Theater Pictures

[SFFrontRow]

To All --

Seeing that thread about the Hellinger and seeing some old pics of the Hellinger posted in the thread got me thinking.

I live in SF but go to NYC every summer for my B'way and Off B'way theater fix (and to do selected NYC things like museums and a few attractions each year). I take lots of daytime and nighttime pictures of the theaters as well as the show posters plastered around B'way and on the Shubert Alley area - for my own "history of theater" collection.

Does anyone else take pictures like that? I find it fascinating to see pictures of theaters over the years with show marquees and how they are marketed on the theater fronts.

My pictures only go back to about 1988. Would love to see more (like the Timbuktu! from the Hellinger pictures on that thread).

Thanks.

[dancingthrulife04]

Taking pictures like that is my favorite way to finish a roll of film. I love having pictures of all of the posters.

[Mr Roxy]

For 20 years, I belonged to a group whose love was old picture palaces & vaudeville theaters. Once a year, we got together for 3/4 days & visited theaters all over the country

I photographed them but years ago but gave my slide collection to a similar minded friend years ago. I saw pictures of the Fox & would have given my right arm to have actually been in it . Those in SF made a huge blunder voting to tear it down. Believe Beaverhausen lives in the building that now occupies the site the Fox was on. I wonder what happened to the Oakland Fox. I was in the art deco Oakland Paramount & it was great

[morosco]

At my former job our building was a member of the League of Historic American Theatres. Every year there's a conference in a major city. The best part of the conference is tours of most of the theatres in the city where the conference is. The best years were San Francisco, Chicago, and (no surprise) New York. What was wonderful about the New York year is all the Broadway theatres we were let loose to roam in (except backstage). Off the top of my head I remember visiting the Shubert (where Shoenfeld gave a lengthy welcome), the Martin Beck (now the Hirschfeld), the Winter Garden during it's renovation, the American Airlines, the Ford Center, the New Amsterdam, and many others. I took some amazing pictures and made some great video footage. I knew it was a rare opportunity! You can join as an individual member and participate in the conference. It's a great organization for folks interested in these marvelous buildings around the US.
League of Historic American Theatres

[magruder]

As I mentioned, IBDB.com now has these GREAT photos of the theatres, including a number of houses that are no longer with us.

[magruder]

Here's Pins and Needles at the Windsor/48th Street Theatre (which was torn down after a water tower collapsed on its roof).

[magruder]

The Ambassador, being used to advertise Beyond the Fringe at the Golden.

[magruder]

Several shots of the "dump of dumps," the Craig/Adelphi/54th Street/George Abbott, torn down in 1970. Here are shots of the back of the theatre, advertising Street Scene, a Shaw play called Too True to Be Good, and Bye Bye Birdie, after it had moved from the Martin Beck. Although a few hits originally opened there (On the Town, No Strings), it was the theatre of last resort for new shows, and the theatre where old shows went to die.

[magruder]

Is that hair growing under the Biltmore marquee?

[magruder]

And does anyone else miss what the facade of the Broadway Theatre USED to look like (not to mention the production playing in there when this photo was taken)?

Meet you all at the Sit 'n' Snack!

[MTVMANN]

Ahh, to have the ability to jump into your screen and just pop right into the theater......

[StephanietheStar]

OMg...those are so great!!! they would look amazing framed!

[FosseBoi]

I'm bumping this because I want to see more pictures!

[magruder]

Door rings, bell chimes...

[magruder]

Never before has a boy wanted more...

[Joshua488]

Oh, wow, it's the Neil Simon née Alvin!

I am so loving this thread.

[magruder]

Don't Laugh...

[magruder]

What do you want of me?

[FosseBoi]

OMG! Thank you Soooo MUCH for the pictures! LOVE THEM!! Did they used to let ppl go on those balcony things? I've always wondered what they were for.

[magruder]

Sittin' pretty in the caddie with P. Daddy or Puff Diddy or whatever.

[JohnnyJune]

Wow Magrudder.... Where are you getting all these amazing pictures. I would love to know. If its a book or a website I would love to know.

[Mr Roxy]

Gantry played every performance ( 1 ) @ the Abbott

Saw that, What Makes Sammy Run & Golden Rainbow there among others

[magruder]

I'll change my name too!

[Mr Roxy]

Start posting pictures of old picture palaces & your jaws will drop in wonderment

[magruder]

Listen to my tale of woe, it's terribly sad but true.
All dressed up, no place to go, each evening I'm awfully blue.