HOUSES OF FANTASY
THE AMERICAN MOVIE THEATER

The uniqueness of the Movie Theater can be attributed to the film production it presented and the audience it sought to entertain. In its hey day the masses were escaping into a fantasy of Persian courts, Egyptian temples, seafaring towns with mermaids and seahorses, or Aztec and Mayan ruins. These houses of fantasy were scattered throughout our cities and could be found in every small town. They were as abundant as houses of worship and often regarded with equal stature. George L. Rapp , one of Chicago 's prominent theater architects, believed the movie house was a “shrine to democracy..where the wealthy rub elbows with the poor..”

As much as I respect the historic value of the vintage movie theater, I am equally interested in how the application of color defines our perceptions of place. My response of fascination and seduction to these interiors is not unlike that of its original audience. There is an uninhibited use of color and ornamentation that reflects an age of optimism. The inclusion of vending machines, candy counters and posters, all of which have their own vintage place and chromogentic ambitions, contribute to this seductive atmosphere.

These images are a result of four years of perusing all theaters that would provide me access. They are all in the Chicago area, many have since been razed, abandoned, or split up into smaller spaces.

 

 

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