The Utah Pantages Theatre – Salt Lake City, Utah

August 15, 2023August 15, 2023 / Matt / Leave a comment

This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

On December 1, 1920, the Pantages Theatre opened in Salt Lake City, and was called “Utah’s most ornate theater” in an early advertisement. Designed by Benjamin Marcus Priteca, the official architect of the Pantages circuit, the theater could accommodate 2,300 guests. Priteca had designed more than 20 theaters for the company, making him the preferred architect of Alexander Pantages. The theater cost a staggering $2 million, equivalent to $34 million in present-day terms. Priteca, famous for his work with Pantages, decorated the interior in the Italian Renaissance style, a popular choice in Pantages theaters that became known as “Pantages Greek.”

A closer look at the skylight of the Utah Pantages Theatre. — A close up of the tiffany skylight.

The grand opening of the theater featured the silent film “Polyanna,” starring Mary Pickford as well as some vaudeville performances. On September 11, 1929, it was renamed the RKO Orpheum Theatre and renamed again on September 29, 1937, as the Utah Theatre. The Utah Theatre reopened with a stage review and the film “The Girl Said No,” starring Robert Armstrong.

View of the lobby from the mezzanine level.

In 1938, the Utah Pantages Theatre underwent significant changes, which included the removal of its third story and the application of Art Moderne style to its facade. A new marquee was also installed in the same style. Over the years, the theater hosted many famous performances from celebrities such as Babe Ruth, Abbott and Costello, and Will Rogers.

Entrance hallway to the Utah Pantages Theatre in Salt Lake City, Utah. — The theater had a long entrance hallway leading to the lobby.

The center section of the facade and marquee were replaced yet again in 1968, this time with a simpler design featuring a smaller projecting roof. The interior also underwent major renovations during this time, resulting in the creation of a twin-plex layout and the removal of original interior finishes in the lower auditorium to accommodate the renovation.

It ceased to operate as a movie theater in 1988 and was later used by a local dance company until 1992, when it was sold to new owners. Following a series of changes in ownership, the vacant building was eventually acquired by the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency (RDA) in 2009.

View of the auditorium from the side of the balcony.

Hines, a privately owned real estate development firm, signed an agreement with Salt Lake City in 2019 to purchase the Utah Theatre property. The agreement required the future residential development to include at least 10% of affordable housing units and to maintain a green space with public access. The developers acquired the property for $0 from the RDA under these conditions. However, the proposed 31-story, 400-unit apartment tower at the site, which would involve the demolition of the Utah Theatre, was met with controversy. There have been efforts to save the theatre from demolition as supporters of this initiative dispute the city’s renovation cost estimates of $60-$80 million.

Some of the ornate plasterwork that remained in the theater prior to demolition.

The demolition of the historic theater, despite efforts by preservationists, and concerned citizens, began on April 19, 2022. Michael Valentine, a filmmaker and one of the founders of the group “Save the Historic Utah Pantages Theatre”, watched the demolition from a distance, streaming the event online. He lamented the loss of the beloved theater, describing it as a “hard to watch” and “sad day for Utah,” adding that it was “Utah’s greatest theater.” Multiple legal attempts to save the building proved unsuccessful, while the developers were unyielding in their pursuit of their construction schedule, citing financial losses for any delays.

After the theater’s demolition, Hines requested a one-year extension for finalizing their designs, citing unforeseen challenges discovered through soil samples. However, the loss of a key equity partner due to market changes has created significant financial difficulties for the Texas-based firm, causing them to miss their legal deadline for commencing construction.

The developer, though affirming their commitment to the success of the upscale tower, has not provided any timelines or estimates for when the delays might end. This has left many wondering about the future of the site and its impact on the surrounding community.

Elks Lodge – Pawtucket, RI

July 11, 2023January 11, 2023 / Matt / Leave a comment

This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in November 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

View of the auditorium from the orchestra level.

The Pawtucket Elks Lodge Building is located in the central business district of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It was designed in the Mission/Spanish Revival architectural style by the O’Malley-Fitzsimmons Company. Its first floor was made for commercial tenants, which is unusual for an Elks lodge.

Looking back at the auditorium from the stage.

On June 10, 1904, the Pawtucket Lodge of Elks #920 was founded with 64 members. They rented halls for their meetings before purchasing a permanent home on School Street in 1914. However, membership skyrocketed, and they announced plans to build a new lodge building in 1924. Construction was complete by 1926 and they moved in. During the Great Depression, the Pawtucket Elks could survive because of the income they received from the commercial tenants in the building.

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 18, 1983. The Elks moved out of the building in the late 20th century, and the building fell into disrepair. It’s currently home to an artists collective who live and work in the building.

The exterior of the building.

A tapestry that was definitely not original to the building.

Empire Gardens (The Globe, Loew’s Center Theatre) – Boston, MA

June 14, 2023January 11, 2023 / Matt / 2 Comments

The Empire Garden was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in December 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

The exterior of the theater.

The Empire Garden restaurant in Boston, Massachusetts was originally the Globe Theatre, a historic movie theater that was built in 1903. The theater was designed in the French Renaissance style by architect Athur Vinal and was a popular entertainment venue in Boston for many years.

It was taken over by E.M Loew’s and renamed the Loew’s Center Theatre in 1947. It has the distinction of being run by both Loew’s Incorporated, and the E.M. Loew’s circuits. Over the years, the Loew’s Center Theatre played host to a variety of films, stage productions, and other events. It was a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

The area the theater was in became known as “The Combat Zone” in the late 1960s, and in 1974, the Boston Redevelopment Authority rezoned the area as a red-light district. The Center started showing soft-core pornography and blaxploitation films.

In the late 1980s, the theater was renamed to the Pagoda, and switched formats to show Hong Kong action films. However, it struggled financially and closed in 1995. It was later converted into the Empire Garden restaurant, which has been in operation at the same location ever since. While the exterior of the building has been preserved, much of the interior has been renovated to accommodate the restaurant. The ground floor has been completely gutted to make way for retail space, but the balcony survives and is now the dining room for the restaurant.

Summer and Fall Photo Workshops 2023

May 25, 2023May 25, 2023 / Matt / Leave a comment

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be hosting a photography workshop at the Fox West Theatre in Trinidad, Colorado, on October 21, 2023. Here’s a bit about the theater –

The Fox Theatre in Trinidad, Colorado, made its grand debut on March 16, 1908, showcasing the stage play “The Bondman.” Over the years, it served as a versatile venue for a variety of performances, including stage shows, vaudeville acts, opera, and silent films. It closed in 2013, making it one of the longest running single screen theaters in the country.

I spent around 8 hours photographing the place, and it wasn’t enough. There’s just too much to see.

For more info and to sign up visit:

https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/foxwestworkshop1021

View from the upper balcony of the Sorg Opera House.

Another new addition is the Sorg Opera House in Middletown, Ohio on September 30, 2023. This workshop was originally going to happen before the pandemic, and I’m happy it’s finally taking place.

It originally opened in the 1890s. The Sorg began showing early forms of motion pictures in 1901 and switched to films full time in the late 1920s. It is currently owned by the SORG (Sorg Opera Revitalization Group), who have performed much needed renovations on parts of the theater.

For more on the theater check out my post from 2018: https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2018/10/25/sorg-opera-house-middletown-ohio/

To sign up for the workshop visit:

https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/sorgoperahouseworkshop

Finally, by popular demand – there will be another workshop at the Paramount Theatre in Springfield, MA on July 29, 2023. It’s one of my favorite workshop locations, and I’m glad it’s back in the rotation.

To sign up visit: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/paramountworkshop72023

For the rest of the 2023 workshop schedule check out:

https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops

Union Theatre – Attleboro, MA

May 1, 2023April 28, 2025 / Matt / Leave a comment

This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in February 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

The Union Theatre in Attleboro, MA originally opened in 1918 as a vaudeville and silent movie theater. It was operated by B & Q Associates and had 1,101 seats. Because of the decline in vaudeville, and the rise of the modern talking motion picture, the Union underwent a remodel in 1927 to give it the ability to show “talkies.”

Another remodel happened in May 1939 when air conditioning was added to the theater. The Union was divided into multiple screens in 1986 so that it could show multiple movies at a time. It was renamed the Roxy Theatre, then the Attleboro Cinema before returning to the Union Theater. It closed as a movie theater in the 1990s.

During the early 2000s, the Triboro Youth Theatre rented the Union and performed Broadway musicals. They removed the wall dividing the lower level into two screens and removed the drywall covering the original stage. Musicals held at the theater during this time include Peter Pan, Jesus Christ, Superstar and South Pacific. However, this was short-lived as the theater was not up to code, and they released the Triboro Youth Theatre from their rental agreement.

In September 2015, thieves broke into the theater, stole the sound amplifiers from the projectors and some lenses. The owner of the theater used the marquee to ask for its return. It read “Wanted: Stolen Projector Equipment Returned” for several months after the theft. The theater remains closed.

Boyd Theatre – Bethlehem, PA

April 8, 2023January 11, 2023 / Matt / 2 Comments

View of the auditorium from the center of the balcony.

Built at a cost of $250,000 ($4.1 million when adjusted for inflation) The Boyd Theatre in Bethlehem, PA originally opened on September 1, 1921 as the Kurtz Theatre. It was designed by E. C Horn Sons of New York City for Charles and John Kurtz, in the streamline moderne architectural style. The 1,626 seat theater originally featured vaudeville and silent films as part of the Shubert Advance Vaudeville circuit.

The original lobby was destroyed by a fire in December 1966.

Opening night featured a performance from a seven-piece orchestra, a minstrel show, two vaudeville acts, the silent film “The Great Moment” starring Gloria Swanson, and the theater organist playing the Estey pipe organ. Less than two months after opening, on October 24, 1921, the theater discontinued vaudeville, and began only showing silent films. The first film shown after this change was “Way Down East” starring Lillian Gish. In October 1922, the Broadway Players, a comedic opera company, began holding performances at the theater. In 1924, E.C. Horn Sons sued the Kurtz Brothers for non-payment of fees for their part in constructing the theater. They were awarded $21,000, or $364,000 with inflation, later that year.

The exterior of the theater was replaced after the fire in 1966.

The Kurtz closed in July 1924 and the following month the building was purchased by the Wilmer & Vincent theater circuit and reopened as the Colonial Theatre. It was named after the Colonial Theatre in Allentown, PA, which they also owned. In 1925, the interior of the theater was remodeled to the plans of William H. Lee, who also designed the Boyd Theatre in Philadelphia, PA and the Drake Theatre in Oil City, PA.

In 1934, the building was purchased by A.R. Boyd Enterprises of Philadelphia, and renamed the Boyd Theatre. A.R. Boyd Enterprises also operated the Boyd Theaters in Philadelphia, Allentown and Easton, PA. On December 27, 1966, a fire broke out at the theater. The fire destroyed much of the Boyd’s lobby and some of the retail spaces in the front of the building. Bethlehem’s building inspector condemned the remains of the lobby, and it had to be completely rebuilt, which kept the theater from reopening until early 1968.

View of the auditorium from the side of the balcony.

The Boyd was sold to a local family in 1970, and they continued to operate it as a single screen theater. However, the balcony was closed more often than not. A new Dolby Digital Surround sound system was installed in 1999 and was used for the first time during a showing of “Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace.”

Looking back from the stage at the Boyd Theatre in Bethlehem, PA

View of the auditorium from the stage.

The Boyd was damaged by heavy rainstorms in May 2011, and the owners announced it would be closed for the rest of the year while repairs were made. Unfortunately, the theater continued to deteriorate, never reopened, and was eventually sold. In February 2019, it was announced that the Boyd would be demolished and replaced by a 13 story apartment building. The theater was sold again in early 2021 to DLP Real Estate Capital and Monocacy General Contracting, and the replacement building was changed to six stories at a cost of $50 million.

Demolition began in February 2022, and was completed by early May. The “Boyd Theatre” sign was removed prior to the demolition and is planned to be incorporated into one of the new buildings’ courtyards. The new building is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

Midwest Photo Workshops

March 23, 2023 / Matt / Leave a comment

View from the middle balcony of the Emery Theatre.

I’ve got two new photo workshop locations for 2023. The first is the Emery Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 24, 2023, and the second is the Imperial Theatre in Cincinnati on June 25, 2023. I’ve got a few more new locations in the works, but I don’t expect those to happen before the fall.

Here’s the current workshop line up:

Franklin Park Theatre

Location: Boston, MA

Date/Time:

April 16, 2023

The Theatre: The Franklin Park Theatre opened on December 8, 1914 in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It was designed by Boston architectural firm Funk and Wilcox, who also designed the nearby Strand Theatre. It was turned into a church in 1963.

Franklin Park Theatre

Cost: $110

Tickets: http://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/franklinparktheatreworkshop

Paramount Theatre

Location: Springfield, MA

Date/Time: April 29, 2023

The Theatre: The Paramount Theater (also known as the Julia Sanderson Theater and The Hippodrome) opened in 1926. Built at a cost of $1 million (13 million when adjusted for inflation), it was the most ornate theater in western Massachusetts. The Paramount closed after being used as a nightclub for a few years. It is currently scheduled to undergo a renovation and reopen as a performing arts center.

Paramount Theatre Springfield, MA

Cost: $110.00

Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/paramountworkshopapril2023

Emery Theatre

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Date/Time: June 24, 2023

The Theatre: Built as part of the Ohio Mechanics Institute, the Emery Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio opened on January 6, 1912 as the Emery Auditorium. It was one of four “acoustically perfect” concert halls whose design was inspired by the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL. The other three were the Orchestra Hall, also in Chicago, Carnegie Hall in New York, and the Orchestra Hall in Detroit, MI. It was recently sold for $8.55 million to local developers who intend to restore the building. The restoration costs are estimated at around $30 million and will take about three years to complete.

Emery Theatre – Cincinnati, Ohio

Cost: $125.00

Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/emery-theatre-623

Imperal Theatre

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Date/Time: June 25, 2023

The Theatre: The Imperial is a 700 seat theater that opened in 1913. it closed in the 70s and was used as a mattress store for until the late 2000s. The current owner is looking to restore and reopen it.

Cost: $70

Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/imperialtheatre625

Location: Boston, MA

Date/Time:

August 26, 2023

The Theatre: The Strand Theatre opened on November 11, 1918, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It was designed by Boston architectural firm Funk and Wilcox, who also designed the nearby Franklin Park Theatre. It is currently used for live events, and has air conditioning, which makes it a perfect theater for workshop in August.

Strand Theatre – Boston, MA

Cost: $75.00

Tickets: http://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/strand-theatre-workshop-boston-ma

The Elmora Theatre – Elizabeth, New Jersey

March 16, 2023January 11, 2023 / Matt / Leave a comment

The Elmora Theatre opened on February 15, 1927 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was called “The Theatre Beautiful” in early advertisements and was primarily a live playhouse when it opened. The Kirkham Players, a local acting company, performed in most of the plays shown at the Elmora. However, on June 11, 1928, a little over a year after they began, J. Ellis Kirkham, the managing director of the Kirkham Players, resigned because of a difference of opinion on managerial policy. Kirkham’s resignation led to a much less popular group taking over the Elmora, and by 1929 it had closed.

On April 1st 1929, Werba and Taylor of New York City reopened the Elmora. The first play shown at the newly christened Werba’s Elmora was “The Trial of Mary Dugan.” By 1941, the Elmora had switched to showing motion pictures, and continued to do so until it closed. Bob Jaspan, an Elizabeth City Councilman, had purchased the theater in 1986. Jaspan purchased the building to move his hardware store there, but was convinced to keep the theater open by his constituents. He ran two-for-one specials, reduced ticket prices and held monthly screenings for senior citizens, but ultimately could not compete with nearby multiplexes.

Jaspan closed the theater in 1996. After it closed, Jaspan had the long hallway style lobby split up into retail spaces, and rented out the auditorium to the Evangelistic Hispanic Church. Jaspan sold the theater a few years later. The auditorium became a secondhand furniture showroom in 2007, but that didn’t last long because of the deteriorating state of the building.

Rivoli Theatre (Williams Center for the Arts) Rutherford, NJ

February 9, 2023February 20, 2023 / Matt / 1 Comment

This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in January 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

The auditorium shortly after it opened, and in 2016.

The Rivoli Theatre opened on April 22, 1922, in Rutherford, New Jersey. It was designed by architect Abram Presikel and featured a marble facade, an ornate interior, and a centerpiece chandelier made of crystals from Czechoslovakia. The 2,200 seat theater opened as a combination vaudeville and silent film house. During this time, acts such as Abbott and Costello and the Glenn Miller Orchestra performed at the Rivoli.

In 1936, architect John Eberson, known for designing many atmospheric theaters across the world, remodeled the interior. On January 9, 1977, a fire destroyed the lobby and front of the building. Luckily, most of the auditorium was undamaged. Repairs began right away, and in 1982 the theater reopened as a performing arts center called the George W. Newman Theatre. However, movies were still shown in the building. As part of the reconstruction, a two-screen cinema was constructed on the site of the Rivoli’s lobby. The entire building, including the former Rivoli and the two-screen cinema, was named the William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts, after the poet, doctor, and Rutherford native.

The theater was gifted to Bergen County in 1987, and they made an agreement with the nonprofit group that ran the theater to continue on. Over the years, the theater hosted music shows, films, art shows, and High School Graduations. In October 2012, the Newman theater closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. A study determined that the ceiling plasterwork might not be stable if exposed to the sound of a live music performance. In August 2021, Bergen County transferred the ownership of the building to the borough of Rutherford, who then sold it to local developer Chuck Olivo for $1. Olivo intends to save the theater, as well as build a residential building on the site.

View of the auditorium from the back rows.

A close up of some of the surviving plasterwork details in the auditorium.

Behind the giant chandelier you can see the divide where the original auditorium ends and the newer portion begins.

Casino Theatre – Bronx, NY

November 14, 2022November 11, 2022 / Matt / 2 Comments

The auditorium of the former Casino Theatre in the Bronx.

View of the auditorium from the side of the balcony.

The Casino Theatre originally opened as the Willis Theatre in late December 1923. It’s near 138th Street in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, NY. The 2,166 seat theater was designed by architect Eugene De Rosa, who is known for many other New York Metropolitan Theatres such as The Apollo Theatre in Harlem, Studio 54 in Midtown Manhattan, and the St. George Theatre in Staten Island.

It was not a successful theater and closed and reopened many times throughout the 1920s, often with a change of format. It went from vaudeville to burlesque to motion pictures and even had a brief stint as a Broadway-style theater when a manager’s tryout for “A Woman of Destiny” was held at the theater in 1936.

Center view of the Auditorium, Casino Theatre - Bronx, NY

The orchestra level was converted into a grocery store, and the stage area is used for storage.

The Willis was renovated and renamed the Casino in 1939 to coincide with the World’s Fair, which was being held at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, NY. It closed as a movie house for the last time in the 1960s. After a few years, a supermarket replaced the theater. However, it wasn’t demolished, at least not completely. Instead, the lobby and orchestra level of the auditorium were gutted and converted into the supermarket. The balcony is all that remains of the Casino today.

Storage lockers for films. Early film was made of nitrate, and it is very combustible, so it needed to be stored in lockers like the one pictured here.

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