A Trip to the Badger State

“On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Grand old badger state!
We, thy loyal sons and daughters,
Hail thee, good and great.”

State song written by J. S. Hubbard and Charles D. Rosa
Composed by William T. Purdy

Al Ringling Theatre
Baraboo, Wisconsin
Postally Unused

Excerpts from back of postcard:
“Interior view of the Al Ringling Theater, designed from the Grand Opera Hall, built 1753-70 by Louis XV, as a unit of the Famous Palace of Versailles, near Paris.”

“This Red, Plush, Gold Lined Jewel Box is the Greatest Masterpiece of European Architecture ever used in an American Theater.”

Al Ringling Theatre
Evergreene Architectural Arts
Haunted Baraboo
Isthmus Architecture

Oriental Theatre
2230 North Farwell Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Postally Unused

From back of postcard:
“The Oriental Theatre was designed by local architects Dick and Bauer, and opened in July, 1927. With an exotic blend of Far East stylings, the spectacular lobby and auditorium feature an array of guardian lions, a trio of chandeliers and over 100 elephants.”

Oriental Theatre  
Historic Milwaukee
Instagram
OnMilwaukee

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Private walks also available.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently seeking funding for “Editing & Formatting” the first three volumes of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, 3rd Edition

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

Advertisement

My Kind of Town

“My kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of razzmatazz
And it has all that jazz”

composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn

 

Postally Unused

From back of postcard:
“Chicago’s State Street features the famous Chicago Theatre among many hot spots.”

 

Chicago Theatre

 

Postally Unused (circa 1947):

State Lake Theatre

Telenews Theatre

History of State Street: How it Remained a Great Street

League of Chicago Theatres

 

Postcard part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Private walks also available.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently seeking funding for “Editing & Formatting” the first three volumes of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, 3rd Edition

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings from Motor City

Postally Unused Card

On back of postcard:
“Woodward Avenue–the world’s finest and busiest highway.”

Fox Theatre Detroit

Fox Theatre-Historic Detroit

Postmarked September 30, 1938

From back of postcard:
“In the heart of Detroit’s activities is one of the busiest sections.”

The Family Theatre, bottom left, became the Follies in its final “XXX” days. On July 26, 1973, the building was destroyed in a five–alarm fire during a screening of “Deep Throat.”

Fire Photos

Family Theatre

Postcard part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Private walks also available.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently seeking funding for “Editing & Formatting” the first three volumes of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, 3rd Edition

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

The Pride of the South

Tampa Theatre
711 Franklin Street
Tampa, Florida

Postally unused card, circa 1926:

Exhibitors Herald, January 22, 1927:
“The Tampa theatre is a splendid example of the delightful Mediterranean type so appropriate climatically and historically in Florida.”

Tampa Theatre

Tampa Bay–Tampa Theatre

Haunted Tampa By Theatre

More on the Tampa Theatre at our Theatre Talks website.

“Conveniently located just northeast of downtown [Tampa], Ybor City is the only neighborhood on Florida’s west coast to be designated a National Historic Landmark District.”

Postally unused card

Opening in 1917, the Rivoli Theatre was expanded and renamed the Ritz in the 1930s. “Most of the attendees were Cubans and Italians who worked in the cigar factories.”

After being closed for nearly two years the Ritz reopened June 26, 2008 as a four-room “event venue” catering to weddings, concerts, galas and more.

The Ritz Ybor

Tampa Historical–Ritz Theatre

University of North Florida–Ritz Theatre

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Private walks also available.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently seeking funding for “Editing & Formatting” the first three volumes of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, 3rd Edition

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

Welcome to Radio City

Two postally unused postcards.

From back of postcard:
“Seating 6,000, this is the largest auditorium in the world. Moving pictures and lavish stage shows are presented daily.”

 

From back of postcard:
“Showing the largest stage in the world with one of the weekly spectacular footlight productions. The stage is framed by the great proscenium arch, built to resemble a sunburst.”

 

Radio City Music Hall-Official Site

History of Radio City Music Hall

 

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

 

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Private walks also available.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently seeking funding for “Editing & Formatting” the first three volumes of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, 3rd Edition

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

 

 

Greetings from Hollywood

Two large size postcards of the Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California.

Grauman’s, contemporary  postcard, postally unused:

Back of postcard:
“Construction of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre nears completion as shown here in 1927.”
“Published and Distributed by Olde Tyme Photo Cards, Los Angeles”

 

Ted Mann purchased the theater in 1973 , postally unused:

Back of postcard:
“Inspired by a trip to China, showmen Sid Grauman built the Chinese Theatre to host extravagant premieres for his pictures, The courtyard is the world’s largest autograph book, boasting the signatures and foot prints of Hollywood legends both past and present.”
“Designed and printed by The Postcard Factory”

On January 11, 2013, Chinese electronics manufacturer TCL Corporation purchased the facility’s naming rights, under which it is officially known as TCL Chinese Theatre.

TLC Chinese Theatres

Hollywood Footprints

 

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Private walks also available.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently seeking funding for “Editing & Formatting” the first three volumes of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, 3rd Edition

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

 

 

 

 

 

 

5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

Ornate movie palace opening September 24, 1926 with a Fanchon & Marco stage presentation, Lipshultz and His Syncopated Soloist, plus the feature film Young April.

The elaborate interior decorations, by Gustav F. Lijestrom, modeled after three of Imperial China’s most spectacular architectural achievements.

1940 Postcard with Strange Cargo on the marquee:

Contemporary postcard of the interior (photo copyright Dick Busher):

On back:
“Originally built in 1926, the 5th Avenue Theatre was one of Seattle’s leading movie theatres until the mid 1970s. In 1980, after an extensive $2.6 million renovation, The 5th Avenue emerged as Seattle’s newest performing arts facility, and is now home  to The 5th Avenue Musical Theatre Company.”

The 5th Avenue Theatre

360 Degree Tour

Postcards part of the Theatre Talks Collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres. The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

He is available for theatre talks and walks in 2016: historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Now selling “vintage” on Etsy.