis, Louisville, and Seattle. There are also a handful of subject files on theatre chains, etc.

"Chicago Theatres 1871 - 1940," 550-page compilation of his research on Chicago theatres sorted chronologically, by theatre chain, by architect, by name, and by address.

Approximately 70 color snapshots of Chicago, Cincinnati and Indianapolis theatres.

Books and printed material

More than 650 books on theatre architecture and related subjects including movies and movie exhibition. Approximately 250 linear feet of files containing advertising, newspaper clippings, trade and professional journals, and legal documents.

Objects

A variety of miscellaneous three-dimensional objects from or relating to theatres, including music stands, usher uniforms, uniform "logo" buttons, exit signs, bronze light fixtures, advertising displays, stage switchboard nameplates, marquee letters, and many other items.

Services to Members and the Public

Collection Searches and Research Fees

(Rates effective March 2, 2001)

Individuals may submit requests for searches of the collections for a specific theatre or other topic. There is a preliminary search fee of $15.00 (THSA members, $12.50) for each theatre or topic requested. A report will be provided within two weeks on the type and extent of existing records. Further research is at the rate of $25.00 per hour (THSA members $15.00 per hour) if we do the work; or $20.00 per hour (THSA members $15.00 per hour) for personal research on-site.

To request a preliminary search, please forward a written request with one subject or theatre name (include any other names and the address, if known) and a check (payable to "Theatre Historical Society of America") for $15.00 to the address below. You may also charge this fee to your Visa or MasterCard. (See "Ordering and Payment Information" below.)

Appointments for on-site work should be made at least two weeks in advance, so we can arrange for a volunteer to assist you.

Photocopies of collection material may be obtained on-site at $.25 per page. Additional fees apply to photo reproductions or licenses to use images in the THSA collection for publication, etc., as noted below.

Photograph and Slide Reproductions
[See usage note below.]

(Rates effective April 1, 2002. Subject to change without prior notice.)

Reproductions of most of the photographs and slides in the collection are available for purchase at the rates shown below.

Photographs (8x10 black and white only) -- personal use only:

Copied from existing negative: Members: $19.00; Non-members: $24.00. ($10 additional charge if glass plate negative.)

Copied from prints when no negative exists (THSA will retain the negative): Members: $38.75; Non-members: $42.00

Photographs used commercially or for publication: