TheatreLinks

U.S. Theatres [ AK - NY ]

Alabama

Alabama Theatre (Birmingham AL)
http://alaweb.asc.edu/general/ st_theat.html
A brief history and one interior photo of this 1927 spectacular movie palace.

Princess Theater (Decatur AL)
http://www.princesstheatre.org/
This nicely constructed web site contains a small collection of historic photos, a brief history of the theater and all the technical data you need for mounting a show at this pretty little Art Deco gem.

Saenger Theater (Mobile AL)
http://www.mobilesaenger.com/
"I am the Saenger Theatre. I am not built merely of Marble, Mortar and Steel; but born with a Heart and Soul and a Purpose, like yourself." (from the opening night program.) An official site for this wondrous theater. Great graphics, nice history page with many vintage photos.

And another site:

http://www.angelfire.com/al/saenger/
Ed Jurich has some fairly contemporary Mobile Saenger photos at this personal site (not an official site of the Mobile Saenger). Sixteen thumbnail photos of this marvelously restored gem. Click on the thumbnail for a full size photo.

Ritz Theatre (Sheffield AL)
http://ritz.riverartists.com/
Nice history and some black and white pictures of the auditorium.

Ritz Theatre (Talladega AL)
http://www.talladega.com/ritz/
One picture and history page.

Bama Theatre (Tuscaloosa AL)
http://www.tuscarts.org/bamatheatre.html
The Bama Theatre was converted to a performing arts center in 1976 and was completely renovated for live theatrical use. One of the last movie palaces built in the South, the building was an interesting mixture of the Beaux Arts, Art Deco, and Moderne styles popular during the period and the lavish "atmospheric" style of theatre architecture popular in the 1920's. Includes some virtual tours.

Arkansas

The New Theater (Fort Smith AR)
http://www.musicfortsmith.org
A 1911 Boller, undergoing a loving restoration. Follow their progress through this well done web site with elegant graphics. Unfortunately, only one interior photo of this theatre exists, but expect loads of work-in-progress shots as their restoration progresses. The New Theatre is a pet project of new THSA member Joe Wasson.

Rialto Community Arts Center (Morrilton AR)
http://www.rialtoartscenter.com/index.html
After years of decay, the city of Morrilton acquired the Rialto in 1995. The Rialto Community Arts Center was formed in December of 1996 as a subsidiary of The Arts Council of Conway County. The Board of Directors agreed to begin renovation to return the Rialto to its former glory by reconverting the theatre into one open area with balcony and seating for 400.

Collins Theatre (Paragould AR)
http://www.paragould.org/~professor/collins/index.htm
Extensive history but unfortunately only one exterior photo. Also includes a nice tribute to the volunteers who give so much of their time and love to care for the Collins.

Saenger and Community Theatres (Pine Bluff AR)
http://ethos.rhet.ualr.edu/~saenger/index.html
Two theatres operated by a nonprofit group in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Arizona

Grand Theatre (Douglas AZ)
http://www.vtc.net/~cinema/grandtheatre.html
This site chronicles the restoration efforts of this 1919 theater. There is very little history and a few modern photos. They also have some nice postcards for sale on the site. (And we KNOW how THS-ers love those postcards!)

Rialto Community Arts Center (Morrilton AZ)
http://www.rialtoartscenter.com/index.html
Located in the small town of Morrilton, Arkansas, the Rialto Theatre has a rich history stretching over nearly 100 years. After years of decay, the Rialto Community Arts Center was formed in 1997 as a subsidiary of The Arts Council of Conway County. The Board of Directors agreed to begin renovation to return the Rialto to its former glory. Includes a picture tour of the gallery but not much of the theater.

Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix AZ)
http://acmeron.com/puhs/orpheum_theater_phoenix.htm
Another site from Tom Delay, with the history and photos of the Orpheum. This one survived!

Phoenix Fox Theatre (Phoenix AZ)
http://acmeron.com/puhs/puhs_page_5.htm
Many thanks to Tom Delay for sending this wonderful "obituary" page for a stunningly beautiful theater. As Tom so aptly sums it up: "What a waste." The text is quite extensive. Terrific photos, many in thumbnail which click to full size. Art Deco/Moderne at its absolute best!

Elks Opera House (Prescott AZ)
http://www.cityofprescott.net/Elks%20Opera%20House/history.cfm
The Elks Opera House occupies a small piece of the City of Prescott web site, but take a look at an interesting timeline. Opened in 1905 and it's still alive and kicking. Congratulations to Prescott for saving it and good luck to its new manager Susan Hampton.

Fox Theatre (Tucson AZ)
http://www.foxtucsontheatre.org
This finely done site captures all the color and beauty of this beautiful restoration. Check out the "Then & Now" link under the "Tour the Fox" button for great side-by-side comparisons.

Rialto Theater (Tucson AZ)
http://www.rialtotheatre.com/
This 1919 theater has survived remarkably intact, despite a fire, a boiler explosion and threatened demolition. Great vintage photos and history.

California

Alameda Theater (Alameda CA)
http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/theater/index.html
The Alameda Theatre was most recently used as a gymnastics studio. Possible future use as a movie theater or multiplex is in the works.

Auctions by the Bay Theater (Alameda CA)
http://www.auctionsbythebay.com/html/rental1.htm
This lavishly-restored movie theater is located on the former Alameda Naval Air Station.

Fox Theater (Bakersfield CA)
http://www.foxtheateronline.com
This 1527 seat theater provides extraordinary acoustics in an intimate setting to deliver an amazing entertainment experience. Opened on Christmas Day, 1930, the Fox was one of the last of its kind built in the gilded age of great theaters. Includes comprehensive theater plans in PDF and DWG format as well as a copy of the theater’s ejection/conduct policy.

Wilshire Theater (Beverly Hills CA)
http://www.wtbh.org
This elaborate late Art Deco structure sits at the edge of Beverly Hills. The Fox Wilshire, once part of the Fox West Coast Theatres circuit, opened on September 19, 1930. It was the site of numerous premieres, including Walt Disney's "The Sleeping Beauty" (in 70mm) on January 29, 1959. In 1981, the Wilshire Theatre was renovated and became one of Los Angeles' premiere venues for concerts and other live events. The gallery contains some nice interior photos.

Renaissance Rialto Theaters (East Bay area CA)
http://www.renaissancerialto.com/masters/home/RRIHomePage.htm
A definite "neon alert" for you THS neon nuts! This site is an umbrella for classic theaters in Berkeley, Orinda and Lafayette with great night shots of their wonderful blazing marquees. Each theater has its own page with a history link. Some are more complete than others, some have vintage photos.

Cerrito Theater (El Cerrito CA)
http://www.cerritotheater.org
The historic 1937 theater, with its incredible Art Deco murals and decorative interior, is one of the city's hidden treasures!

Old Town Music Hall (El Segundo CA)
http://www.otmh.org
A nicely laid out site. Thoughtfully uses LARGE type for those of us who aren't quite ready to admit the need for bifocals! Clearly defined links, lots of information on their Mighty WurliTzer.

Fillmore Theatre (Fillmore CA)
http://fillmoreca.com/theatre.htm
A very detailed theater history as well as a few nice photos.

Fontana Theater (Fontana CA)
http://www.fontanamummers.org
The Fontana Mummers Community Theater has done a super job of preserving this wonderful old Boller Bros. 1938 house. According to their website, Carl Boller designed the Fontana Theater as a small scale version of Frank Lloyd Wright's Midway Gardens in Chicago.

Center Stage Theater (Fontana CA)
http://www.centerstagefontana.com
The Fontana Theater was originally built in 1937 as a one-screen movie theater. After the movie theater closed during the 1950's, the facility was used for various purposes such as an Elks Lodge, a roller skating rink, a tea shop, and a stationary store. In 2008, the City of Fontana completed a $6.5 million dollar renovation and renamed the Fontana Theater “The Center Stage Theater in Fontana.

Fox Theater (Fullerton CA)
http://www.foxfullerton.org
Nice site dedicated to the continuing efforts to rehabilitate and restore the 1925 Fox. Nice photos.

Gem Theater (Garden Grove CA)
http://www.onemoreproductions.com/default.aspx
The Gem Theatre became a live theatrical performance venue in 1979 (after a remodeling) and it closed in early 2006. It re-opened again on June 28, 2008. It seats 172, and has recently been redesigned to house a state of the art sound system that also includes private hearing devices for those with special needs.

Alex Theatre (Glendale CA)
http://www.alextheatre.org
Since 1925, the Alex Theatre has been a Los Angeles area landmark and continues to serve as a top entertainment destination for the entire Los Angeles basin. A few small color photos scattered around the site.

Fox Hanford (Hanford CA)
http://www.foxhanford.com
The opening flash presentation is very dramatic, and includes a great view of the stage and proscenium. While there is a very detailed history page, there are no vintage photos anywhere on the site. Hopefully the webmaster can be persuaded to add some? We'll let you know if that happens!

Egyptian Theatre (Hollywood CA)
http://www.americancinematheque.com
"Through the efforts of the American Cinematheque and the Community Redevelopment Agency, Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre once again rolls out the red carpet and klieg lights as the new home for the Cinematheque, a non-profit film theater showcasing documentaries, independent film and classic film revivals." Great restoration photos.

El Capitan Theater (Hollywood CA)
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/index.html
In 1991, the former Paramount Theater was given its original name back and reopened by Disney and Pacific Theaters following a glorious restoration. This Hollywood gem is situated across the street from Mann's Chinese. Given the remarkable nature of the theater, the site offers surprisingly few photos.

Graumann's Chinese (Hollywood CA)
http://www.manntheatres.com/chinese.html
Three pictures and a short history highlight this site of one of the most famous of all theatres.

Hollywood Movie Palaces (Hollywood CA)
http://www.seeing-stars.com/Theatres/index.shtml
Great site with loads of photos and histories.

The Music Box @ Fonda (Hollywood CA)
http://www.henryfondatheater.com
Opened as the Carter DeHaven Music Box Theatre on October 20, 1926, it went through several owners and corresponding name changes. It is now being restored to its original appearance.

The Silent Movie Theatre (Hollywood CA)
http://www.silentmovietheatre.com
Billing itself as "the only silent cinema in the USA." A very detailed history page with some great photos throughout the site.

Virtual Walking Tour of Hollywood (Hollywood CA)
http://www.historicla.com/hollywood/index.html
Includes mention and pictures of the Chinese, Egyptian, Mayan and El Capitan Theatres.

Lark Theater (Larkspur CA)
http://www.larktheater.net
A Marin County theatre that for a time was a repertory cinema. It has recently reopened, screening independent films, old classics, documentaries, foreign films, and family-oriented special programs.

Bridge Cinema DeLuxe (Los Angeles CA)
http://www.thebridgecinema.com/home/home.asp
Is this the future of 21st Century theaters? Their site declares that "the Director's Halls feature extra-wide UltraLeather seats and assigned seating. By purchasing a Director's Hall ticket, you are automatically reserving a specific seat in the theater allowing for more convenience and more time to experience everything else The Bridge has to offer. No more waiting in line or sending your companions into the hall to find "good seats" while you purchase concessions." (But isn't that how you make sure he pays for the popcorn??)

Broadway Theatre Tour (Los Angeles CA)
http://www.gmrnet.com/theaters.html
Superb photo tour of the incomparable Broadway theatre district! Brief histories and exterior photos of the Palace (1911), Million Dollar (1918), Tower (1927), Orpheum (1926), Rialto (1917), United Artists (1927), Los Angeles (1931), Roxie (1932), Loew's State (1921), Arcade (1910), Globe (1913), Cameo (1910).

El Rey Theatre (Los Angeles CA)
http://www.theelrey.com
The El Rey Theatre is an original art deco theater in the heart of the Miracle Mile, one of Los Angeles' preserved art deco districts. Built in 1936 and designed by Clifford Balch, it was converted into a live music venue in 1994.

LA's Historic Movie Houses & Palaces (Los Angeles CA)
http://www.ci.la.ca.us/tourist/movpalac.htm
No photos, unfortunately. A straight listing of theatres on South Broadway between Third and Ninth Streets, which is the largest historic theatre district in the country. Also includes a link to the LA Conservancy site.

Los Angeles Theatre (Los Angeles CA)
http://www.losangelestheatre.com
Designed by S. Charles Lee with a French Baroque-inspired décor, its majestic six-story main lobby and 2,000 seat auditorium of carved plaster ornamentation, mirrors, and cove-lit murals recall the glamorous days of 1930s Hollywood. Although in need of some serious restoration, the Los Angeles Theater still dazzles! I recently had the opportunity to see "Meet Me in St. Louis" at the Los Angeles. While the film was great, seeing the reactions of people who had never been inside this jewel box of a theater was worth the price of admission. The website has a generous gallery with stunning photos, some 3D views and a nice history. Check it out.

Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles CA)
http://www.laorpheum.com
Beautiful photos, will bring back many happy memories for Conclave 1998 attendees!

State Theatre (Modesto CA)
http://ainet.com/state/
A small site; no history, but a nice exterior photo of the marquee at night.

Rio Theater (Monte Rio CA)
http://www.riotheater.com
This is one of the very few surviving quonset hut theatres from the hundreds that were built following World War II. It enjoys a dedicated following, thanks to the owners efforts.

[NOTE: We are researching Quonset hut theatres. If anyone knows of any, whether operating or closed, please let us know! Photographs would also be appreciated. Thanks! Lowell Angell, Webmaster]

Golden State Theatre (Monterey CA)
http://www.goldenstatetheatre.com/
Designed by the Bay Area firm of Reid Brothers, the theater opened August 6, 1926 and was a part of the Golden State circuit. Lots of photos and nice history.

Rheem Theater (Moraga CA)
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/4587/
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/7180.html
Built in the 1950's, the Rheem Theatre was originally one screen, but during its remodeling in the 1990's was split into four.

Needles Theatre (Needles CA)
http://www.friendsoftheneedlestheatre.com
Built in 1929 as a Masonic Temple and converted to a theater, the Needles is located on Route 66. The planned rebirth of this landmark venue will revitalize the downtown area by providing entertainment, economic activity and a greater sense of community.

Westside Theatre (Newman CA)
http://www.westsidetheatre.org
This looks to be a 40s theater converted for stage production. The site lists no history of the building, so it's hard to say, but from the few photos (exterior and interior) the theater decor seems intact except for the flat floor. And their presentations are eclectic, to say the least - everything from Zydeco to cowboy comedy to a swing band. Worth a look.

Fox (Oakland CA)
http://www.foxoakland.org/
Opened on October 26, 1928, the nationally landmarked Fox Theater in Oakland is one of the few grand dames without a clear future. The beautiful marquee was recently restored by Wagner Sign Co.

Grand Lake Theater (Oakland CA)
http://www.renaissancerialto.com/current/grandlake.htm
Built in 1926, Oakland's Grand Lake Theater is celebrating its 82nd anniversary and still shows first run movies.

Paramount Theatre (Oakland CA)
http://www.paramounttheatre.com
A truly magnificent example of Art Deco beauty and construction, Oakland's Paramount is a marvelous counterpart to Radio City in gilded glory. Wonderful photos, a detailed history with easy to follow links.

and also:
http://www.oaklandca.com/greeting/paramount.html
The City of Oakland's site, with two photos and some information on the Art Deco theatre masterpiece.

Orinda Theater (Orinda CA)
http://www.renaissancerialto.com/current/orinda.htm
Slated for demolition in 1984, it was saved through the efforts of preservationists and reopened in 1989 as the center of the Theater Square Project -- a retail/entertainment redevelopment project.

Oroville State Theater (Oroville CA)
http://www.cityoforoville.org/statetheater.html
Not a lot of photos, but a detailed history of the theater and its renovation timeline.

Stanford Theater (Palo Alto CA)
http://www.stanfordtheatre.org/stf/
Built in 1925, the Stanford Theater was restored in 1987 and is home to The Stanford Theatre Foundation. Today, the theater's programming consists of 100% classic films, primarily from the years 1920 through 1965. There's an extensive list of all the films to play there between 1929 and 1961.

Varsity Theater (Palo Alto CA)
http://www.paloaltohistory.com/varsity.html
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/835/
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2695.html
Although the theater was converted into a retail outlet for the Borders booksellers chain, it was left somewhat intact and could perhaps be reopened one day as a theater.

Raymond Theatre (Pasadena CA)
http://www.raymondtheatre.com
At present, the page is simply a vehicle for garnering support for the restoration and to supply links to important city contacts for letters of support. While there is no real history section, the site features a wonderful interior photo of the stage area.

Fox Theater (Pomona CA)
http://www.pomonafox.org
Extensive history of the historic Pomona Fox Theater. Nice photos and progress updates.

State Theatre (Red Bluff CA)
http://www.statetheatreredbluff.com/index.html
The State Theatre has reopened as a performing arts center. The current renovation includes the removal of walls that were added to create multiple screening rooms within the theater's original auditorium. As these walls have come down, the theatre's murals have become more prominent. The theater recently received a preservation award from the Art Deco Society of California.

Cascade Theater (Redding CA)
http://www.cascadetheatre.org/
This theatre was saved by residents of Redding and is being lovingly restored through mostly private funding.

Fox Redwood City (Redwood City CA)
http://www.foxdream.com/
The Fox Theatre opened on January 5, 1929 as the "New Sequoia" Theatre. It is now a thriving performing arts center.

Fox Theatre (Riverside CA)
http://Fox-Riverside-Theater.com
The theatre currently is not operating as a movie house but awaiting sale and/or redevelopment. If the photos do not open, try clicking within the box. That made them come up for me. This site is still under construction, but there are some great photos as well as a page about their WurliTzer.

Crest Theatre (Sacramento CA)
http://www.thecrest.com/
In 1995, the Crest received a one million dollar restoration bringing Sacramento's last picture palace back to it's glittery 1940's appearance. The Crest boasts one of the most elegant settings Sacramento has to offer, featuring a fabulous gold leaf Art Deco interior.

Fox Theater (Salinas CA)
http://www.foxtheatersalinas.com
Designed by architect A. W. Cornelius, it opened as the California in 1921 and was operated by Turner and Dahnken. Sold to Fox Theatres in 1930 and remodeled in 1935 in the Art Deco style. Remodeled again in 1948 in the "Skouras" style. After years of neglect and a reported near miss with the wrecking ball, the theater is being restored for use as a concert venue.

San Diego theatres (San Diego CA)
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/collections/theaters/theaters.htm
A section from San Diego Historical Society site with a detailed history and list of theatres in San Diego. It has lots of picture links and individual pages for some of the more prominent theatres.

Copley Hall (San Diego CA)
http://www.sandiegosymphony.com
This former Fox Theater opened on November 8, 1929 and became the home of the San Diego Symphony in the mid 80’s. Very comprehensive site with a nice virtual tour.

ACT [Geary] Theater (San Francisco CA)
http://www.act-sf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_history_geary
The website for ACT, the American Conservatory Theatre. A lot of information about the company, but not much--other than a few nice photos--about their home, the splendid 1909 Geary Theatre, which suffered massive damage in the 1989 earthquake and took seven years to rebuild. Over the past hundred years, the theater has presented many of the legendary figures of 20th-century American drama.

and another site:

http://206.240.84.196/etecw3/archt/arch38.htm
A brief article with photos of this refurbished theatre.

Alexandria Theater (San Francisco CA)
http://outsidelands.org/alexandria.html
This page has a few pictures, some remembrances and a little history of this 1923 neighborhood theatre that closed its doors in February, 2004.

Best of Broadway (San Francisco CA)
http://www.bestofbroadway-sf.com
Yes, the city listing is correct; it's actually a site with interesting information on three historic San Francisco theatres, the Curran (1922), Golden Gate (1922), and Orpheum (1926). Each contains an extensive history, seating charts and a photo.

Brava Theater (San Francisco CA)
http://www.brava.org/service/rentals.html
This neighborhood theater opened in 1924 as the Roosevelt, but for most of its life, it was known as the York.

Castro Theatre (San Francisco CA)
http://www.thecastro.com
A fine site showcasing this 1922 gem dubbed "The Cathedral of Cinema." Very descriptive and well written history section with great photos throughout the site.

Castro Theatre (San Francisco CA)
http://www.castrotheatre.com/
The 1922 Castro Theatre, at the corner of Castro and Market, is one of San Francisco's most recognizable landmarks.

Curran Theater (San Francisco CA)
http://www.shnsf.com/theatres/index.asp?key=44
For more than eighty uninterrupted years, the Curran has served San Francisco theater-goers with top of the line legitimate productions. The Curran is a beautifully maintained architectural treasure, still operated according to the highest imaginable standards, a living example of San Francisco's theatrical and architectural heritage.

Golden Gate Theater (San Francisco CA)
http://www.shnsf.com/theatres/index.asp?key=48
Built in 1920, the Golden Gate is still a premier venue for traveling Broadway shows and a visual journey into San Francisco's gilded past.

Herbst Theater (San Francisco CA)
http://sfwmpac.org/
Originally designed as the Veterans Auditorium, the theatre was refurbished and renamed Herbst Theatre in 1977.

Orpheum Theater (San Francisco, CA)
http://www.shnsf.com/theatres/index.asp?key=52
Built in 1926 as a showcase for theatre magnate Alexander Pantages, the Orpheum has featured Vaudeville, silent films, motion pictures, musical comedy and other theatrical entertainment.

San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation
(San Francisco CA)
http://www.sfneighborhoodtheater.org
From the home page: "Not long ago virtually every San Francisco neighborhood had its very own movie theater. Since 1980, however, San Francisco has lost over 35 single-screen theaters. Today, only a dozen neighborhood theaters remain in San Francisco." Loaded with great photos, click on the "History" link and scroll to the end.

War Memorial Opera House (San Francisco CA)
http://sfwmpac.org/
Built in 1932, the War Memorial Opera House is the 3,146-seat home to the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Ballet.

Warfield Theater (San Francisco CA)
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1186/
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/19064.html
The old (1922) Warfield Theatre on Market Street is alive and kicking as a venue for live acts.

California Theater (San Jose CA)
http://www.operasj.org
After a recent restoration project, the California is now the permanent home of the Opera San Jose and seats 1200.

And another site:

http://www.shomler.com/calsj/index.htm#pipes
This personal site of Bob Shomler has loads of photos of this theater and organ, restored in 2004.

Fox California (San Jose CA)
http://www.sjredevelopment.org/fox. htm
The Fox California in San Jose was the Grand Finale of Conclave '91. I helped ready the long-dark house for THS's visit and later took the public on tours. Nice renderings showing the project's appearance when completed in '04 (work began this past Fall).

Gay Theater (San Jose CA)
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2800/
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/22453.html
The Gay was the southernmost anchor of downtown San Jose's South First Street theater district.

Jose Theater (San Jose CA)
http://home.earthlink.net/~historicbuildings2/josetheatre.html
Built in 1904, the Jose is the oldest theater in San Jose, California.

Montgomery Theater (San Jose CA)
http://www.sanjose.org/meetings/facilities/montgomery.php

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (San Jose CA)
http://www.sanjose.org/meetings/facilities/perf_arts.php

San Jose Civic Auditorium (San Jose CA)
http://www.sanjose.org/meetings/facilities/civic_aud.php

San Jose Repertory Theater (San Jose CA)
http://www.sjrep.com/

Studio Theater (San Jose CA)
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2801/
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/11269.html
The Studio was the last movie theatre in the classic tradition to be built in downtown San Jose.

Lorenzo Theatre (San Lorenzo CA)
http://www.savethelorenzo.org/index.html
This site opens with a great opening night shot of the facade, followed by an opportunity to purchase a "Save the Lorenzo t-shirt!" Scroll down to the Table of Contents link to see many more wonderful photos. The only thing missing from this site? A way to contact them via e-mail!

Warner Grand Theatre (San Pedro CA)
http://www.grandvision.org/index.shtml
This site is actually for a group called "Grand Vision" whose mission it is to preserve and promote the Warner Grand. The history link has some nice photos and vintage advertisements.

and:

http://www.warnergrand.net
Some nice modern photos but very limited history.

and also:

http://www.sanpedrochamber.com/champint/warnrgrd.htm
One picture of the facade and a nice history. This gem of a theatre has been featured in many national TV commercials.

Rafael Film Center (San Rafael CA)
http://www.cafilm.org/nav0_2.html
The California Film Institute has restored the former Rafael Theatre, now officially called the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center.

Granada Theater (Santa Barbara CA)
http://www.granadasb.org/index.html
The Granada Theater is Santa Barbara's oldest standing movie palace, opening on April 9, 1924, and is the tallest building in the city. It was triplexed under Metropolitan Theatres, but was returned to its original appearance, reopening on March 6, 2008. It now mixes movies and shows into its lineup. The theater is best known as the home of the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera.

Avalon Theatre (Santa Catalina CA)
http://www.catalina.com/gallery.html
Stephen & Rebecca Ayraud sent this link for the Avalon ballroom and theatre. No history, but a nice Quicktime tour. Click oon the Avalon Casino photo, then "Virtual Panorama."

Del Mar Theater (Santa Cruz CA)
http://www.thenick.com
After an extensive renovation and restoration, the Del Mar reopened in February of 2002.

Rio Theatre (Santa Cruz CA)
http://www.riotheatre.com
Wonderful aqua and maroon porcelain-baked signage, lovely undulating lobby walls and pink cove lit ceiling. Sort of a transitional specimen bridging the era of Streamline Deco's decline and the rise of classic Fifties roadside architecture. Now it's a performing arts space, with film exhibition capability preserved.

Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma CA)
http://www.sebastianitheatre.com

Bob Hope Theatre (Stockton CA)
http://www.bobhopetheatre.com/
A new name and website for the former Fox theatre.

Grand Theater Center for the Arts (Tracy CA)
http://www.atthegrand.org
The Grand opened in 1923. It was renovated to become a performing arts center for the city of Tracy, re-opening on September 15, 2007. It now contains a 560 seat theatre which is equipped for film presentations as well as live performances, and a 120 seat, studio theatre. No pictures.

Fox Theater (Visalia CA)
http://users.aol.com/visalian/foxtheater/index.html
A very well done site outlining the restoration efforts for this beautiful theater. Thorough history page, photos presented in thumbnail, clickable for enlarged viewing.

Woodland Opera House (Woodland CA)
http://www.wohtheatre.org/contact.htm

Colorado

Boulder Theatre (Boulder CO)
http://www.bouldertheater.com
A nice exterior shot of the theatre, redesigned by Boller Brothers in 1936.

Fox Theater (Boulder CO)
http://www.foxtheatre.com/JabbaWeb/Index2.aspx
Built in 1926 as the Rialto Theater, the Fox Theater is now a live venue for concerts. No pictures or gallery.

Paramount Theater (Denver CO)
http://www.paramountdenver.com
Opened in 1930, the majestic Art Deco-style Paramount Theatre is now a popular concert venue. Small photo gallery.

Park Theatre (Estes Park CO)
http://www.historicparktheatre.com/
The Historic Park Theatre is the oldest theatre west of the Mississippi River that was built as a motion picture theatre that is still operating. The Stanger family has run this theater since 1968. The site has a short history and a few very dark photos.

Sheridan Opera House (Telluride CO)
http://www.sheridanoperahouse.com/
The welcome page has a nice photo of the curtain of this 1913 theatre. Its Restoration page gives details about the ongoing project.

Connecticut

Colonial Theatre (Canaan CT)
http://www.canaancolonialtheatre.com
For over 60 years, the 1923 Colonial Theatre (on the National Register of Historic Places) was home to movies, live theatre, dancing, and bowling for people from more than 16 surrounding communities. It’s now used for dinner theater, live performances and first run movies.

Garde Arts Center (New London CT)
http://www.gardearts.org/
No history a couple of pictures throughout the site.

Avon Theatre Film Center (Stamford CT)
http://www.avontheatre.com
Click on "About the Avon" for a history with pictures of this newly renovated and reopened 1939 movie theatre.

Thomaston Opera House (Thomaston CT)
http://www.thomastonoperahouse.org
The 1884 theater was used as a movie house (as the Paramount Theater) during the 1930s and is now used for live theater as well as community events. Includes a brief history and a few photos.

Warner Theater (Torrington CT)
http://www.warnertheatre.org
Built in 1931 as a Warner Brothers Deco movie palace, the Warner re-opened in 2002 as a performing arts center after 20 years of fundraising, planning and construction. A few photographs.

Oakdale Theatre (Wallingford CT)
http://www.oakdale.com
From the site's opening page: "In the winter of 1953, Ben Segal left Broadway and returned to his native Connecticut to pursue a dream. He leased an alfalfa field in the middle of nowhere and announced a plan for a new theatre - in the center of the state in a town few had heard of. Ben would create a "people's theatre," where Broadway would come to Connecticut in a friendly setting at prices people could afford." The history sections of this relatively new theatre are very well done with photos and timeline.

Capitol Theatre (Willimantic CT)
http://www.threadcity.com/capitol/index.shtml
Very, very detailed history and interviews.

Loomer Opera House (Willimantic CT)
http://www.threadcity.com/articles/loomeroperahouse.shtml
Some nice historical pictures and a very detailed history section.

District of Columbia

Ford's Theatre (Washington DC)
http://www.fordstheatre.org/index.html
Possibly the most (in)famous theater in America, Ford's Theatre is a National Historic Landmark as the site of President Lincoln's assassination. The history page is brief with only one photo.

MacArthur Theatre (Washington DC)
http://www.mindspring.com/~martinmc/reviews/macarthur.html
An interesting site on a post-war theatre by John and Drew Eberson, which closed in 1997. Photos and a 1945 article from Showmen's Trade Review.

National Theatre (Washington DC)
http://www.nationaltheatre.org/
Long detailed history and two photos.

Naylor Theatre (Washington DC)
http://www.mindspring.com/~martinmc/reviews/naylor.html
Another interesting site on a "lost" theatre, with photos and a 1945 article from Boxoffice magazine on the theatre's opening.

Theatre Photos in the Detroit Publishing Company Collection, Library of Congress (Washington DC)
http://rs6.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?detr:@band(theatre.)
[or for the Detroit Publishing Co. homepage:]
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/detroit/dethome.html
Fascinating on-line collection, part of new National Digital Library, with 58 theatre photos, ca. 1890-1920. (Prints are available for purchase.) Many Detroit theatres, as well as AL, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA.

Warner Theatre (Washington DC)
http://www.warnertheatre.com
Built for vaudeville and silent movies, the theatre opened as the Earle Theatre in 1924. The "new" Warner opened in 1992 with a gala featuring Frank Sinatra (in his final D.C. appearance) and Shirley MacLaine. It became a destination, not only for revitalized downtown Washington, but also for national and international recording artists and the finest in theatrical, dance, and television presentations. A few small photos.

Florida

Flagler Auditorium (Bunnell FL)
http://www.e-scope.com/flagler-auditorium
Yes, this is a very modern 1000 seat theater built for acoustics and usability. But this facility does represent the THSA to come, and deserves to be included here as a "historic theater of the future". They have a very full performance schedule, worth a look if you plan to be in the area.

Florida Theatre (Jacksonville FL)
http://www.floridatheatre.com
Great format and pictures. Their on-line tour area is called "Still Cool at 70"! Be sure to sign the guest book.

Polk Theatre (Lakeland FL)
http://www.polktheatre.org
Click on "About the Theatre," and then read the history of Polk Theatre. This 1928 theatre looks like an Eberson theatre, but it isn't. Restored in 1999.

Lake Worth Playhouse (Lake Worth FL)
http://www.lakeworthplayhouse.org
The Oakley Theatre opened in 1924, by two brothers, Clarence and Lucian Oakley, at a cost reportedly around $150,000. It was designed in the Mediterranean Revival style which was popular in the area at that time. The letters "OT" can still be seen on the wooden beams of the auditorium's ceiling. No gallery and a few photos scattered about the site.

Gusman Center (Miami FL)
http://www.gusmancenter.org
Built in 1926 as a silent movie palace, the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center has become a beacon for the South Florida arts community. This spectacular John Eberson designed atmospheric jewel was lovingly restored in 2002.

Saenger Theatre (Pensacola FL)
http://www.pensacolasaenger.com
1925 Spanish Baroque Theatre was restored and reopened in 1981. Few photos and some history.

Tampa Theatre (Tampa FL)
http://www.tampatheatre.org
This is not the easiest site to navigate, but with a little persistence, it pays off. Go to the SITE NAVIGATOR and select "History & Photos." Then you can read the history, look at five photos, or read the oral remembrances from the "The Tampa Theatre Stories Project."

Garden Theatre (Winter Garden FL)
http://www.gardentheatre.org
Constructed in 1935 in the Mediterranean Revival style, the interior of the theatre was modeled after a Spanish courtyard with “Romeo & Juliet” balconies, Spanish tile roof and a dark blue ceiling resplendent with “stars.” The Garden Theatre underwent several renovations until closing in 1963, falling victim to the popularity of television. Soon after, the interior was completely removed and the sloped floor was covered with cement to level the surface to be used by a farm supply store.

Georgia

Rylander Theatre (Americus GA)
http://www.rylander.org/
A couple of restoration photos and a brief history of this 1921 gem.

Fox Theatre (Atlanta GA)
http://www.foxtheatre.org
Great photos and history of one of the greatest movie palaces in this country. Words cannot describe this wonderfully astonishing, wildly eclectic three-ring circus of architectural splendor! No pictures can ever do it justice; you must see it for yourself!

and another site at:
http://www.atlanta.org/dept/urban/foxthea.htm#fox
Much detailed information on this famous 1929 movie palace. Part of the resource files on Atlanta landmarks. No photographs.

Rialto Center For The Arts (Atlanta GA)
http://www.rialtocenter.org/
In 1962, the original Rialto was razed and a larger one with a seating capacity of 1,200 was constructed. Georgia State University acquired the property in 1991 and converted it into one of Atlanta's premiere concert venues.

Imperial Theater (Augusta GA)
http://imperial-theatre.hypermart.net/
Opened as the Wells in 1918 presenting B.F. Keith's Supreme Vaudeville Company. Good history page with photos. You will have to frequently click closed various advertising screens that pop up out of nowhere and obstruct your view. But, the site it worth the trouble!

Miller Theatre (Augusta GA)
http://miller-theater.org/
Opened in 1940, it was at one time one of the grandest theaters in Augusta. Designed by architect Roy A. Benjamin, it reflects the typical Art Moderne style, complete with glass blocks and curved neon marquee. It is currently the last remaining theater of this type in Georgia. In the summer of 2005, after looking at the building for several years, Peter S. Knox IV, a local businessman and entrepreneur purchased the theater, with the vision that the Miller can be restored to serve the present and future generations.

Ritz Theatre (Brunswick GA)
http://glynncounty.com/ritz/
History and a picture of the vertical marquee.

Liberty Theatre (Columbus GA)
http://www.libertytheatrecolumbus.com
Thanks to Chris Joiner for this one. The theatre was constructed in 1924 during the era of segregation, closing in 1974. With its reopening in November of 1996, the Liberty Theatre board completed a one and one-half million dollar renovation to the 300 seat, state of the art theatre, thus becoming the first African-American arts institution and musical playhouse in Columbus.

Springer Opera House (Columbus GA)
http://www.springeroperahouse.org
This 1871 theater survives today as a very busy, community involved theater. The homepage showcases stunning color photos to today's theater. Hopefully some vintage photos will be added in the future.

Holly Theatre (Dahlonega GA)
http://www.hollytheater.com/
Currently a multi-use community center, this 1946 movie theatre has a nice history page with a few pictures.

Douglass Theatre (Macon GA)
http://www.mid-georgia.com/douglass/
Completed by African-American entrepreneur Charles H. Douglass in 1921, the Douglass Theater was modeled after Macon's Grand Opera House and was the premiere movie theater and vaudeville hall open to African-American citizens in the city. The site itself has only one historic photo and mostly deals with the renovation and reuse of this old building as a modern day resource.

Strand Theatre (Marietta GA)
http://www.friendsofthestrand.com/
The Strand Theatre, a noted landmark on the historic Marietta Square in Cobb County, got its start as a major motion picture house in 1935. The Strand provided movie entertainment to thousands of people of all ages until it closed its doors as a movie house in 1976. Efforts to restore The Strand have been going on since 2002. Many believe that bringing it back as a movie theatre is in tune with the Square’s historical heritage and will offer more entertainment choices to downtown Marietta.

Lucas Theatre (Savannah GA)
http://www.lucastheatre.com
Only a brief history and no vintage photos, but some stunning views of the restored 1921 theater.

Savannah Theatre (Savannah GA)
http://www.savannahtheatre.com/theatre.html
Check out the "scrapbook" link for some wonderful vintage photos!

Hawaii

Palace Theatre (Hilo HI)
http://palacehilo.org/
An extremely well done site with loads of historic photos and a lengthy history of theater and its organ. The site also includes links to photos of other Hilo theaters. Well worth a visit!

Hawaii Theatre (Honolulu HI)
http://www.hawaiitheatre.com/
Known as "The Pride of the Pacific," this awesome theater was refurbished and reopened in 1996. There's not a great deal of history and no historic photos.

and also:

http://www.starbulletin.com/96/05/02/features/story1.html
From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Many years and $31 million later, this jewel in paradise sparkles brightly. Good photos, a lot about the organ.

Idaho

Egyptian Theater (Boise ID)
http://www.egyptiantheatre.net/
A wonderful site on this 1927 beauty!

Panida Theater (Sandpoint ID)
http://www.panida.org
This 550 seat vaudeville theater opened in 1927. Decades of glory faded into years of neglect before, major fundraising and restoration efforts by the Sandpoint community saved the Panida in 1985. Projects to preserve and restore the theater are ongoing today. Take a look.

Illinois

Classic Cinemas - A chain of classic movie houses (IL and elsewhere)
http://www.classiccinemas.com
The York Theatre, home of the THSA offices, archives and museum is one of THSA members Willis and Shirley Johnson's many Classic Cinemas. Not much history here, but a nice looking site and it shows what can be done when folks are dedicated to using these grand old theaters in today's world.

Paramount Theater (Aurora IL)
http://www.paramountarts.com/index.php
In 1978, the theater was given a $1.5 million restoration that transformed it back to its Art Deco grandeur. As the Paramount Arts Centre, it has since been a very popular venue in Aurora for concerts, dance, and family programming. Site includes a nice photo slide show and a virtual tour.

Catlow Theatre (Barrington IL)
http://www.thecatlow.com
A small but nicely designed site on this 1927 theatre. Has a detailed "history" section, and a number of pictures of the theatre, which says it's "the first theatre in Illinois on the web."

Orpheum Children's Center (Champaign IL)
http://www.m-crossroads.org/orpheum/index.html
What a tremendous reuse of a grand old theater! It would have been much nicer if this site utilized more historical photos, but it is still one of the best adaptive reuses of an historic structure in the country.

Virginia Theatre (Champaign IL)
http://www.thevirginia.org/index.html
This theater boasts a fully restored Wurlitzer Hope-Jones orchestral theater organ. The site is very detailed with links to both the theater's history and that of the organ.

Chicago Movie Theaters (Chicago IL)
http://www.rphillipsphoto.com/gallery_art/movie_theatre/index.htm
Five pages of photos to enjoy.

Adelphi Theater (Chicago IL)
HREF="http://www.adelphitheater.org/
Bill Morton and the Citizens for the Adelphi Theater document the death of another Chicago theater.

Auditorium Theatre (Chicago IL)
http://www.auditoriumtheatre.org
WOW! Click on “about us” and go to the “auditorium history” and “historical timeline”. Wish there were more photos, but you’ll still be WOWED at the history.

Music Box Theatre (Chicago IL)
http://www.musicboxtheatre.com
A well-done site on this delightful 1929 neighborhood atmospheric theatre. Features a nice exterior evening photo and other photos and history. There are also details on architectural style, opening night, the restoration, and even something on the theatre's ghost! Be sure to read the interesting, detailed history of the development of suburban theatres in Chicago.

Portage Theater (Chicago IL)
http://www.portagetheater.org
The historic 1920 Portage Theater, located on the northwest side of Chicago, is the new home for The Silent Film Society of Chicago. After a five-year period of darkness, the theater has been refurbished and restored to its 1920s splendor.

Regal Theater (Chicago IL)
http://www.chicagoregal.com/r.home.html
Originally opened as the Avalon Theatre on August 29th, 1927, the 2250-seat Regal Theater is famous for its elaborate and exotic interior, which was designed in a Middle Eastern style by John Eberson for the Cooney Brothers circuit. After closing as a movie house in the late 70s, the theater became home to the Miracle Temple Church, but in 1987, was reborn as a performing arts venue. Contains a few photos, but the site needs some fine tuning.

Uptown Theatre (Chicago IL)
http://www.uptowntheatre.com/
A poignant site. Even in disrepair, the Uptown photographs beautifully. The site highlights the glory of this once-glamorous palace, and is the official site of Friends of the Uptown.

Another site, http://www.compassrose.org, is selling a DVD about the theatre “Uptown: Portrait of a Palace," a production by John Pappas and Michael Bisberg.

Fischer Theater (Danville IL)
http://www.fischertheatre.com
A great history area with lots of vintage photos and a separate area with vintage ads. Also a fun "hardhat area" showing current photos of the volunteers at work.

Avon Theater (Decatur IL)
http://www.theavon.com
Scroll down the home page and check out the "history" and "hauntings" links!

Lincoln Square Theater (Decatur IL)
http://www.lincolnsquaretheatre.com/index.htm
Clarence Wait built the Lincoln Square Theatre in 1916. The architectural firm in charge of the project was Aschauer and Waggoner of Decatur. When built, the building was considered one of the finest facilities of its kind. Seating over 1300, the Lincoln Square Theatre, the “fire-proof” theatre, hosted plays, musicals, opera, silent film, vaudeville, early “talkies”, feature films and concerts. Since the early 1990s, the Lincoln Square has been in the midst of an ongoing restoration and renovation project, as funds permit, and much work has already been done to bring this Decatur movie palace back to its original splendor. Nice galleries containing photos of the theater restoration and history.

Egyptian Theatre (DeKalb IL)
http://www.egyptiantheatre.org/

Tivoli Theatre (Downers Grove IL)
http://www.organman.com/tivoli.sht
The Tivoli is included in the "Classic Cinemas" website but here's a site dedicated solely to this wonderful theatre. Loads of history, photos and information on their Wurlitzer organ.

Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville IL)
http://www.wildeytheatre.com
A 1909 Victorian opera house in small city falls on hard times, purchased by the city, now undergoing restoration. Sound familiar? Thanks to Liz Saul for sending this site along to THS. Lots of history and great photos. Hopefully it will be a success story very soon.

Orpheum Theater (Galesburg IL)
http://www.thezephyr.com/orpheum.htm
Originally constructed in 1916 as a Vaudeville house by renowned theatre architects Rapp and Rapp, it was described at the time as a "veritable house of enchantment." It survives today to enhance the community as a multi-use facility.

Lorraine Theatre (Hoopeston IL)
http://www.lorrainetheatre.com
Click on "The Grandeur of the Lorraine" to see a nicely done history page with many fine vintage photos.

Rialto Square Theatre (Joliet IL)
http://www.rialtosquare.com
The Rialto Square closed as a movie theatre in the mid-1970s and was rescued from impending demolition by a grass-roots campaign. It was restored to its former glory in 1980 and reopened the next year as a performing arts center. The site includes a nice photo gallery, comprehensive technical information, a history of the theatre and photos of past performers.

DuPage Theatre (Lombard IL)
http://www.dupagetheatre.net
Although the theater is not yet open for performances, this site gives a detailed history of the efforts to restore the theater as well as some wonderful photos, both vintage and current. Definitely worth a look!

Normal Theatre (Normal IL)
http://www.normaltheater.com
A nicely designed little site on this 1937 moderne theatre. It features a brief history (under "Information") and a gallery of historic and contemporary photos, including interiors, exteriors, and night shots.

Coronado Theatre (Rockford IL)
http://www.coronadotheatre.com
A gorgeous website with loads of photos and information on their first class renovation and restoration. A grand gala was scheduled to re-open the theater in January, 2001.

Mar Theater (Wilmington IL)
http://www.the-mar.com
This 300 seat theater remains essentially unchanged since it was constructed in 1937. Today it is used for live performances and first run films.

Indiana

Paramount Theatre Center (Anderson IN)
http://www.parathea.org
Lots of pictures of this beautifully restored 1929 atmospheric -- go to the history page for the link. There's also a page devoted to its original pipe organ.

Paramount Theatre (Anderson IN)
http://www.andersonparamount.org
Opened in 1929, the John Eberson-designed Paramount Theatre was the home of film and stage shows for 55 years, until the Paramount closed in 1984. In 1989, the theater was saved from destruction by a concerned group of citizens and renovated. The Paramount has now been restored to its original opulence. Every part of the theater has been returned to its 1929 state or otherwise improved to modern standards. A classic of atmospheric design, the Paramount is a testament to Eberson's influential style. Nice photo galleries.

State Theatre (Anderson IN)
http://www.statetheatre-ent.com
The home page is a great animated picture of the marquee. There's a page with a short history.

Crump Theatre - History (Columbus IN)
http://www.historiccolumbusindiana.org/jscrump.htm
Member Jim Rankin writes: The story of this small town 1870s "Opera House" is well told in great detail, and illustrated with many excellent vintage photos. Most interesting among them is not of the theatre itself, but of the 'bill head' as they called the predecessor of the letterhead, (misidentified there as a "Program?") here seen in the so-called "Gaslight" engraving genre. There are few original letterheads preserved for theatres in general, and one this early is quite rare. The local man who wrote the article there obviously loves the place, and his thorough reporting and enthusiasm is contagious. The Crump Theatre may have been rural but the interior photos show that it had professional graces such as the traditionally painted asbestos fire curtain, and an elaborate act curtain. It was built long before the advent of cantilevered balconies, so the rear-facing photo reveals the trials of those seated behind the many pipe pillars that supported the "gallery." It is no longer in operation, but the locals have made some headway in its preservation.

Elco Theatre (Elkhart IN)
http://www.elcotheatre.com/history.html
A lovely theater in Elkhart, Indiana.

Movie Theaters Past (Evansville IN)
http://tshughes.com/film/movie_houses
A nice site dedicated to the history of Evansville theaters.

Rivers Bend Playhouse (Evansville IN)
http://www.riversbendplayhouse.com
Originally built as the Alhambra Theater in 1913, this gem has found a new life and will once again become a community treasure. (Don't you just love a happy ending?!) Many restoration-in-progress photos and detailed plans for reuse and retrofitting.

Embassy Theatre (Ft. Wayne IN)
http://www.fwembassytheatre.org/home.htm
Ft. Wayne, Indiana's last remaining downtown movie palace, the 1928 Embassy Theatre, has a new web site with updated graphics and many more photos. Check it out!

Rialto World Café and Cultural Center (Fort Wayne IN)
http://www.thereclamationproject.org/default.asp
After many years of distinction in the community, the grand Rialto began to decline in the 1960’s as people moved to the suburbs and competing, multi screen theaters opened in shopping centers. Closing in 1989, it stood vacant for nearly 15 years. The intention of the new owners is to offer the Rialto as a warm, inviting and catalyzing gathering space for community outreach efforts and as a venue for artistic events and cross-cultural gatherings to include live theater, concerts, dances, art exhibitions and films.

Strand Theatre (Shelbyville IN)
http://www.mainstreetshelbyville.org
The Strand ownership has been transferred and the Historic Strand Theatre (1916), Shelbyville, Indiana, begins new chapter. The theater, dark since June, 2005, has been given to Strand Theatre of Shelbyville Inc., a new group dedicated to the preservation, restoration and operation of the theater. Mainstreet Shelbyville Inc., which bought and saved the theatre in 2004, transferred ownership on October 12, 2006. Good Luck!
Try this site too: http://www.strandtheatreofshelbyville.org

Morris Performing Arts Center (South Bend IN)
http://www.morriscenter.org
Built in 1922 as the Palace, part of the Orpheum circuit. The history link includes some nice vintage photos.

Indiana Theater (Terre Haute IN)
http://www.indianatheater.com/
Designed by John Eberson in 1922, in the Spanish Baroque style, the Indiana Theater seated 1600 people. The site doesn't say when the restoration took place, but you can see some nice photos.

Hoosier Theatre (Whiting IN)
http://www.hoosiertheatre.com/
Nice newspaper article and a few pictures, but the real story is that another small town theater was saved from the wrecking ball. Thanks to John Katris, owner and restorer.

Iowa

Regent Theatre (Cedar Falls IA)
http://www.cedarnet.org/regent
A nice history page with two photos.

Paramount Theater (Cedar Rapids IA)
http://www.5seasons.com/theatre_info
Built by A.H. Blank of Des Moines, this theater opened as the Capitol, featuring vaudeville, movies, and a mighty Wurlitzer organ. The half-block long lobby includes a Hall of Mirrors, which leads to a grand staircase. Sadly, the theater suffered heavy water damage in the floods of June, 2008. The website is down, but we are keeping the listing in the hope that this beautiful theater can be brought back.

Various Theaters (Cedar Rapids IA)
http://members.home.net/jakorns/
Jeff Korns has put together a super site of theaters, "some are long gone, some are still with us." Great photos, heartfelt narratives.

Ritz Theatre (Centerville IA)
http://www.ritztheatreiowa.com
The building which houses the Ritz Theatre on the northeast corner of the Centerville Iowa Square was built in 1893. After undergoing several name changes, it became the Ritz Theatre after the 1926 remodeling.

Hoyt Sherman Place Theater (Des Moines IA)
http://www.hoytsherman.org
This active 1923 theatre is in the midst of a massive renovation, outlined on an update page with pictures. There's also a virtual tour.

Englert Theater (Iowa City IA)
http://www.englert.org/
Neon buffs will just LOVE the home page photo! An "emerging project", this grass-roots group seems to be having a lot of fun while hard at work on their theater. For a real laugh, click on the "Features" button, then the link to "Ask the Englert Answer Man". Anyone who has been through a restoration will definitely relate to his sense of humor!

Orpheum Theater (Sioux City IA)
http://www.siouxcityorpheum.com/
No historical photos of this 1927 Rapp & Rapp, but there is an online camera so you can peek in on the restoration in progress.

Various Theaters (Webster City IA)
http://showcase.netins.net/web/marjned/theaters.html
Listings of all the theaters of Webster City from 1870 through 1997 from opera houses to drive-ins. Most of the pages have photos, if not, a fairly good description of the theater.

Isis Theater (Webster City IA)
http://showcase.netins.net/web/marjned/isis.html
Interesting little page about a 1911 theater, long gone.

New Strand Theatre (West Liberty IA)
http://www.newstrand.com
Built back in the 30s and still a "single screener." One picture of a great neon coated marquee, but no history page. Perhaps the owners can be persuaded to include one??

Kansas

Kansas Historic Theatre Association
http://www.khta.com/home.htm
This association's Member Theatres section has a page on each. Some of the pictures have pictures and contact information.

Brown Grand Opera House (Concordia KS)
http://browngrand.org/index.htm

Fox Theatre (Hutchinson KS)
http://www.hutchinsonfox.com

Kingman Theatre (Kingman KS)
http://www.websurf.net/theatre
Detailed history (much of it in "Questions and Answers") and photos of the 1920 Kingman.

Hollywood Theatre (Leavenworth KS)
http://home.kc.rr.com/oneactor/rccp.htm
Now home of the River City Community Players.

McPherson Opera House (McPherson KS)
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Opera/4448/index.html

Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts (Salina KS)
http://www.stiefeltheatre.org
The site includes some history and photos of the theatre when it was the Fox Watson, as well as current activities.

Jayhawk Theatre (Topeka KS)
http://www.jayhawktheatre.com/
This site has been redesigned and is looking great! Worth another visit, if only for the great music!

Orpheum Theatre (Wichita KS)
http://www.wichitaorpheum.com

Warren Theatre (Wichita KS)
http://www.warrentheatre.com

Kentucky

Alhambra Theater (Hopkinsville KY)
http://www.pennyroyalarts.org/homepage.asp
The Alhambra Theatre opened on May 28, 1928 and the architect was John T. Waller. Since 1983, it has been operated by the Pennyroyal Arts Council as a live performance space. Slide show with photos of the demolition and restoration of the theater.

Louisville Palace (Louisville KY)
http://www.louisvillepalace.com/
A graphically dense web site with fabulous photos of this 1928 Spanish Baroque atmospheric. The history section is pretty well hidden; scroll to the bottom of the home page, click on "virtual tour", then scroll to the bottom of that page for "History & Picture Gallery". But the wonderful pictures make it worth the effort.

Louisiana

Martin Cinerama (New Orleans LA)
http://www.geocities.com/rotoflex/Martin/Martin.htm
Simply a strip of photos of the Riverboat Hallelujah, formerly the Martin Cinerama Theatre, New Orleans, LA, taken in November of 1999. Jim Rankin writes: "The photos are good and reflect a better modern design than many, so for so long as the site remains up, it will be a memorial, especially since so few cinerama theatres existed."

Saenger Theatre (New Orleans LA)
http://www.saengertheatre.com/index.html
This historic theatre has it's own official website which includes some interesting history and a number of excellent photographs, past and present, in the "About Us" section.

Maine

Midcoast Maine Movie Theaters (ME)
http://www.steppinoutmaine.com/archives/2003/mar_26/feature1.html
This article contains some great vintage photos and a nice history of small town movie theaters in Maine. Great reading!

Colonial Theatre (Belfast ME)
http://www.colonialtheatre.com/
Built in 1912, rebuilt in 1923, renovated/restored in 1995. A small town movie theater "making it." Wanna buy a theater in Maine? Click on the "Temple Theatre" link and take a look. Thanks to Michael Hurley for the site.

Alamo Theatre (Bucksport ME)
http://www.oldfilm.org or http://www.alamotheatre.org"
A 1916 cinema that became an A&P grocery store in 1956. The Main Street building is home to Northeast Historic Film, a moving-image archives, and creator of the exhibition, "Going to the Movies: A Century of Motion Picture Audiences in Northern New England."

Merrill Auditorium (Portland ME)
http://www.portlandevents.com/Merrill.htm
Built in 1912 to replace two former halls both destroyed by fire, City Hall Auditorium was a classic example of colonial style, boasting porticos and columns, a deep court and large wings. The latest restoration, in 1996, resulted in the 1900-seat performing arts facility, renamed the Merrill Auditorium. A site devoted to the original municipal organ in the City Hall Auditorium, http://www.foko.org also includes some history of the Auditorium.

State Theatre (Portland ME)
http://www.mbeacon.com/archive/050296dir/b.html
An internet news magazine site with a good article on the State (1928) restoration.

Stonington Opera House (Stonington ME)
http://www.operahousearts.org/

Waldo Theatre (Waldoboro ME)
http://www.midcoast.com/~cbk/waldo.html
No photos, but an interesting history page.

Maryland

France-Merrick Performing Arts Center (Baltimore MD)
http://www.france-merrickpac.com/history/index.html
The fabulous 1914 Hippodrome Theater has been stunningly restored and will reopen in February 2004 to become, once again, the pride of Baltimore! This site is loaded with vintage and current photos, along with a detailed history page.

Parkway Theatre (Baltimore MD)
http://www.parkwaytheatre.com
A basic little site for an emerging project. Once you scroll past the history narrative there are some great "in the rough" photos of the theater today.

Senator Theatre (Baltimore MD)
http://www.senator.com
Super-looking new site for this 1939 art deco delight. Nice photos and history section. Worth another look.

Bethesda Theatre Cafe (Bethesda MD)
http://www.quirksworld.com/ec-julaug97.html
A cute and quirky little Eberson gem. It may have been the precursor of his stunning outerspace atmospheric in Auburn NY.

Avalon Theatre (Easton MD)
http://www.avalontheatre.com
A great site for a great theater, sometimes called the Carnegie Hall of the Eastern Shore. This is a darling little house that, inch for inch, packs more activity between its walls than the actual Hall! The site is a pleasure to meander through, probably because of the kicky jazz music that overlays the experience.

Weinberg Center (Frederick MD)
http://weinbergcenter.org
Formerly the Tivoli Theatre, built in 1929. Today the theater presents mostly live shows, but also classic 35mm movies and it has the only working WurliTzer organ in the state of Maryland, according to a visitor to our THSA guestbook.

Maryland Theatre (Hagerstown MD)
http://www.mdtheatre.org/
Short history but four beautiful pictures of this Thomas W. Lamb theatre.

James Adams Floating Theatre (Indian Head MD)
http://jamesadamsfloatingtheatre.org
The original James Adams Floating Theatre was lost to history when it was destroyed by fire in 1941 while being towed to Savannah, GA to be refitted. Chesapeake Bay Floating Theatre, Inc. is comprised of concerned citizens working to return this lost national treasure to serving coastal communities.

AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (Silver Springs MD)
http://www.afi.com/silver
Saved from the wrecker's ball by community effort and landmark designation, the historic Silver Theatre is a unique public-private partnership. The American Film Institute/ AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center is the anchor of an unprecedented redevelopment effort.

And another site:

http://www.adsw.org/site/MD/SilverSpring/ColesvilleRd/8619/index.html
A site by the Art Deco Society of Washington.

Massachusetts

Regent Theater (Arlington MA)
http://www.regenttheater.com
Modern stage shows and film give a new life for a 100-year-old Arlington landmark. There are no history or historic photos on the site. However, visitors to New England might want to check the theater out for themselves.

Colonial Theatre (Boston MA)
http://www.broadwayinboston.com/html/theatres/colonial/index.html
Built in 1900, The Colonial Theatre is the oldest continuously operating theatre in Boston. Today it is one of four historic theatres operated by Broadway In Boston.

Emerson Majestic Theater (Boston MA)
http://www.maj.org
A 1903 Beaux Arts Theatre in the heart of Boston's historic Theatre District. Designed by John Galen Howard before he founded the Architectural School at the University of California at Berkeley. The history and architecture pages are extremely thorough with detailed narratives. The site could use lots more photos.

Opera House [formerly B.F. Keith Memorial Theatre] (Boston MA)
http://www.broadwayinboston.com/html/theatres/operahouse/index.htm
The present day Opera House opened its doors on October 29, 1928 as the B.F. Keith Memorial Theatre. It was in 1978, when the theatre was home to the Opera Company of Boston, that the name was changed to the Opera House. Today it is one of four historic theatres operated by Broadway In Boston.

Shubert Theatre (Boston MA)
http://www.wangcenter.org/frame-the-center.html
Part of the Wang Center for the Performing Arts, this wonderful 1910 theater has been completely restored. Look at the panoramic view, history and restoration, for a great tour.

Wang Center [formerly Metropolitan Theatre] (Boston MA)
http://www.wangcenter.org/frame-the-center.html
Since the Wang's restoration, this 3600+ seat theater continues to host an impressive array of world-class Broadway, theater, music, dance, opera and film. What a beautiful theater!

Wilbur Theatre (Boston MA)
http://www.broadwayinboston.com/html/theatres/wilbur/index.html
The Wilbur Theatre was built in 1914 by the Shubert brothers who named it for their friend and theatre manager A.L. Wilbur. Today it is another of the four historic theatres operated by Broadway In Boston.

Coolidge Theatre (Brookline MA)
http://www.coolidge.org
"Showing Movies the Way They Were Meant to Be Seen". Those of us who did not go to the Boston Conclave will have to settle for enjoying the Coolidge via the web instead of in person. The history and photos are somewhat hidden in the "Tour" button area, but really do justice to this 1933 beauty.

Somerville Theater (Cambridge MA)
http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com
Links to both the Capitol and Somerville Theaters. Large photo gallery for each theater.

Cape Cinema (Dennis MA)
http://www.capecinema.com/
"Total culture shock" is the only way to describe a walk through the doors of the Cape Cinema. The austere, typical New England style exterior explodes into a wild Rockwell Kent designed interior ceiling mural and stage area. I honestly laughed out loud the first time I saw it, the juxtaposition was so remarkable! This site will give you a taste of what to expect, but do visit the theater if at all possible.

Mahaiwe Theater (Great Barrington MA)
http://www.mahaiwe.org
Built as a Vaudeville theater in 1905, the Mahaiwe became a film house in the late twenties. Now the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center offers an eclectic mix of classic film and live performances. A few interior photos can be found in the “Rent The Theater” section.

Victory Theater (Holyoke MA)
http://www.savethevictory.org/
A haunting black and white photo opens this site. Click on the "Photos" link hidden at the bottom of the first page to see some great old photos of this great old theater.

Zeiterion Theatre (New Bedford MA)
http://www.zeiterion.org/history/
Short history of this 1923 vaudeville theater, turned Performing Arts Center. No photos.

Mohawk Theater (North Adams MA)
http://www.mohawktheater.com/
Opened in 1938 as part of the E.M. Loew chain, an effort is underway to restore the Mohawk as a performing arts center. The site, currently under construction, contains as small photo gallery with some nice marquee shots.

Academy of Music Theater (Northampton MA)
http://www.academyofmusictheatre.com
Cute little 800 seat theater, built in 1880 in Northampton, Mass. Brief history and some nice theater photos.

Colonial Theatre (Pittsfield MA)
http://www.thecolonialtheatre.org/aboutus-Restoration.html
Kept safe behind the temporary wall and ceiling partitions of a retail store for more than 50 years, the ornately appointed and now fully restored 1903 Colonial emerged in August, 2006 as a cultural and economic development force in the Berkshires.

And another:

http://berkshiretv.com./colonial-1.htm

Lost Theaters (Somerville MA)
http://www.losttheatres.org/
Hosted by the Somerville Museum in Somerville, Massachusetts, "Lost Theatres of Somerville" is a year-long exhibit exploring the history of the town's fourteen movie theatres and the role of these cultural institutions in defining a sense of place and "neighborhood." Oral histories, photographs, and memorabilia, as well as interactive media, bring to life the theatres - only one of which still survives - that created a sense of community in this and other working class American cities. The exhibit's curator is David Guss, a Professor of Anthropology at Tufts University.

West Newton Cinema (West Newton MA)
http://www.westnewtoncinema.com/
This 1937 beauty has a rich and dignified history in the area. The site has a very detailed history with many fine vintage photos.

Hanover Theatre (Worcester MA)
http://www.thehanovertheatre.org
At the time it was built in 1926, the Poli Palace Theatre was considered the most beautiful theater in New England. The Worcester Center for Performing Arts has taken it over and it will be known as The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Michigan

Croswell Opera House (Adrian MI)
http://www.croswell.org/

State Theatre (Bay City MI)
http://www.statetheatrebaycity.com/index.htm
Not very informative history and a few photos of this 1908 theater, renovated in1930 by C. Howard Crane.

Calumet Theatre (Calumet MI)
http://www.calumettheatre.com/
A darling old (built in 1910) opera house that has withstood the test of time thanks to a dedicated community and lots of hard work.

Kent Theatre (Cedar Springs MI)
http://www.kenttheatre.com
Jeff Romanowski sent the following: "The Kent Theatre has stood at the center of Cedar Springs, Michigan, for over 120 years. It is currently being renovated by The Cedar Springs Theatre Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1997 to purchase, restore, and manage this Historic Theatre. The Kent Theatre is a community owned and operated venue for films, live theatre, and other public presentations. For membership, upcoming events and additional information, please visit their website."

Alger Theater (Detroit MI)
http://www.algertheater.org
Opened in 1935, the Art Deco Alger Theater was originally built for the United Detroit Circuit. While its interior was modernized in the 1970s, its exterior was left relatively untouched. The Alger was forced to close in 1985 after a fire damaged much of the interior. In 1987, the theatre was purchased by The Friends of the Alger, whose goal is to return the theatre to its original appearance.

Detroit Opera House (Detroit MI)
http://www.michiganopera.org
The Detroit Opera House (Paramount/Broadway-Capitol/Grand Circus) was considered Detroit's first official movie palace. Its architect, C. Howard Crane, designed the Capitol in the style of the Italian Renaissance, and its facade, with its soaring Corinthian columns, loomed over Broadway like a royal palace. It was restored by the Michigan Opera Theater in 1989.

Detroit's Historic Theatre District Tour (Detroit MI)
http://ics.soe.umich.edu/~tfadoir/pw/tours.html
Part of Preservation Wayne's website. Excellent detailed histories and photos of the Madison, Adams (both 1917), Grand Circus (1922), State (1925), Michigan (1926), Fox and United Artists (both 1928).

Fox Theater (Detroit MI)
http://www.buildingphotos.com/venues/fox.shtml
Click on any of the first four links for lots of great photos of the Fox. Quite a place! For those of you within reasonable driving distance, if you've never been there, it's worth the trip.

Gem Theatre (Detroit MI)
http://www.gemtheatre.com/histfra me.html
This theater is a GEM, and it is even more spectacular to see since it has been moved (to make room for the Tiger Stadium parking lot). One of the most exciting and gutsy preservation projects ever.

Michigan Theater (Detroit MI)
http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=30&category= locations
http://detroityes.com/downtown/38michtheat_pan.htm
The Michigan Theater was once a beautiful Detroit movie theater, as seen in the first site. It still exists, but take a look at the second site to see what it has become. Another argument for preservation and restoration.

Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts (Detroit MI)
http://www.musichall.org/
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts is a magnificent, fully restored 1928 historic theatre seating 1701 and holding four lounge areas. As the last remaining legitimate stage theatre, Music Hall is the only Detroit venue built for the primary purpose of presenting live performances.

Redford Theatre (Detroit MI)
http://redfordtheatre.com

State Theatre (Detroit MI)
http://www.statetheatredetroit.com/
A beautifully-done site of this 1925 theatre by C. Howard Crane. Click on "pictures" for photos of the way the theater used to look, and take the "virtual tour" to see what the theater looks like today.

Capitol Theatre (Flint MI)
http://flintcapitoltheatre.com/
A 1927 Eberson Italian renaissance theater, the Capitol is slated for restoration. One nice period photo, clickable thumbnails of current photos, historical page and an overview of the restoration plan.

Wealthy Theater (Grand Rapids MI)
http://wealthytheatre.org/about.html
Although the whole site is still under construction, this link will take you to an information page with a vintage photo and blurbs about the current status of the theater. Worth a look and a follow up as they progress!

Pines Theatre (Houghton Lake MI)
http://www.pinestheatre.com
A darling little 1941 gem in Northern Michigan by Kellogg & Crane, the architects of the Detroit Fox. Several fine photos (under "Tour") and a nicely done history (under "Info").

Howell Opera House (Howell MI)
http://www.lac-opera.com/

Michigan Theatre (Jackson MI)
http://www.michigantheatre.org
Photos and comprehensive information about the on-going restoration project, of which THSA member Charles Ahronheim is President. Some good history and an interesting "stories" section.

State Theatre (Kalamazoo MI)
http://www.kalamazoostatetheatre.com/
A beautiful Eberson atmospheric. The site has wonderful photos under its "Virtual Tour" section.

Ramsdell Theatre (Manistee MI)
http://www.ramsdell-theater.org/

Vickers Theatre (Three Oaks MI)
http://www.vickerstheatre.com/index.html
The Vickers Theatre is a turn of the century film house, lovingly and uniquely restored into an intimate art house. Browse the website, visit the gallery, see what's playing on the silver screen, or take a virtual tour.

City Opera House (Traverse City MI)
http://www.cityoperahouse.org
If you've never been to Traverse City Michigan, you've missed a treat. In addition to beautiful Grand Traverse Bay, you'll find this little 1891 opera house, located on the 2nd floor of a three-story building. What a gem! Click on "Gallery" and "Restoration" and enjoy the photos.

Vassar Theatre (Vassar MI)
http://www.vassartheatre.com
This 1937 theater by the firm of Bennett & Straight underwent an extensive renovation/restoration by its owner Tim O'Brien.

Historic Wayne Theatre (Wayne MI)
http://www.historicwaynetheatre.com
They are still working to raise enough money to keep the theatre going. After a meeting with the dangerous building hearing officer, supporters were told that the building would need to be torn down or turned into a white box. Without funds, the hearing officer ordered the building to be torn down. The saga continues. Includes links to galleries of area theaters.

Minnesota

Paramount Theater (Austin MN)
http://www.paramounttheatre.org
The Historic Paramount Theatre, originally constructed in 1929, is a unique atmospheric theatre with a Spanish motif. It is one of four atmospheric theatres left in Minnesota and the only one outside Minneapolis still used as a theatre. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Heights Theater (Columbia Heights MN)
http://www.heightstheater.com
An all around great site for a great 1926 neighborhood theater. Of special interest is the installation and lighting of their new marquee; be sure to check out that link!

Minnesota Theatre (Minneapolis MN)
http://www.lileks.com/mpls/mntheat/index.html
Part of a general Minnesota architecture site by James Lileks. You MUST click on the option that shows his painstaking recreation of the animated marquee. (It didn't take as long as he indicated for the download. And even if it does, it's well worth it.) After you enjoy the theater site, you might want to click back to the home page and take a look at the rest of his work.

Sheldon Theater (Red Wing MN)
http://www.sheldontheatre.org/
One great photo and short history.

Also:

http://www.sheldontheatre.com

Paramount Theater And Visual Arts Center (St. Cloud MN)
http://www.paramountarts.org
After years of neglect, the Paramount fell victim to fire on Tuesday, January 15, 1985. The damage was fairly extensive, estimated at $60,000. During the early 1990s the Paramount was patched and upgraded enough to provide a home to live theatre once again. The major renovation to return the Paramount to its rightful place as the cultural centerpiece of downtown St. Cloud was underway! It has taken the cooperation of many groups to see the Paramount Theater's renovation through to completion.

Fitzgerald Theater (St. Paul MN)
http://www.fitzgeraldtheater.org
The Fitzgerald Theater was built as the Schubert Theater in 1910. Today it is the home to Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, as well as a wide variety of concerts, lectures, and productions from all over the world.

Mounds Theatre (St. Paul MN)
http://www.moundstheatre.org/MoundsTheatre/
A 1925 neighborhood theatre that has been restored as a theatre and community center. The love of this theatre just pops off the screen. Tons of photos at every stage of its history. There's even a memorabilia page that features old candy and popcorn receptacles found during renovation.

Mississippi

Laurel Little Theatre (Laurel MS)
http://www.laurellittletheatre.com/index.html
The Arabian was a grand movie house built in 1927 by the Saenger Brothers. It was the smallest of their houses but still seated a respectable 900 moviegoers. The lobby and auditorium are now just as they were in 1927, but the proscenium arch and stage are circa 1977. Includes one 1930s era postcard view.

Missouri

Missouri Theatre (Columbia MO)
http://www.coin.missouri.edu/community/art/mo-theatre/index.html#about
A 1928 theatre by Boller Bros. Has one photo and a detailed history.

Folly Theatre (Kansas City MO)
http://www.follytheater.com

Madrid Theatre (Kansas City MO)
http://www.madridtheatre.com

Uptown Theatre (Kansas City MO)
http://www.uptowntheater.com

Fourth Street Theatre (Moberly MO)
http://www.4thstreettheater.org/
This site details the restoration project for this 1913 movie/vaudeville house. Many interesting tidbits on history. Photo Gallery has lots of pictures of details.

Farris Theatre (Richmond MO)
http://www.farristheatre.com

Missouri Theatre (St. Joseph MO)
http://www.missouritheater.org
Much information on this 1927 Boller Bros. gem, with pictures of the recent $1.9M renovation, and a letter from the artist who did the ornamental plasterwork.

And another site:

Missouri Theatre (St. Joseph MO)
http://geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/8697/

American Theatre (St. Louis MO)
http://www.contemporarygroup.com
Click on the option for American Theater. This house opened as the Orpheum Theatre on Labor Day, 1917. House was one of those designed for the Orpheum circuit by G. Albert Lansburgh.

Fox Theatre (St. Louis MO)
http://www.fabulousfox.com
A fine site on this spectacularly restored 1929 movie palace. Features a detailed history and description. The "Photo Gallery" has seven nice photos of the interior.

Hi-Pointe Theatre (St. Louis MO)
http://www.hipointetheatre.com
The Hi-Pointe Theatre is the only single screen operation in the St. Louis area (and we know how rare they are). It is an oldie, dating from 1922, and, as the site points out, was built for movies only -- no stage house. The date of the remodel is wrong, however, it should be 1937.

Ozark Theater (St. Louis MO)
http://www.ozarktheater.com/
A little history, a couple of nice watercolors, and a photo series of the facade. Be prepared to not be happy by the last one.

Powell Symphony Hall (St. Louis MO)
http://www.slso.org
This is the website of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and includes info concerning its home, Powell Symphony Hall. The structure opened in 1925 (not 1926 as the site says) as the St. Louis Theatre, a Rapp & Rapp design. Originally used for films and junior Orpheum circuit vaudeville.

Roberts Orpheum Theatre (St. Louis MO)
http://www.robertsorpheum.com/
The Orpheum Theatre was built in 1917 as a vaudeville house, became a movie house in the 1930, reincarnated as the American Theatre in the 1960s, and as of 2003, it was restored. No photos that I could find.

Gillioz Theatre (Springfield MO)
http://www.gillioz.org

Landers Theatre (Springfield MO)
http://www.landerstheatre.org

Montana

Roxy Theatre (Forsyth MT)
http://www.goforsyth.com/roxy/
The pride of Forsyth, the Roxy site has a very nice history page as well as detailed "makeover" information in easy to find links.

Crystal Theatre (Missoula MT)
http://www.montana.com/crystal/index.html
Opened in 1972, this is the next generation's theatre history!

Edna Wilma Theater (Missoula MT)
http://www.charlotterushton.com/building/WilmaI.html
The result of a masters thesis, the photos and narrative by Charlotte Rushton make this site a delightful look at a very unique theater. The Wilma Building is actually a theater with apartments in the six stories above it. Very entertaining site!

And another one:

http://www.thewilma.com

Nebraska

Fox Theater (McCook NE)
http://www.foxtheatremccook.org
The building known to area residents as the "Fox Theatre" was built by A. Barnett and opened its doors January 28, 1927 as The World Theatre. In 1988, the theater was sold to the Alliance for the Encouragement of the Visual and Performing Arts, a non-profit corporation. Seventeen years later a group of community-minded citizens assumed control of the non-profit corporation with the intent to completely renovate/refurbish the theatre, while preserving its historical integrity, and then to give the completed project to the area citizens as their own Community Theatre. Restoration is ongoing. Contains a few small photos, floor plans and a detailed action plan.

Rose Theater (Omaha NE)
http://www.otcyp.org
While this site for the Omaha Theater Company for Young People does not have any historical information on the theater itself, Tom Jeffery says it's worth the time to "click" on the "OTCYP Schedule" to see Eberson's beautiful proscenium framing color advertising artwork for each of the season's plays. Hopefully the organization can be persuaded to add pertinent historical background and photos.

New Hampshire

Colonial Theatre (Keene NH)
http://www.thecolonial.org/
This 1924 theatre has always been multi-purpose and is now an important part of the community. The History and Renovations section has much detail about both and lots of pictures.

Music Hall (Portsmouth NH)
http://themusichall.org
Click on the "Backstage" button for a very entertaining moving timeline of this theater's history!

New Jersey

Darress Theatre (Boonton NJ)
http://www.darress.org
You may have seen this theatre highlighted in the March 99 issue of American Movie Classics Magazine. If you are ever in the area, plan a visit to experience this disorienting "reverse" theatre for yourself, as I did in early June. But be warned, this is a BUSY working theatre, with something going on all the time. So be sure to call to time your visit conveniently. And because of their very full schedule, you will have to scroll down through the site a ways to find the brief theater history and photos.

Beach Theatre (Cape May NJ)
http://www.beachtheatre.org
The Beach Theatre Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization formed to preserve and restore the historically authenticated Beach Theatre in Cape May, New Jersey and utilize the complex as a state-of-the-art showcase for cinema and the arts. Gallery of historical and contemporary views.

Westmont Theater (Haddon Township NJ)
http://westmonttheatre.wordpress.com/about
On September 5, 1927, the theatre opened with Lon Chaney’s The Unknown, where an estimated crowd of over 5,000 came out in attendance. After several successful years, it closed in 1987. Plans are being made to save and renovate the Grand Old Lady of Haddon Township. The site has an animated slide show and a video honoring the theater’s 81st birthday.

Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre (Jersey City NJ)
http://loewsjersey.org
Friends of the Loew's believes that the landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre must serve its community as a not-for-profit arts and entertainment center that increases the visibility and role of the performing arts in the lives of the diverse peoples who live in Hudson County and our whole region. Great re-design of the theater website contains an extensive history of the venerable landmark, an interactive virtual tour, a 360 degree view and links to performances on the Loew’s Wonder Morton organ.

Ritz Theatre (Oaklyn NJ)
http://www.ritztheatreco.org/
Donna Miller told us about this 1927 vaudeville theater that now is home to the Ritz Theatre Company. Unfortunately, the site has no history or photos of that grand old theater (at least none that I could find).

Movie Theaters of the Boardwalk (Ocean City NJ)
http://moorlyn.tripod.com
A well done personal site designed and maintained by THS site visitor Jim Laymon. Jim writes: "They were built as vaudeville houses and were converted to motion pictures in the 20's (except for the Strand which was built as a movie theatre), They weren't palaces, but they had lots of charm. Today only the Strand remains, as a 5-plex. Ick." Nice photos, detailed histories.

New Mexico

KiMo Theatre (Albuquerque NM)
http://www.cabq.gov/kimo/history.html
History and three photos (two historic) of this well-known, unique 1927 "Pueblo Deco" gem by Boller Bros.

Rio Grande Theatre (Las Cruces NM)
http://www.zianet.com/daac/riograndetheatre.htm
This page from the local Arts Council, which owns the 1926 theatre, talks about the needed funding for restoration. Click on the link at the bottom of the page for lots of pictures.

Schuler Theater (Raton NM)
http://www.shulertheater.com
The site is a little short on photos, but there is a great view of their stage curtain on the home page. This 1915 theater has quite a history, which is well written and posted on the website.

Lensic Theater (Santa Fe NM)
http://www.lensic.com
First opened in 1931, a creation of the famed Boller Brothers. It has undergone a complete renovation and restoration, and is now the home of the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

New York

Auburn Schine Theatre (Auburn NY)
http://www.cayuganet.org/arts/schine
The years of struggle and disappointment cannot be reflected in the history and photo pages of this site. Those who have struggled through a restoration from ground up will appreciate the pride the Cayuga County Arts Council feels as this project finally moves forward.

Stone Opera House (Binghamton NY)
http://nyslandmarks.com/treasures/09jan.htm
The Stone Opera House opened on 11th October 1892 with "Fadette". It was designed by architects Sanford O. Lacey and E.H. Bartoo in what has been described as a Richardsonian Romanesque style. Seating is located on three levels, orchestra and horseshoe-shaped balconies. It became a full time movie theatre, known as the Riviera, in 1930 and closed in 1973.

Strand (Brockport NY)
http://www.strandtheater.com
With its magnificent entrance marquee, hand painted mural walls and ceilings, the Strand offers the quaintness, quality, hometown friendliness and ambiance reminiscent of the theatres of yesteryear. They’ve just celebrated their 100th year.

Loews Paradise Theater (Bronx NY)
http://www.theparadisetheater.com
This is the new web site for the newly reopened and restored Loews Paradise in the Bronx. It is strictly for today, and gives no history nor has any historic photos from the theater's "glory days." Too bad.

Buffalo Movie Theaters
http://ah.bfn.org/h/movie/tc.html
This work in progress includes an oral and visual history of the theaters of Buffalo as well as a number of photo links.

Shea's Performing Arts Center (Buffalo NY)
http://www.sheas.org
If Michael Shea ever dreamed of such a thing as the "internet" in his time, he would have been using it to its fullest capacity. And in the spirit of this master showman, the 21st Century Shea's gives us a beautifully designed, visually exciting web site celebrating Mr. Shea's magnificent theater. Click on the "All About Shea's" box (note the searchlight effect!) to lean more about this true Movie Palace.

Earlville Opera House (Earlville NY)
http://www.earlvilleoperahouse.com/

Edwards Opera House (Edwards NY)
http://www.edwardsartscouncil.org
In 1896, a new town hall was completed in Edwards NY. Still in use, plans are underway to restore it to make it the Edwards Town Hall Opera House. Congratulations to them for preserving this unusually intact example of a type of facility no longer surviving in most small towns in Northern New York.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House (Fredonia NY)
http://www.fredopera.org
The site focuses on the performance aspects of the theatre, and unfortunately only has one photo. But it should serve to whet your appetite for one of the opera houses featured on the Western NY Conclave.

Smith Opera House (Geneva NY)
http://www.thesmith.org
Aka Schine's Geneva Theater, this magnificent old house has seen many forms of popular entertainment since its doors opened in 1894. A well designed site with some great old photos.

Glove Theatre (Gloversville NY)
http://www.glovetheatre.org/
Interesting story of the Schine Bros. circuit and the on-going Glove restoration project.

Hollywood Theatre (Gowanda NY)
http://www.utec.net/getchris/hollywood.htm
A very basic theatre site, features photos from the past as well as a program from the early days of the theatre. The site is a work in progress, as is the Hollywood itself.

Reg Lenna Civic Center (Jamestown NY)
http://www.reglenna.com/
From the 1923 vaudeville house (named the Palace), through its years as a movie house until 1981, until its restoration in 1989 as the Reg Lenna Civic Center, this venue has been an important fixture in Jamestown. Looks like a beautiful theater but there are only a couple of photos, and a short historical sketch.

Goodwill Theatre (Johnson City NY)
http://www.goodwilltheatre.net
The theatre was built in 1920 and, in its early years, was largely used for minstrel shows, boxing matches, traveling shows and concerts. It was leased in 1928 and operated as a movie-house for thirty years closing in 1960. Now The Goodwill Theatre project will bring the former Village Municipal building and the former EJ Medical building back to life housing a multidisciplinary Arts Conservatory and 3 performance spaces, lobbies, rehearsal halls and classrooms.

Palace Theatre (Lake Placid NY)
http://www.theatreorgans.com/ny/lake.placid/palace2frames.htm
This site serves as a history more of the theater's Morton, but also has a great photo of the theater faade. Those who have visited the theater say the interior dcor remains "frozen in time" for obvious reasons no doubt! According to the website, "the Palace Theatre is home to the only theatre organ between Albany and Massena, and one of the only original installations in New York State except for Radio City."

Palace Theatre (Lockport NY)
http://www.lockportpalacetheatre.com
A lot of "memories" and some beautiful pictures of this "gem."

Paramount Theater (Middletown NY)
http://www.middletownparamount.com
The Middletown Paramount opened with a big celebration two weeks before its sister in Peekskill. In 1979, Middletown took ownership of the Paramount and the Arts Council of Orange County subsequently bought the theater from the city of Middletown. The Paramount was restored and converted into a first rate performing arts center. It reopened in 1985 and has weathered difficult times to continue to bring community events, concerts and shows to Middletown. Small photo gallery.

Forgotten NY/Bronx Theaters (New York NY)
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/theatresbronx/bronxthea.html
Subtitled "That's Showbiz," these photos take a poignant look at what is left of the theaters of the Bronx.

New Amsterdam Theatre (New York NY)
http://www.disney.com/DisneyTheatrical/NewAmsterdam/index.html
http://206.240.84.196/etecw3/archt/arch40.htm
http://206.240.84.196/etecw3/pix/pix.htm
Not "formal" websites, but interesting nonetheless history and some great interior photos, with "before" and "after" shots of this reborn 1903 treasure.

New Victory Theatre (New York NY)
http://206.240.84.196/etecw3/archt/arch38.htm
An article with some history and great interior photos.

Pictorial Diagrams of New York Theatres - 1883 (New York NY)
http://users.aol.com/rdavisinc2
Fascinating engravings of the interiors of 18 New York City theatres of 1883. Originally published as seating diagrams, they include long-gone (and in some cases, forgotten) theatres such as the Union Square, Niblo's Garden, Haverly's 14th Street, Academy of Music, Wallack's Theatre, and the "New Met" (the 'old' Metropolitan Opera House). Each view is a finely-detailed perspective drawing of the auditorium from the stage. Hats off to theatre consultant Robert Davis for making this treasure available for all to enjoy!

Radio City Music Hall (New York NY)
http://www.radiocity.com
The official site of "the showplace of the Nation." Besides the section on the Christmas Spectacular, be sure to visit the "Grand Tour" (many photos, info on the organ, Roxy, etc.), "The World of Radio City" (check the "History"), and "Press Room" (look at the "Photo Gallery"). You might also like to take the "Radio City Quiz" and check out "Fun Facts." Don't miss the new virtual tour at http://www.radiocity.com/tour/index.html, added to celebrate their recent multi-million dollar restoration and renovation.

Roundabout Theatre - Selwyn Theatre (New York NY)
http://www.roundabouttheatre.org
Their new home will be the old Selwyn Theater in NYC. Includes about 8 "before" Photos and a few artist's renderings of the "after" views, as well as several current construction photos.

Roxy Theatre (New York NY)
Take a look at these two articles about New York City's great Roxy Theatre:

http://www.atos.org/Pages/Journal/Roxy-NYC/Roxy-NYC.html

http://www.gabesplayerpianos.org/html/Roxy.html

St. George Theatre (Staten Island, New York NY)
http://stgeorgetheatre.com
A nicely done site for a very worthwhile restoration effort. The site is dotted with vintage photos recalling the grace and elegance of this Spanish baroque decor beauty, and their wonderful restoration work.

Riviera Theater (North Tonawanda NY)
http://www.rivieratheatre.org
On February 14, 1989 the theatre became the property of the Niagara Frontier Theatre Organ Society; a group which had been maintaining the Wurlitzer theatre organ since the early 1960's. Following the theatre's purchase, the organ society, manned entirely by volunteers began the enormous task of restoring the theatre to its opening night grandeur. The seats have been reupholstered, the auditorium, lobby, and all public areas repainted, dressing rooms restored, new AC and electrical service, sound and lights, new carpeting. And the work continues, all performed by an amazingly dedicated group of volunteers, all with an undying love for this historic showplace. Contains a nice photo gallery and an extensive history of this showplace.

Paramount Center For The Arts (Peekskill NY)
http://www.paramountcenter.org
After closing in 1977, The Paramount reopened in 1981 and has remained open and vibrant during the 80's, 90's and into this century. It is still run by a non-profit organization that uses the proceeds to further improve the theater and its prospects for the future. Contains performance and historical photos and a brief history.

Bardavon Theater (Poughkeepsie NY)
http://www.bardavon.org
The history page link is somewhat hard to find at the bottom of the home page, but within that are four links to take visitors through a virtual tour, tell ghost stories, hear the 1928 WurliTzer or study the architectural history of this great old house. Once again, "they're wowing them in Poughkeepsie!"

Vail-Leavitt Music Hall (Riverhead NY)
http://www.vail-leavitt.org/
The history of this 1881 opera hall and the efforts to save it are well-documented on the history pages. Some nice photos including ones of details, are included.

The Little Theatre (Rochester NY)
http://www.little-theatre.com
Nice retro look to this site, unfortunately no actual exterior photos of this little art deco gem.(Except for a marquee shot, and OH what a great marquee!) Go all the way to the bottom and click on "A Little History" for a very complete story of this scrappy theatre that just keeps bouncing back. Owner Bill Coppard has more endurance than that little pink bunny!

Capitol Theater (Rome NY)
http://www.romecapitol.com/
The Capitol was built as a movie house, opening December 10, 1928. It operated as a first run movie house until it closed in the 1970s. The Capitol reopened as a civic center in 1985.

http://www.theatreorgans.com/ny/rome
The Rome Grand Theater Organ Society has done a fine job of showcasing this wonderful theater in Central NY state. Many fine photos of the elegant interior and their restored Moeller.

Proctor's Theatre (Schenectady NY)
http://www.proctors.org/
A beautiful site that includes rich photos and a detailed history, as well as the theater's performance schedule.

Landmark Theater (Syracuse NY)
http://www.landmarktheater.org
Formerly the Lowe's State, this fabulous house is the biggest and brightest success story in Upstate NY. Thomas Lamb cloned this house in NYC, but you can be sure that there was nothing quite like the Hindu-Persian atmospheric anywhere in Central NY state at the time!

Tarrytown Music Hall (Tarrytown NY)
http://www.tarrytownmusichall.org/index.html
The Tarrytown Music Hall, built in 1885 by chocolate manufacturer William Wallace, is listed on the National Register for Historic Places and is the oldest operating theater in Westchester. The Music Hall is a fully operating 843-seat theatre and is home to first class jazz, folk, blues and classical concerts, plays, musicals, operas, comedy, dance performances, and independent, foreign, classic, documentary and family oriented films.

Proctor's Theatre (Troy NY)
http://www.friendsofproctors.org/
The site is packed full of vintage photos, and a nice narrative.

Stanley Performing Arts Center (Utica NY)
http://www.cnyarts.com/stanley/
One of Thomas Lamb's true masterpieces, a "fraternal twin" to the Columbus theater. A beautiful website celebrating one of the true palaces of Central NY, and indeed one of the finest in all of New York State. Stunning photos and a detailed history.

North Carolina

Albemarle Opera House (Albemarle NC)
www.albemarleoperahouse.com
Located in the city of Albemarle, North Carolina, the Opera House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, built in 1907 by the contractor Locke Anderson Moody, is currently owned by the descendants of the original owners, F.E. Starnes, D.F. Parker and J.C. Parker. The Opera House held performances from 1908 to 1913 then was converted to a movie theatre for the 1914 and 1915 seasons. After several seasons of disuse it became an annex to the undertaker's shop that was next door.

Canova Theater (Conover NC)
http://www.ncgenweb.us/conover/canova.htm
This web site, originally conceived by Don Barker of Conover NC, represented his sum total knowledge of the theater he attended as a child. It has grown to a history of theaters, many long forgotten, in the Catawba Valley. The book, scheduled for reprint, includes many new photos.

Carolina Theater (Charlotte NC)
http://encorecharlotte.com/default.asp
For decades, the once-beautiful Carolina Theater has cried out for a significant renovation. And now, 20+ years after its decline, three of Charlotte's top real estate talents will band together to make that renovation a reality. As part of its commitment to the Encore condominium development, Pursuit Group will restore the theatre to its former glory and prepare it for a lifetime of public performances. Along with photos of the condo project, there’s a nice photo gallery of the theater.

and another...

http://www.theatreorgans.com/nc/metrolina/carolina
Another fine site assembled by an organ restoration member. Designed in an easy to follow "question and click" format, the pictorial tour is a real treat. (Check out the marquee photo: the drawing of Buster Keaton gets my vote for the creepiest ever!)

Carolina Theatre (Durham NC)
http://www.carolinatheatre.org/
Short history and a couple of photos throughout.

Sunrise Theater (Southern Pines NC)
http://www.sunrisetheater.com
A short history and a couple of photos, but this building started as a hardware store in 1898, became a theater in 1940s and operated successfully for 40 years. Now it is getting a new lease on life.

North Dakota

Fargo Theatre (Fargo ND)
http://fargotheatre.org
A deco jaw-dropper, and a super site. The auditorium photo is a knockout, but I would like to see more! The history page is very detailed, with links for each decade of the theatres long life.

Empire Theater (Grand Forks ND)
http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/cjacobs/PersonalReflections.htm
This link will take you to a page in the general Empire Theater site. Personal narratives are the best, in my book. Then take the page links to an excellent history narrative with crisp high resolution photos.

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