American Picture Palaces: The Architecture of Fantasy

Rating:
Summary: A COFFEE-TABLE BOOK OF FANTASTICALLY BEAUTIFUL THEATERS
Review: Before this title appeared in 1981, there were only two books which somewhat surveyed the scene: "American Theaters of Today" of 1930 and "The Best Remaining Seats: The Story of the Golden Age of the Movie Palace" of 1961 (and later reprints, all available here at Amazon) and neither of them had the sheer number of theatres pictured and described as does this volume. Mr. Naylor filled a gap long felt by those interested in this subject at the time, and it still stands today unequaled as the 250 photo survey it is (including some 70 in full color -- which significant in an historical subject since color still photography was not available until after the second world war -- long after most of the theatres were built.)

This is not to slight his text, for he well covers the origin of the movie house under the first group of chapters listed in the Table of Contents: "Setting The Stage", and then he launches into the men whose fertile minds concocted this ever more fantastic form of architecture in: "The Palace Architects." The coda of the book: "Lost And Found", is both sadening and inspiring since he helps us to learn from what we've lost. Most helpful is the "Appendix of Theatres" chapter which lists by year of construction the most notable theatres and their status as of publication.

The volume's 8-1/2 by 11 inch format allows its 224 pages to better show the fine photos and even the graceful use of an ornamented header on most pages. There is little to dislike if one realizes that he wrote with full knowledge of a then goodly body of previous literature, including two magazines: MARQUEE of the Theatre Historical Society of America in Elmhurst, Ill., and THEATRE ORGAN of the American Theatre Organ Soc. in Indianapolis, Ind., both of which were (and are) devoted to this subject and that his color photo contribution was among the first.

As to the complaint in a previous review that some of the photos are poor, I can only say that every copy I've seen had excellent reproduction and printing. Perhaps one can conclude that they were somehow gifted with a reject that got past the publisher's quality control. One can, however, voice a complaint common to money-conscious publishers today: the use of low cost methods, such as in this book, where the sections of pages are held only by a few drops of glue, which eventually hardens and the binding begins to fail. Believe it or not, such is generically called the "Perfect bind", and a greater contradiction could not be invented! MIllions of books have been done this way with greater or lesser succes, but I for one, long for the sewn (or, at least stapeled) bindings still used for more costly books. I hasten to add that neither the author nor Amazon.com have any control over what binding a publisher chooses.

This worthy book was also printed in paperback, and if they can find a copy of either binding, you are well served regardless of its condition, for no other book to date covers as much territory of buildings of beauty within two covers.

Rating:
Summary: A COFFEE-TABLE BOOK OF FANTASTICALLY BEAUTIFUL THEATERS
Review: Before this title appeared in 1981, there were only two books which somewhat surveyed the scene: "American Theaters of Today" of 1930 and "The Best Remaining Seats: The Story of the Golden Age of the Movie Palace" of 1961 (and later reprints, all available here at Amazon) and neither of them had the sheer number of theatres pictured and described as does this volume. Mr. Naylor filled a gap long felt by those interested in this subject at the time, and it still stands today unequaled as the 250 photo survey it is (including some 70 in full color -- which significant in an historical subject since color still photography was not available until after the second world war -- long after most of the theatres were built.)

This is not to slight his text, for he well covers the origin of the movie house under the first group of chapters listed in the Table of Contents: "Setting The Stage", and then he launches into the men whose fertile minds concocted this ever more fantastic form of architecture in: "The Palace Architects." The coda of the book: "Lost And Found", is both sadening and inspiring since he helps us to learn from what we've lost. Most helpful is the "Appendix of Theatres" chapter which lists by year of construction the most notable theatres and their status as of publication.

The volume's 8-1/2 by 11 inch format allows its 224 pages to better show the fine photos and even the graceful use of an ornamented header on most pages. There is little to dislike if one realizes that he wrote with full knowledge of a then goodly body of previous literature, including two magazines: MARQUEE of the Theatre Historical Society of America in Elmhurst, Ill., and THEATRE ORGAN of the American Theatre Organ Soc. in Indianapolis, Ind., both of which were (and are) devoted to this subject and that his color photo contribution was among the first.

As to the complaint in a previous review that some of the photos are poor, I can only say that every copy I've seen had excellent reproduction and printing. Perhaps one can conclude that they were somehow gifted with a reject that got past the publisher's quality control. One can, however, voice a complaint common to money-conscious publishers today: the use of low cost methods, such as in this book, where the sections of pages are held only by a few drops of glue, which eventually hardens and the binding begins to fail. Believe it or not, such is generically called the "Perfect bind", and a greater contradiction could not be invented! MIllions of books have been done this way with greater or lesser succes, but I for one, long for the sewn (or, at least stapeled) bindings still used for more costly books. I hasten to add that neither the author nor Amazon.com have any control over what binding a publisher chooses.

This worthy book was also printed in paperback, and if they can find a copy of either binding, you are well served regardless of its condition, for no other book to date covers as much territory of buildings of beauty within two covers.

Rating:
Summary: A "MUST HAVE " FOR EVERY THEATER LOVER'S LIBRARY
Review: The novice and veteran alike will find everything to love in this richly photographed, descriptively written love letter to the Great American Movie Palace. It's the perfect primer for the beginner, covering all the basics of the whys and wherefores of the era that brought us these fabulous motion picture palaces. The blazing color of the large photos grab the readers attention and speak volumes of the wonderful excess that defined the era.

David Naylor's deep respect and love for this unique style of architecture sounds loud and clear in his narrative. It is impossible to select a favorite from his extensive writing on movie theater history, but this one would have to be at the top of any ranking.

Do whatever you have to do to find a copy of this excellent book. You will treasure it and refer to it often.

Rating:
Summary: A "MUST HAVE " FOR EVERY THEATER LOVER'S LIBRARY
Review: The novice and veteran alike will find everything to love in this richly photographed, descriptively written love letter to the Great American Movie Palace. It's the perfect primer for the beginner, covering all the basics of the whys and wherefores of the era that brought us these fabulous motion picture palaces. The blazing color of the large photos grab the readers attention and speak volumes of the wonderful excess that defined the era.

David Naylor's deep respect and love for this unique style of architecture sounds loud and clear in his narrative. It is impossible to select a favorite from his extensive writing on movie theater history, but this one would have to be at the top of any ranking.

Do whatever you have to do to find a copy of this excellent book. You will treasure it and refer to it often.