OCT 10th IS HISTORIC THEATRES DAY!
THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA PROCLAIMS OCTOBER 10TH HISTORIC THEATRES DAY
PITTSBURGH, PA – Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) proclaims October 10th as Historic Theatres Day with a City of Pittsburgh Proclamation from Mayor William Peduto. Historic Theatres Day honors the legacy of theatres as well as the film and theatre industries in Pittsburgh that have impacted our city and the region.
For nearly fifty years, THS has been the guardian of the architectural, cultural, and social relevance of historic theatres in the United States. In that time, THS has documented nearly 18,000 theatres in the American Theatre Archives; many of which have been lost to the wrecking ball. THS moved their offices and archives to Pittsburgh in 2016 due to the rich history of the region, as Pittsburgh is widely regarded as the birthplace of the stand-alone, commercial movie theatre, the Nickelodeon.
“These venerable, temples of entertainment, have entertained for generations and continue to be icons of thriving communities across the country,”said Executive Director Richard L. Fosbrink. “THS is thrilled to launch Historic Theatres Day, what we hope will become a nation-wide event, right here in our adopted hometown of Pittsburgh.”
“We are delighted that the Theatre Historical Society of America has adopted Pittsburgh as its new home for its archives and institution. Among the many wonderful cultural aspects this city has to offer, the Society’s presence makes an excellent addition. With some of the grandest historic theatres in the nation here in Pittsburgh such as the Benedum Center for Performing Arts and the Byham Theater, we are overjoyed by this proclamation which will continue the celebration, preservation, and protection of these cultural landmarks for years to come”, said J. Kevin McMahon, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
ABOUT THE THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA:
Founded in 1969 as a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the rich history of America’s historic theatres, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) exists today as a common ground for all who value the role of these historic structures in our architectural, cultural and social history. Through preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive and our educational programming, including our flagship publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres. Visit THS online at historictheatres.org.
ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS:
Visitors to Theatre Historical Society of America have the opportunity to explore in the greatest theatre architecture-related archive of its kind, the American Theatre Architecture Archive (ATAA). The collections housed in the ATAA contain information on over 18,000 theatres (both domestic and international) and span nearly every style and period of theatre architecture. Composed of photographs, negatives, slides, postcards, artists’ renderings, scrapbooks, books, periodicals, business records, blueprints and architectural drawings, supplier and trade catalogs, architectural artifacts, theatre furnishings, ushers’ uniforms, and numerous other items, the collections exist to document and preserve the cultural and social history of America’s theatre buildings. Find out more and explore our collections online at historictheatres.org.
!Get Involved!
use hashtag #HistoricTheatresDay tomorrow to share stories, photos, and videos from your favorite Theatres.
You can also CONTACT: Gina Vensel
September 28, 2017 gina.vensel@historictheatres.org
412-897-2988
photograph by Fred Beall from Fred Beall Collection