The Majestic was operational until the 1960s, and closed permanently in 1975. Jim Carrey's performance in The Majestic was a departure from his previous work, which until then had mostly been comedy films. The Damned Story: In the heart of Bridgeport stands an abandoned 13-acre building complex that includes the Poli Palace, the Majestic Theater and the Savoy Hotel, each of which were once glorious edifices and now are empty and crumbling structures, home to rats, vagrants and … Today, the Majestic theater auditorium is used as a storage space for a local cabaret theater company. It was remodeled by famed theater architect Thomas W. Lamb in 1917, and renamed the Paramount Theatre. The first one I found was the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, and I was hooked. Please refer to the FAQ page at cinemark.com for further details regarding the refund procedures. As the factories in the Midwest closed down in the late 1950s and 1960s, the population of East St. Louis was drastically cut down as people moved into affluent suburbs; rampant crime soon spread throughout an emptying downtown. In these situations please notify our guest services department at Contact Us and include the theatre, movie, showtime, email address and your confirmation number. The lobby was converted into retail use and currently houses a shoe store. As the saying goes, there’s “no business like show business.” At San Antonio’s very own Majestic Theatre, which is located in the downtown area’s E. Houston Street, “show business” is just one component to the theatre’s wildly successful history. I’ve traveled across the entire country photographing them. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. The Majestic Theater in East St. Louis IL was designed for Harry Redmon and Fred Leber by the Boller Brothers, a renowned architectural firm based in Kansas City who specialized in theater design. Well, the auditoriums can be quite tricky especially since a lot of the theaters no longer have power. There are a number of websites devoted to old theaters, such as Cinema Treasures, organizations such as the Theatre Historical Society of America have also been a big help. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. A graduate of Boston University's digital imaging and photojournalism programmes, Lambros has since been documenting the decay of America's abandoned theatres in the hope of shedding light on these forgotten buildings and the efforts to repurpose them. 224 E. Houston Street San Antonio, Texas 78205 210.226.5700 (Main) 210.226.3333 (Box Office) Map It The Majestic lived up to its name: it was designed by the well-known theater architect Thomas W. Lamb in a Neo-Renaissance style, with a seating capacity of 2,200 and a lobby decorated with real marble. It closed in 1988. Apparently, Old Al, a one … Welcome to the Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI! ↑ The chandelier at Loew’s Canal Theatre, which opened in September 1927 in New York, NY. I’ve been sneaking into abandoned buildings since I was pretty young, and it didn’t occur to me that I should be documenting them until the early 2000s. ↑ The Kenosha Theatre opened on September 1st, 1927 in Kenosha, WI. This 700-seat elegantly designed theater brought out locals in their black ties and formal attire to catch a show up until … Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. The Grand Majestic Theater is home to four family-friendly shows and is the area’s only “Dine-In” Theater! Photos of Majestic Theaters Turned To Ruin. Matt Lambros has been photographing abandoned movie theaters for over a decade, taking us back to a time in which going to the movies was a treat. Remnants of communist leisure in the shadow of war. ↑ The ceiling of the Paramount Theatre, which opened on October 11, 1886 as H.C. Miner’s Newark Theatre. The building was used as a warehouse and a flea market before being closed permanently. I always carry at least four handheld LED lights with me. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). The Majestic Theatre was originally built in 1927 by real estate magnates, the Chanin Brothers, as part of a three-theatre complex that also included the Royale (a mid-sized house) and the Theatre Masque, now the John Golden (a small house). If you enjoy abandoned theater images, you may also like the Victory Theatre , Variety Theatre , Donnely Theater* , and Lansdowne Theatre galleries on Abandoned America. It was shut down on February 15, 2007 due to fire code violations. On the morning of September 10, 1932, an explosion rocked the front of the Loew’s Canal, throwing the ticket booth into the street and shattering windows on a number of neighboring buildings. ↑ The Loew’s 46th Street Theatre opened as the Universal Theatre in Brooklyn, NY on October 9, 1927. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. I’d traveled up and down the East Coast photographing old asylums and industrial buildings. Street cars arrived and departed every five … Attempts to maintain the beautiful space inside were made in the 1970s with a new roof and doors, but the property spiraled into decay despite being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Matt Lambros has spent the last five years photographing once-glamorous, now derelict theaters such as the Majestic. It was bought by Loew’s in 1934 and the name was changed to the Loew’s Palace Theatre. To learn more or withdraw consent, please visit our cookie policy. If you would like to share it, please use the social media buttons provided or write something up with a link to this website, thanks. Lorenzo Theater [San Lorenzo, California] The Lorenzo Theater is an abandoned theater in Northern California that opened in 1947. It was later used as a furniture warehouse and is currently being demolished. Occasionally I’ll luck out and there will be construction lights that I can use to help light the cavernous auditoriums, but if that’s not an option I’ve developed a system that works for me. Built in 1928, the theater replaced a 1907 theater which had burned down. In 1986, when BAM President and Executive Producer Harvey Lichtenstein was looking for a location to stage the acclaimed British theater director Peter Brook's nine-hour production of The Mahabharata, he decided to investigate the derelict building he passed on his way to BAM. The theater curtain was decorated with a painting of a garden scene. Many famous bands played shows at the theater during the years it was a concert venue including; The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, Jerry Lee Louis, The Bee Gees, Steely Dan, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Randy Newman. The 1,743 seat theater opened with a performance from Al Jolson and George Jessel, two famous vaudeville performers.Redmon ran the Majestic for a year before leasing it to Great States Theatres which was part of the Paramount Theatre empire. A vitaphone system was installed in September of 1928, making the Majestic one of the first in the area to have talking motion pictures. The Majestic sat abandoned for nearly two decades. It was taken over by Loew’s less than a year later. The … The Haunted Majestic Theatre. It was designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb (who also designed the other theater in the complex, the Loew’s Palace… At the theatre, a full refund can be given up to the start time of the showtime. It was the first one I photographed and started me on this path. I started to wonder if there were abandoned theaters, and made a point to start researching when I got home that night. All three venues were part of a 13-acre building complex in Bridgeport, Connecticut. ↑ Loew’s Kings Theatre/Kings Theatre Brooklyn, NY opened on September 7, 1929 and closed almost 50 years later in 1977. Our theatres feature updated CinemaSafe health and safety measures that help make your visit safe and comfortable. The mezzanine of the Loew’s Majestic Theatre lobby. It’s just so different from how most movies are shown today. I love that it was such an event. We spoke with Matt about his experiences of shooting decaying theaters around the country. The current owners are looking to restore the theater. Mar 14, 2012 - The Majestic Theatre, Waterbury CT | Closed in 1971. All of the seats have been removed on both the balcony and main levels of the theater. Of all the theaters that you have photographed, do you have a favorite, and why? Fort Shelby Hotel. I started “After the Final Curtain” after I had documented five or six theaters. The Spanish Gothic theater was designed by the Boller Brothers, who were nationally prominent theater architects. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. Today, the auditorium is used as a storage space for a local cabaret theater company. The large 1,743-seat performance space was originally designed for vaudeville performances, but was soon converted to showing motion pictures with the installation of a state-of-the-art Vitaphone sound film system in 1928. In November of 1922, the Loew’s Majestic Theatre in Bridgeport, Connecticut celebrated its opening with a special event, a revue titled “Make It Snappy”. During the peak of East St. Louis in the 1954, the Majestic was outfitted with a curved Cinemascope screen, and a new projector that was able to handle the increased screen size. The Majestic Theatre East in St. Louis, Illinois. BRIDGEPORT — Rehabilitating and reopening Main Street’s long-dormant Majestic and Poli Palace theaters and the old Savoy Hotel would be accomplishment enough. With Jim Carrey, Martin Landau, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey DeMunn. ↑ The Lobby of Poli’s Palace Theatre, which opened on September 4, 1922 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. My favorite would have to be the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, now just the Kings Theatre. ↑ The State Palace Theatre in New Orleans, LA opened on April 3, 1926. While the Poli — the state’s largest theater — opened as a vaudeville house, the majestic was slightly smaller. Profits from ticket sales simply weren't being made, and the Majestic closed its doors in 1960. What is the significance of a theater, and why do they appeal to you? After 50 active years of hit song making and international album sales well into the multi-millions, it's safe to say that esteemed singer-songwriter and musician Gordon Lightfoot resides with some very exclusive company atop the list of all-time greats. The Majestic property was originally the site of the Hiram Whittington House in 1870. Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. 224 E. Houston Street San Antonio, Texas 78205 210.226.5700 (Main) 210.226.3333 (Box Office) Map It What were some of the challenges of shooting such large spaces? Urban Spelunking Urban spelunking: Racine's Majestic / Uptown Theater. Directed by Frank Darabont. Offer subject to change without notice. The Loew’s Majestic Theatre opened on November 4, 1922 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. All rights reserved. The Majestic Downtown is an iconic filming location and event venue that is recognized as being a historical masterpiece in DTLA since 1924. The film was released in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2002, and failed to reach the Top 10. It was reopened later that year as the 46th Street Rock Palace, and was later renamed Bananafish Garden. A former Soviet labor camp is now partially flooded, like an island in the middle of a lake. Both bombings were thought to be connected to the Motion Picture Operators’ Union Local 306, who were on strike at the time and protesting in front of both theaters, but nothing was ever proven. The entrance of the Majestic Theatre, which opened in 1922 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sometimes the stars of the film you came to see would make a personal appearance before the show. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. Winner will be selected at random on 05/01/2021. It closed on March 31, 1986 due to an increase in insurance rates, which also caused the nearby Adams Theatre to close. It eventually became a live performance venue. With a combined 30,000+ square feet and stunning historically preserved ambiance, The Majestic is the perfect backdrop for any occasion. No purchase necessary. The Avenue Hotel was the first name given to the hotel, built in 1882, featuring an electric dining room and gas powered guest rooms. Opacity is dedicated to documenting various abandoned places through both text and photographs; recording their transformations through time before they are demolished. It recently reopened after a $95 million restoration, and I photographed it every step of the way for my upcoming book, Kings Theatre; Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Brooklyn’s Wonder Theatre. All non-user contributed content is © Tom Kirsch, unless noted otherwise. I gain access to the building mostly out of sheer persistence. Message: Only variables should be passed by reference. The Fox Theatre in Inglewood, CA opened on March 31, 1949, and was built on the site of another theater that had burned down. Loew’s sold the theater in the early 1970s and after showing adult films for a few years, the Palace closed permanently in 1975. I grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, and there really wasn’t anything special about the movie theaters I went to while I was growing up. After closing due to the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina, the theater reopened sporadically as a rave venue. She won free tickets for the following six months. It soon became a popular venue. By the mid-seventies, what was now known as the Loew’s Palace Theatre was an empty shell of its former self. It opened on November 25, 1915 and was designed by architect John W. Merrow, the nephew of Proctor theater circuit owner Frederick F. Proctor. Please watch: "Abandoned Cleveland Euclid Square Mall" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkA1tLz1MHI --~--The Majestic Theatre is a historic movie theater … Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. I went to see a film at the Village East Cinemas with some friends and spent most of the time admiring the architecture. See. Today, the auditorium is used as a storage space for a local cabaret theater company. Check out upcoming events, venue rental information, ticket outlets and more. Majestic Theatre. Majestic Theatre. Read the Abandoned America book series: Buy it on Amazon or get signed copies here Subscribe to our mailing list for news and updates Photograph taken at an abandoned Majestic Theater, East St. Louis, IL by Matthew Christopher of Abandoned America. A similar explosion destroyed the entrance of the Loew’s 46th Street Theatre an hour earlier. (313) 963-5600. 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