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(238k) 920x920 (784k)
About the painting...
This large oil painting (measuring approximately 3 1/2' x 4')
was a rendering by the Rambusch Decorating Company of their proposed concept for
the Roxy Theatre. Faintly visible in the lower left corner is the inscription "Walter W.
Ahlschlager, Architect. Chicago," which was subsequently painted out.
In its day, the image and line drawings based on it were
often used in advertisements by purveyors to the Roxy. Interestingly, some of them
show a lattice ceiling behind the dome instead of the beamed treatment actually built.
So, originally, did the painting; upon close inspection, the "ghost" of the lattice is clearly visible beneath the overpainted beams. There are also a few other variations in
architectural or decorative details between what's shown in this rendering and what was
actually built.
The painting was acquired long ago by THS founder Ben
Hall from the Rambusch studios and is now part of the Ben Hall Collection on display at
the American Theatre Architecture Archives at THS headquarters in Elmhurst,
Illinois.
The rich variety and intricate detail of the Roxy's decoration
is evident and may be best appreciated when viewing the larger images linked above.
Note that this and other images from THSA collections are
copyright © 2008 by the Theatre Historical Society of America. All rights reserved. Images belonging to THSA may be used for personal or educational purposes only, PROVIDED PROPER CREDIT IS GIVEN [e.g., "Image copyright by and courtesy of Theatre Historical Society of America"]. Otherwise, such images may not be used commercially or for-profit or otherwise copied, reproduced, distributed, uploaded or published by any means, without express permission and payment of appropriate fees.
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![[Roxy Theatre,
New York, NY]](roxy1-7.jpg)