Throughout my illustration and design career, I’ve had projects stacked up feeling most times like a circus juggler with an armload of jobs and deadlines. Now, with events postponed, in limbo, or flat out cancelled, what to do? . . . I‘m going to the theater!
A few years back, Tim Stults (Blue Moon Printing, now with Urban Art Litho, Sacramento) commissioned a series of illustrations depicting historic Sacramento architecture. One of the first renderings completed was the Tower Theatre. Now, like a comedian that uses standup to polish new jokes, I have returned to a theme that has always inspired and interested me - Vintage Theaters.
This series of blog/emails are not in chronological order of when the theaters were built or images were created, but more of a comment on my experiences. Along with a few new renderings are updated and finished older projects. Part of my creative process is to research present and historical site photos and opening film and performance facts. I also take photos and jot notes of interest to me. I enjoy incorporating historical references on the marquees and including vintage era vehicles. The renderings are a combination of the present day buildings with a few elements from the past.
Vintage Theatre #1 | Alameda Theatre
2317 Central Avenue, Alameda, California
The Grand Opening on August 16, 1932 featured a family film, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, starring Marion Nixon and Ralph Bellamy. The bill also included The Chimp, with Laurel and Hardy; a Betty Boop cartoon; and a Fox Movietone Newsreel.
On Saturday mornings in the '60's, my brothers, two cousins and I would walk the mile and half from our home in the the middle of town to the Alameda Theatre in the Park Street district. My mother would give us each a Benjamin Franklin half dollar for the 35 cent weekend matinee admission ticket purchased at the free standing ticket booth under the multi light ceiling of the marquee. Our first stop inside was the concession stand to spend the remaining 15 cents on a dime box of popcorn and nickel candy, usually milk duds, corn nuts or M&M's. Then we would head across the spacious, grand lobby (under 12 were not allowed to go up the stairs or sit in the balcony) and enter the left hand doors (closest to the restrooms, thinking ahead of course), and look for aisle seats about half way to the screen.
On a particularly memorable Saturday in 1963, we had to wait outside in an unusually long line that extend past the theaters terrazzo sidewalk. The line slowed our entry and we had to rush after our snack stand stop into the nearest doors to the right. We split the group into the few available seats in the second and third rows, not together and not the preferred aisle seats. The movie had started and The Great Escape’s fanfare march music immediately stunned us into silent attention. At eight years old, my attention span was short. It was the fastest three hours I could remember sitting in one place without wanting or needing a break. My first truly memorable movie experience.
I can still recall the mohair (or wool) seats, worn on the edges and corners, sticky floors, musty popcorn smell, and the ornately printed curtains lit at the bottom that opened and closed before and after each movie. I also remember the lavishly layered gold leaf art deco walls and the dimly lit intricately designed light fixtures. The theater was 31 years old in 1963 and matinees included two movies that sandwiched a two cartoon intermission. It wasn't uncommon for us to sit through the entire program and remain to see the opening movie a second time.
After I completed the Alameda Theatre illustration, I realized that as a young boy, I never went to the movies at night as depicted. As kids, we were to be home when the street lamp a couple of doors down came on. I can recall seeing, or at least going to before falling asleep, a few movies with mom and dad at the Island Auto Movie next to the Bethlehem Steel building (where my father worked). I never saw a movie at the Alameda Theatre with my parents. Yet, I never went to the movies alone. The first evening movie I can recall at the Alameda Theatre was in 1971, Pretty Maids All in a Row with Rock Hudson and Angie Dickinson. Probably my first R rated movie too. The Saturday matinee movies that come to mind are mostly Disney movies like Kurt Russell in Follow Me, Boys! and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. But most memorable were the action, adventure/war movies like Michael Caine's Zulu, Sean Connery as James Bond in Goldfinger, Steve McQueen in Bullitt (how many hubcaps came off the Dodge Charger?) and comedies like It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
High on the list of artistic influences is my hometown movie palace, the Alameda Theatre. It taught me that part of good work is great presentation.
Alameda Theatre Facts:
The Alameda Theatre is considered the last grand movie palace built in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The largest West Coast movie screen at 50' x 30', when the theatre opened in 1932.
The original Barco DP 32B-3D projector was considered ”The World’s Brightest Projector”.
Next Up: Grand Lake Theatre, Oakland, CA
I will be making available for purchase 12”x18” and 5”x7” art prints’ and 4x6 fold over blank inside notecards. Please contact me if you are interested. ruffhaus@icloud.com
Please let me know if you or someone you know needs an illustrator/graphic artist to render historic or landmarks in your city. I am also available for large or small graphic design projects. ruffhaus@icloud.com