Historic Theatre Photo Collections of the THSA

The THS American Theatre Architecture Archive is a treasure trove of theatre-related materials, and here is a brief overview of our photo­graphic holdings.  While most are of theatre buildings, we also have photos of stage sets, lighting equipment, projectors and other theatre-related topics such as artifacts, blueprints, theatre files, books, and postcards.

One such file in archive is The Terry Helgesen Collection, which con­sists of 26 scrapbooks (some with 600 pages) occupying 15 linear feet.  Within the scrapbooks are more than 2,000 photos of theatres, mostly from the 1020s and 30s, with his index and notes.

An additional 4,300 images are found in various collections including the Richard Hay Collection of 800 photo­graphs of RKO Theatres in the mid-1950s and the Loew’s Theatre Collection of 2,300 photos.  Founder Ben Hall pho­tographed many theatres, as did Brother Andrew Corsini Fowler, and many of their images are stored in the THS archives.  In addition, Michael Miller documented many New York City-area the­atres in snapshots which he donated to THS.

There are negatives (some 8″x10″ glass plates) of 1,400 views of 255 theatres in the Chicago Architectural Photographing Company Collection, done mostly for Rapp & Rapp and the Paramount-Publix Theatres.  There are also some 6,000 other negatives of 1,600 theatres in our general collection.

Elmer Upton (left) and a man believed to be John Balaban strolling State Street outside the Chicago Theatre in 1934. Electricians were changing the canopy for the Earl Burtnett Band show which was about to open. Upton was the comptroller for Balaban & Kotz for more than 40 years and was secretary for scores of dummy theatre corporations owned by B&K according to documents in the THS Archives. Photo gift of Geoffrey Upton, THS Archive

We hold some 21,000 35mm slides, mostly color and generally after 1965, of theatre structures throughout the US, including 800 stereo slides.  The Michael Miller Collection includes an additional 9,000 slides which were taken mainly in the New York City area, but include theatres in other cities while attending THS Conclaves. The Eddie Gibbs Slide Collection has about 3,500 images.

The Jack Tillmany Slide Collection has 2,500 images, which were indexed by THS member, Lowell Angell.  The Gene Gladson Slide Collection, a gift of the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation, has some 450 slides, of which some were taken during THS conclaves.  Gladson’s Indiana materials found a local home at IDHP, but theatres outside Indiana came to us.  The Bill Benedict Slide Collection contains about 3,750 views, many taken on trips during summer vacations from Bill’s teaching job. He favored the East Coast and theatres in the Detroit area.

This photographic store house finds use in our own publications as well as by authors of books on theatres, movies, and popular culture.  For example, one inquiry was for photos of the Roxyettes who danced at the New York Roxy. Architects, designers, municipalities, and individuals who are restoring or renovating theatres contact us for images to document the building at a specific time.  Mark Wretschko from American Seating Co. makes use of our photo archive, as does Jeff Greene at EverGreene Architectural Arts and architects Martinez & Johnson, among others.

Fox Midwest opened the Granada in downtown Mt. Vernon, Ill. in 1937 with 1,000 seats.  It was designed by Boller Bros., and in 1982 was twinned by Kerosotes Theatres.  They donated it to the city in 1996 with a restriction in the deed that no movies could be shown.   On May 1, 2017, the Granada Center for the Performing arts was sold to developer Russell Brown; it will undergo a series of cosmetic and structural improvements with plans to reopen in 2018.    Photo by Carol Slingo, THS Archives

If you find this story fascinating, we have a treasure trove of information about the history of your favorite theatres.  Sign up for an account on historictheatres.org and enter through the STAGE DOOR!