THS Awards

Theatre Historical Society of America

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

The President's Award

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

2002 - Willis and Shirley Johnson

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

2003 - Brother Andrew C. Fowler

Co-founder of and moving force behind THS.

2004 - Steve Markham

Outstanding efforts in preserving the legacy of historic theatre curtains.

2005 - Joseph R. DuciBella

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

2008 - Gregory Davis, CPA

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

2009 - Michael Hauser

THS Vice President, for his continued outstanding efforts in planning and producing our annual THS Conclaves.

Outstanding Book of the Year Award

The Outstanding Book of the Year Award, begun in 2005, is given to the book judged to have best exemplified documentation and appreciation of historic theatres, in keeping with the purposes of THS.

2005

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

2006

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

2007 (tie)

Motion Picture Exhibition in Baltimore: An Illustrated History and Directory of Theaters, 1895-2004 by Robert Headley. A narrative history of theatres and the moviegoing experience in Baltimore. [To order this title]

Theaters by Craig Morrison. A monumental illustrated compendium and sourcebook of theatre types and architectural styles. [To order this title].

2008 (tie)

Cinema Houston: From Nickelodeon to Megaplex by David Welling. A celebration of a century of theatres in Texas's largest city. [To order this title]

Twin Cities Picture Show by DAve Kenney. A highly readable account with dazzling pictures and rich histories of some of the grandest theaters ever constructed. [To order this title].

2009

Our Movie Houses: A History of Film & Innovation in Central New York by Norman O. Keim, with David Marc. The lavishly illustrated book captures the excitement and innovation of the early days of local movie making. [To order this title].

2010

Encore! The Renaissance of Wisonsin Opera Houses by Brian Doyle. This excellent book chronicles the histories of ten Wisconsin opera houses and theatres, all but one of which has been restored to its original splendor. Mark Fay's beautiful photographs capture the essence of them all. [To order this title].

2011 (tie)

Milwaukee Movie Theatres by Larry Widen. A comprehensive illustrated exploration of the many theatres that existed in Milwaukee. [To order this title].

The Brooklyn Theatre Index by Cezar Del Valle. An incredible 3-volume compilation of every theatre that ever existed in Brooklyn. Vol. 1 (508 pgs.): [To order this title].
Vol. 2 (300 pgs): [To order this title].

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

Member of the Year Awards

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

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

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

Recipients of the Member of the Year Award are:

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

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

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

2000 - Steve Levin (THS Publications Editor)
2001 - Herb Stockinger (THS Director)
2002 - Frank Sherwood (THS supporter)
2003 - Mr. and Mrs. Elias Weiss (THS Weiss Award benefactors)
2004 - Dale Carter and Annon Adams (THS Editorial Sub-committee)
2005 - Barry Goodkin (THS Director and Marquee® contributor)
2006 - John Kiesendahl, DDS (THS Elections Chair and Conclave photographer)
2007 - Don Bohatka (THS Midwest Director)
2008 - Ted Gooding (THS SoCal Director and L.A. Conclaves Chair)
2009 - Howard Haas (For his efforts to save Philadelphia's Boyd Theatre)

2010 - Karen Colizzi Noonan (THS President)
2011 - Ken Bloom (THS Publications Director)

Recipients of the Honorary Member of the Year Award are:

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

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

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

2000 - John Hemsath (Playhouse Square, Cleveland)
2001 - Ida Cole (Paramount Theatre, Seattle WA)
2002 - Michael and Chris Forman (Pacific Theatres)
2003 - Tony Heinsbergen (Theatre decorator)
2004 - Miss Frances DiBella (Palace Theatre, Syracuse NY)
2005 - Edward Collins (Operations Dir., El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood CA)
2006 - Bob Ohmann (Theatre owner and entrepreneur, Lyons NY)
2007 - Jack Tillmany (Theatre historian, Walnut Creek CA)
2008 - Robert Nudelman (Theatre preservationist, Hollywood CA)
2009 - Phil Tagami (Developer, for restoration of the Fox Oakland [CA])

2010 - Linda Dishman Exec. Dir., Los Angeles Conservancy, for efforts to preserve and celebrate downtown L. A. theatres
2011 - Dr. Sam and Patty Shaheen, who saved and renovated the Temple Theatre in Saginaw MI, and gave it to the people of Saginaw.

Jeffrey Weiss Literary Award

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

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