American Theatre
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Using Archives:
A Guide to Effective Research
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Theatre Historical Society of America
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 administered by Archive Director Kathy McLeister, MLIS, and 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).
THS Editor's CollectionApproximately 6,000 photographs of theatres; various sizes 3x5 to 8x10, mostly black & white photos. Indexed.
THS Negative CollectionApproximately 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.
THS Slide CollectionApproximately 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.
THS Stage Show CollectionApproximately 3,450 8x10 black & white photos of stage show sets. Indexed.
THS Theatre FileApproximately 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.
Bill Benedict Slide CollectionApproximately 2,800 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts. Indexed.
Chicago Architectural Photographing Company CollectionPhotographs 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.
Eric Ellis Slide CollectionApproximately 2,010 35mm color slides in cardboard or plastic mounts. Partially indexed.
Jim Foley CollectionApproximately 400 35mm color slides. Not indexed.
Edward Gibbs Slide CollectionApproximately 3,400 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts. Indexed.
Ray Gingell CollectionApproximately 55 black & white photographs of the Hiser Theatre, Bethesda MD. Not indexed.
Gene Gladson Slide CollectionApproximately 1,045 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts. Not indexed.
Ben M. Hall CollectionDocuments, pamphlets and programs covering the development of movie theatres and the growth of the motion picture exhibition business, assembled by the late founder of THS. Theatres represented are circa 1880 to 1970 throughout the U.S. Includes several hundred photographs and slides, dispersed to the THS Theatre Files.
Richard Hay RKO CollectionApproximately 800 black & white photographs of RKO theatres. Indexed. Dispersed to THS Theatre Files.
Terry Helgesen CollectionPhotographs 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 in theatres. 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. 10.5 linear feet.
Steve Levin CollectionApproximately 5,000 35mm slides, 10,000 photographs, blueprints, framed posters, architect's renderings, plus many objects, including light fixtures, souvenir programs, signs and books. [In process of being indexed.]
Loew's CollectionApproximately 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.
Michael R. Miller CollectionApproximately 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.
New England Special Collection (aka MGM Collection)Approximately 608 3x4.5 black & white snapshots mounted on 5x8 cardstock reports on MGM theatres. Indexed.
Bill Peterson CollectionApproximately 1,100 black & white photographs in 7 scrapbooks. Primarily of West Coast theatres. Indexed.
Jack Tillmany Negative CollectionApproximately 2,500 negatives, primarily large format, circa 1900-1980. Consists almost entirely of California theatres, the majority in the Bay Area. Fully indexed.
Jack Tillmany Slide CollectionApproximately 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.
Jeffrey Weiss CollectionApproximately 280 35mm color slides in cardboard mounts, not indexed; 120 127-size transparancies in plastic mounts, not indexed.
THS Blueprint CollectionMore than 350 sets of original plans of theatres designed by Thomas Lamb, Rapp and Rapp, W.W. Ahlschlager, John Eberson, Levy & Klein and others.
THS Postcard Collection1,500 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.
Balaban & Katz CollectionCorporate 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.
Bill Clifford CollectionOriginal drawings and sketches of theatres done in various media by Bret Eddy.
Paul S. Moore Collection4 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.
Lee Sievan Collection60 - 10" x 15" original pen and ink drawings by Anthony F. Dumas of theatres, mostly in New York. Indexed.
Books and printed materialMore 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.
ObjectsA 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.
Individuals may submit requests for searches of the collections for a specific theatre or other topic. There is a preliminary search fee for each theatre or topic requested. A report will be provided within two weeks on the type and extent of existing records. Further research may be done by THS staff or individual work 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 payment by check (payable to "Theatre Historical Society of America") or credit card (Visa or MasterCard). (See "Ordering, Shipping and Payment Information" below.) Appointments for on-site work should be made at least two weeks in advance, so we can arrange to assist you.
Add $8.00 for handling and shipping per order. Foreign orders may require additional postage. Shipping is by First Class or Priority Mail. Orders are shipped approximately two weeks from date received. All orders must be prepaid. Checks or money orders should be made payable to "Theatre Historical Society of America."
  You may also charge orders to your Visa or MasterCard; please provide your account number, expiration date, name on card, and billing address.
Attn: Kathy McLeister, Archive Director 152 North York Street, 2nd floor Elmhurst, IL 60126-2806
You are also invited to consider including in your will or trust document a bequest to THS of your material. Such collections may be established in your name, if you wish. Besides preservation of your material for the benefit of scholars and researchers, there may be favorable tax consequences to your estate for such donations. Contact the Archive Director, Kathy McLeister, MLIS, for more information.
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