Marquee Magic
Folks, this is Christmas 1953. As you can see, Santa has delivered his load on theatregoers with a line-up of king-sized attractions the likes of which had never been seen before, or since. I’m not necessarily referring to the movies --- they’re a mixed bag, to be sure, but look at these stunning marquees! --- and imagine, if you will, the revolutionary new screen miracles waiting on the inside for these anxious patrons. Cinemascope, 3-D, stereophonic sound. WOW! A lot of folks are going to need smelling salts before this night is through. I dare say the harried management and staff could use some serious medicating after having garlanded their houses with these incredible fronts. They sure gave you a show in those days. Even Beneath The Twelve-Mile Reef would look like Citizen Kane against a background like this!
I loved this post -- pix of vintage movie theatres and their marquees are aces with me. [In NYC, the multiplexes with the lighted "zipper" marquees sometimes don't always display all the films the house is showing!]
ReplyDeleteBut I must take a certain exception to your opening statement: "Folks, this is Christmas 1953 in Los Angeles." The KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES marquee is clearly New York's Rivoli, the THREE MILE REEF marquee belongs to that Cathedral of the Motion Picture, NY's Roxy -- and I believe that SADIE THOMPSON marquee might be from the Chicago Theater.
Feel free to run as many of these pictures as you like -- they're a delight. I'm still grateful for the swell photo of a long, happy line of moviegoers waiting to see the MIGHTY JOE YOUNG reissue at Detroit's Palms Theater that you ran shortly after the Greenbrier opened. Wonderful stuff.
I like that strange "Technicolor Deluxe" reference on the KHYBER marquee. I give up -- did Technicolor strike half of the theater's print, while Fox's own Deluxe lab printed the other half?
ReplyDelete"Miss Sadie Thompson" appears to be on the marquee of the Capitol theatre in New York City.
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