Lights, Camera, Action

Los Angeles Theatre, Photo courtesy of LA Conservancy

 
Lights, Camera, Action

by Sweiskloss
June 26, 2025
In theory, not too much has changed in theater design since the 5th Century BC when the Theater of Dionysus was built in Athens. The fundamentals have remained the same - an arc shaped raised seating area and a stage. Sure, we’ve made some adjustments -- movie theaters have replaced the stage with a screen and our seating is decidedly more comfortable than stone.

Following World War 1, many theaters were transformed from basic utilitarian spaces into “ornate picture palaces” that were destinations unto themselves. Several factors contributed to this transformation including a surge in urbanization with more people moving into cities, and cultural shifts that saw movies become a form of mass entertainment. Additionally, advancements in film technology, along with the rise of the powerful film studios, led to Hollywood’s golden age (1920’s and 30’s) and the popularity of iconic stars. This was a time when going to the movies meant more than just seeing a film, it was an event in lavish super-sized movie theaters with screens, stages, orchestra pits and more (scienceandmediamuseum.org).

Peery’s Egyptian Theatre, Ogden, Utah, courtesy of westernartandarchitecture

Aesthetically, the discovery of King Tut’s tomb that set off “a nationwide mania for all things Egyptian” (lightfieldlab.com), influenced the design of many of these theaters featuring temple-like structures and hieroglyphic designs. But it wasn’t all gilded pyramids, other theaters took inspiration from French opera houses to Art Deco ornamentation.

Few of these “grand dames” remain standing today. IMAX theaters, multiplexes, and entertainment spaces such as the Sphere have created new, immersive and interactive experiences. However, through preservation efforts some of these theaters still welcome audiences and offer unique experiences.

Sid Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood, CA
Opened in 1922 on Hollywood Boulevard, the Egyptian Theatre was the site of the first Hollywood premiere, screening Robin Hood starring Douglas Fairbanks. Egyptian influences abound inside and out in its temple-like architecture, hieroglyphs and Egyptian-style paintings. Inside, the 1,760-seat theater originally featured Sphinx sculptures, a winged scarab beetle arch around the stage and a massive sunburst on the ceiling, which was actually an organ grille. The Egyptian Theatre inspired dozens of similarly themed theaters around the country. The building, now owned by Netflix, recently underwent a massive renovation to restore it to its former glory and to add some modern comforts including plush seating and improved sightlines.

Fox Theatre, Hutchinson, KS
Built in 1931 as a “movie palace where people could escape the Depression” the four-story Fox Theatre was built with Art Deco flair. The marque was the first flashing neon display in the state. Art Deco details include “stepped terra cotta arches and capital blocks with floral … motifs, pressed aluminum panels with geometric designs, and pilasters which divide the building into four bays” (kansassampler.org). After closing in 1985, it was purchased by a non-profit organization and restored to its former glory, reopening in 1999 as a regional center for the performing arts offering movies, musicals and more.

Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, TX
When it opened in 1929, the Majestic Theatre was the largest in Texas seating more than 2,000 people, and the first to offer air conditioning (no wonder it was popular). It featured Spanish Mission, Baroque and Mediterranean architectural styles, complete with balconies, tile roofs, arches and handcrafted plaster ornamentation. It was designed as an “atmospheric” theater and was intended to make the audience feel as though they were outside, with “flying” taxidermy doves, grapevines painted on the walls, and a vaulted sky ceiling that “twinkles” with small bulbs (westernartandarchitecture). After a period of closure, it underwent a renovation and reopened as a National Historic Landmark.

The Byrd Theatre, Richmond, VA
The Byrd Theatre felt like a French Empire opera house when it opened in 1928, featuring an 18-foot chandelier with color changing bulbs, elaborate murals, and extensive use of marble and gold leaf. The highlight of the theater was the Wurlitzer Organ, which originally accompanied silent movies and is still played before most movies today. Restored and run by the Byrd Theater Foundation, it has been designated a State and National Landmark, shows films and hosts festivals.

Music Box Theatre, Chicago, IL

Image by Kate Vogel, courtesy of savingplaces.org

The Music Box opened in 1929 and showcased Italian and Spanish design influences with a faux marble loggia, ornamented walls and round towers that were reminiscent of an Italian courtyard or palazzo. It was designed as an atmospheric theater, featuring a dark blue ceiling, “twinkling stars,” and clouds to suggest the night sky. Unlike other grand movie palaces, “the Music Box had no stage and, therefore, could only be a film presentation house” (musicboxtheatre.com). Today, the Music Box is the only theater in the Chicago area presenting silent films with organ accompaniment.

And closer to home, if you are interested in seeing some of the local opulent theaters in person, the LA Conservancy conducts weekly walking tours through LA’s historic theatres. (https://www.laconservancy.org/tours-events/events-calendar/broadway-historic-theatre-and-commercial-district-walking-tour/)
 
Laura McMahon