American Movie Palace Museum
Theatre Historical Society of America
The museum is located at the Society headquarters in the
historic York Theatre building, 152 North York Street, 2nd floor, Elmhurst, Illinois
(located approximately 16 miles West of Chicago's Loop).
[For directions on how to get there.]
On display are a great variety of objects from the era of the great movie palaces in the U.S., including the original 4ft by 5ft architect's rendering of New York City's famed Roxy Theatre; an orchestra conductor's stand from the Granada in Chicago; tassels from the original house curtain at the Warner (Grand) in Milwaukee; sections of the marble balustrade from the lobby of the New York Paramount; architect Thomas Lamb's rendering of the Pitkin in Brooklyn; whimsical figures from the children's nursery and playroom of the Uptown in Chicago; an actual 35mm projector; and a leaded glass window with the Fox logo from the Brooklyn Fox.
[Click on each photo for larger
image.]
The centerpiece of the Museum is a finely-detailed, large scale-model of Chicago's 1927 Avalon Theatre, complete with bubbling fountains and flying doves! This authentic replica of the atmospheric "Persian Palace" theatre was built over a period of three years by Frank Cronican, a New York designer of television stage sets, and is accurate down to the WurliTzer organ console. Following his death, it was donated to THSA. A large-screen television now graces its "stage" and visitors to the Museum may view videos from the THSA collection in a real "movie palace" setting, albeit a scale model!
The Museum is open free of charge (although donations are gratefully accepted!) Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and most third Saturdays of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Call to reconfirm third Saturdays.) No appointments are necessary. Evening open houses are also occasionally scheduled. Small group tours are welcome by prior arrangement. Call the Society at (630) 782-1800 for further details.