Posted: 3/4/16 at 1:17am
Mr Roxy:
You would have loved the 75th anniversary celebration:
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2004-07-28/calendar/our-20th-century-fox/
My parents took me and I saw my first silent film!
Posted: 3/4/16 at 12:57pm
Did they fire up the massive pipe organ especially since it was a silent firm?
Posted: 3/4/16 at 1:12pm
Also, the Orpheum in San Francisco! Some tourists once asked me if it used to be a cathedral.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bwchicago/2771329973
Updated On: 3/4/16 at 01:12 PM
Posted: 3/4/16 at 1:36pm
Mr Roxy said: "The Plaza in El Paso is an atmospheric theater. Do you know if the cloud machine and stars still work Ozjust4?
I believe they do work.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 1:44pm
You are lucky. The stars are just flashing lights. The cloud effect is done by a contraption called a brenograph. If it still works, it is a miracle. They may have developed an alternative way of doing this as this device has not been made in more than 50 or more years.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 1:49pm
This is also a stunning theater, but it was designed for both symphonies/concerts and plays. I personally feel it doesn't work for plays as well because orchestra has the usual limitations of missing a lot of on stage light-design, and even the closest seat on front mezz is very far from the stage. The intimacy of live theater is lost, even after paying a lot of money.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 1:57pm
MR: "Did they fire up the massive pipe organ especially since it was a silent firm?"
They did!
AND there was an organ recital during pre-seating/seating. The last, or maybe next-to-last, song before the anniversary show began was 'Phantom'. You've never experienced the Phantom vamp until you feel the rumble of one of the largest-ever theater organs with all the stops out. You can literally feel it in the floor and walls. I still get chills remembering it.
Edit: Found a decent clip of the late, brilliant Stan Kann playing a Phantom/Bach medley. If you use headphones there are a few points in the clip where you can get a sense of the vibrations coming off that thing. It's stunning:
This is a wonderful 8 minute PBS package on the history of the Mighty Wurlitzer of the St. Louis Fox with a bit of history of the theater itself:
Updated On: 3/4/16 at 01:57 PM
Posted: 3/4/16 at 3:20pm
Another vote for the beloved St. Louis Fox!
Posted: 3/4/16 at 3:28pm
Little know fact about it.The theater was featured in Escape From NY which was filmed in St Louis - go figure. This was when the theater was really run down and almost abandoned. You really cannot see it as it is now and the scenes there were very dark
Posted: 3/4/16 at 3:41pm
These theatres are newer, but still are extremely pretty and interesting to look at.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 4:57pm
The Boston Opera house, for sure.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 5:03pm
Boston opera house...
Posted: 3/4/16 at 5:04pm
Double post
Updated On: 3/4/16 at 05:04 PM
Posted: 3/4/16 at 6:14pm
Years ago , I was with a group touring old theaters. We went upstairs at the Boston Opera House and sat there while people talked and sang on stage. We heard perfectly even though they were not miked.
Great acoustics
Updated On: 3/4/16 at 06:14 PM
Posted: 3/4/16 at 6:46pm
Was this a bone ride tour? If so, can you please share it. Thanks.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 6:47pm
Another vote for the Majestic in San Antonio. I am always in awe when I see a show in that theatre!
Posted: 3/4/16 at 7:02pm
To J
I was with a group Theater Historical Society. They publish magazines 4 times a year.They also have a convention once a year where they tour old theaters. I used to be NYC director. I quit over politics I could no longer deal with.
