Ohio Theatre 

39 E. State Street

Columbus, Ohio

Thomas W. Lamb, Architect

Architectural style:  Spanish Baroque (blending Mission Revival and Baroque elements)

Opening Date: March 17, 1928

Capacity: 2,791 seats

Added to the National Register of HIstoric Places on May 5, 1977

Added to the National Historic Landmark on May 5, 1977

Today the Ohio Theatre is home of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, the Broadway Series, Opera Columbus, Broadway tours such as Les Miserables, Pops concerts and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) Summer Movie Series.

In 1966, members of the American Theatre Organ Society began restoring the Robert Morton and playing the organ for shows again.  The "Mighty Morton" Theatre Organ has been the soul of the Ohio Theatre since the doors opened in 1928.  Built by the Robert Morton Organ Company of Van Nuys, California, the "Mighty Morton" was installed just in time for the Ohio Theatre's grand opening.  It is one of only four identical organs built for Loew's theatres and ..  the only one still in its original home.

While the "Mighty Morton" has been lovingly maintained with routine care and small repairs, it hasn't undergone a major restoration since 1987.  After nearly 40 years, a more comprehensive effort is needed to ensure the organ plays on for generations to come. Donations have collectively contributed nearly $200,000 towards the restoration project. To help sustain the organ's maintenance and restoration, The McCutchen Foundation* has made a generous gift to see an endowment specifically for the organ.

*To find specific information, you'll need to know which "McCuthchen Foundation" you're interested in, as they have differeent focuses and locations. 

The Ohio Theatre features elaborate interior design, a grand lobby and unique elements like a color-changing ceiling and an organ elevator. This theatre is not considered to be an "atmospheric"in the formal architectural sense.  This type of movie palace design was popular in the late 1920s.  They were designed and decorated to evoke the feeling of a particular time and place for patrons, through the use of projectors, architectural elements and ornamentation that evoked a sense of being outdoors.  

The most successful promoter of the atmospheric style was John Eberson.* Before the end of the 1920s he designed around 100 atmospheric theatres in the United States. His most notable surviving theatres include the Tampa Theatre (1926), Palace Theatre (Louisville) 1928, Palace Theatre (Canton) 1926, Palace Theatre (Marion, Ohio) 1928, Majestic Theatre (Dallas) 1920, Majestic Theatre (San Antonio) 1929, Loew's Theatre (Akron Civic Theatre) 1929, Orpheum Theatre (Wichita, Kansas) 1922, Paramount Theatre Centre & Ballroom (Anderson, Indiana) 1929, Ramona Theatre (Frederick, Okahoma) 1929, Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center (Omaha, Nebraska) 1926, State Theatre (Kalamazoo, Michigan) 1927 and Uptown Theatre (Kansas City) 1928.

If you have never visited an atmospheric theatre, they are special and memorable. 

Civic Theatre

Auckland, Zealand

267 Queen Street

Opening Date:  December 20, 1929

Renovated 1998-1999

Architects:  Charles Bohringer and William T. Leighton

Capacity:  2,378 seats

The Civic Theatre is a famous example of the atmospheric theatre style wherein lighting and interior design create the illusion of an open sky complete with twinkling stars, giving the audience the impression of being seated in an outdoor auditorium at night.  The Civic was the creation of Thomas O'Brien, who built a movie empire in Auckland's inner suburbs in the 1920s and brouth the atmospheric cinema to New Zealand.  O'Brien persuaded a group of wealthy Aucland businessmen to build a massive atmospheric cinema and managed to secure a substantial loan from the Bank of New Zealand for the project.  The cinema was built by Fletcher Construction over eight months.  However, the loan and soaring construction costs caught the attendiong of the NZ Parliment as the final price tag ballooned to approximately the equivalent to $18.9 million in 2016.

With supreme confidence in the future of Auckland and with gratitude to those who have toiled with me in this great endeavor, I present to my fellow citizens the consummation of an ideal .. the creating of a place of entertainment symbolizing the progressive spirit of our beautiful city. 

Thomas O'Brien

Underneath the Civic was an underground ballroom which became one of the major centers of entertainment for American soldiers who were stationed in Auckland during WWII.  During this period, the venue was host to events such as concerts by Bob Hope and speeches by Eleanor Roosevelt.  Eventually, after a campaign by a support group named the Friends of the Civic, the council spent $41.8 million to refurbish the venue.  It reopened in 1999 for both film and theatre, followed by the Wintergarden re-opening in 2000.

*John Eberson was born January 1, 1875 John Adolph Emil Eberson in Romania and died in 1954 in Stamford, CT.  He arrived in the United States in the early 1900s and first settled in St. Louis.  There, while working for a construction company he designed his first theatre, the Jewel located in Hamilton, Ohio. In 1904, Eberson and his family moved to Hamilton, Ohio.  It was there that Eberson's first theatre was located.  He eventually moved to Chicago and in 1926 he made his final move to New York City.  He opened a office at the Rodin Studios located at 200 West Fifty-seventh Street.  In July 1929, he made the decision to close the Chicago office and consolidate all of the design work in New York City.  At about that same time, he formally brought his son into the business.

 He designed over 500 theatres in his lifetime earning the nickname "Opera house John".  

John Adolph Emil Eberson

Circa 1912

John Eberson's son was Drew Eberson (1904-1989) who became a partner in his father's influential architectural firm.  John & Drew Eberson designed and renovated numerous theatres alongside his father and continued his business after John's passing, known for his own work and later adapting his father's atmopheric style.  He formally joined his father's practice in New York City around 1929.  While John specialized in "atmospheric" theatres, Drew also designed many structures and adapted the Art Deco style.  

Eberson's first atmospheric theatre, the Majestic designed and built in Houston, Texas though now razed.

Tampa Theatre

711 N. Franklin Street

Tampa, Florida 

This theatre was built by Paramount Pictures and opened on October 15, 1926 as one of America's most elaborate movie palaces.  For 25 cents the common person could escape into an opulent fantasyland cooled by "man-made air", enjoy first-class entertainment and be treated like royalty by platoons of uniformed ushers.  For decades, the Tampa Theatre remained a jewel at the center of the city's cultural landscape as generations of patrons stole their first kisses in the balcony, followed the world through the newsreels and grew up coming to the theatre week after week. 

By 1973, the Tampa Theatre was slated for demolition though the citizens rallied, committees were formed, community leaders got involved and the City Council struck a deal to purchase and preserve the building.  By the time the Tampa Theatre reopened to the public in January 1977, it had become something of a national model for how to sae an endangered theatre.  It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and as a Tampa City Landmark when the designation was created in 1988. 

Today, the Tampa Theatre opens its doors more than 1,000 times each year. Since its rescue, the theatre has welcomed more than 5 million visitors to downtown including 1 million school children for field trips and summer camps.  All within the context of one of Tampa's largest historic preservation projects.

I appaud the citizens of Tampa for having the foresight to save their most unique and special atmospheric Tampa Theatre.

Tampa Theatre showing an orchestra pit

Historical theatres often remove orchestra pits for modern needs like larger stages for shows or to create more seating/floor space.  Orchestra pits are valued though can be costly to maintain. Opening in 1926 as a lavish movie palace, the Tampa Theatre transitioned from silent films (with lie ustic) to "talkies" and then evolved into a live performance venue, likely altering its stage needs.

The Tampa Theatre first broke ground on April 12, 1925 and opened October 15, 1926.  Construction cost was $1.2 million ($21.5 million in 2024 dollars). Its style was Mediterranean Rival and was added to the National Register Historic Places January 3, 1978.

The Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ is a magnificent 1,400 pipe instrument originally installed to accompany silent films in 1926. As "talkies" took over in the early 1930s, the organ was retired and eventually sold to Bayshore Baptist Church, but in the 1980s the theatre enlisted the help of volunteers from The Central Florida Theatre Organ Society to reacquire and reinstall the Mighty Wurlitzer to its original home.  Today, Tampa Theatre's Artist in Resident, Steven Hall and volunteer CFTOS members maintain the Mighty Wurlitzer and play the instrument before film screeings and for special silent film events as part of their ongoing dedication to the preservation of the theatre pipe organ and its music. 

The Tampa "blade" sign above the marquee.

The Tampa Theatre vintage ticket kios.

 

Checker Marathon/Taxi

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Interiors were spacious and durable, featuring heavy-duty materials like linoleum floors.

Morris Markin was a Russian-born American businessman who founded the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company which later became the Checker Motors Corporation.  

Morris Markin

(1893-1970)

Markin was born into a Jewish family in western Russia.  He worked in a clothing factory during his young years, working his way up to supervisor by the age of 19.  At 22 he emigrated to the United States.  When he arrived at Ellis Island in November 1912, he spoke no English and couldn't afford to pay the bond required to enter the country.  A janitor at the facility loaded him the necessary twenty-five dollars.  From NYC, Markin went to Chicago to live with his uncle.  He held several jobs as an errand boy, the last for a tailor who taught him the trade. Eventually, Markin purchased the business on credit from the owner's widow.  He worked hard and saved enough money to bring seven brothers and two sisters to the United States.  Markin then partnered with one of his brothers and opened a factory which made pants under government contracts during WW1. The company prospered after the war.

In 1929, Markin purchased the Yellow Cab Company from John Hertz.

Sidenote:  John Hertz, Jr. married actress, Myrna Loy.

The average price of a Checker Marathon Taxi is $24,892.  The cabs were sold for model years 1961 to 1982.

If you watch essentially any film or television show from the late 1950s into the 1980s that has scenes of New York City, you can't escape seeing Checker Cabs.

The Checker Marathon is an automobile which was produced by the Checker Motors Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan between 1960 and 1982.  It was marketed as a passenger car for consumers. Marathons were produced in both four-door sedans, the four-door station wagons plus the six-door 9-seater and eight-door, 12 seater "Aerobus" sedans and wagons.

Checker Marathon Wagon

Aerobus

The Marathon was introduced in September 1960 for the 1961 model.  In 1963, the Marathon Town Custom, a limousine version appeared which seated eight passengers.  The Marathon remained virtually unchanged during its 21-year production run.  

The final Marathon was manufactured in 1982 when Checker exited the automobile manufacturing business.  For decades, Checker was the taxicab of choice for New York City and many other American cities.  The last New York City Checker cab retired in 1999, operated by Earl Johnson.  The Marathon covered nearly one million miles and had three engine replacements over the years. Many movies set in the 1950s and 1960s use Checker cabs.

A Checker taxicab is prominently featured in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's in the opening scenes though not the 50s style as the film directed by Blake Edwards was produced in 1962. One specific scene involves her teaching Paul Varjak protrayed by George Peppard how to properly hail a cab. 

As Holly whistles for a cab Paul is heard to say ..

"I never could do that."

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Apart from taxicab use, Marathons were also bought by police departments, most notably in Kalamazoo, where Checker had its factory. 

Checker cabs, iconic for their sturdy build often featured simple, utilitarian steering wheels, but some custom or later models might have used unique wheels, while the trademark checkerboard pattern was usually on the exterior trim, not the steering wheel.  The "checker" theme was most prominent in the exterior paint schemes, often with checkerboard trim, not necessarity the steering wheel.

So while you might find modified or replica Checker cabs with custom checkered steering wheels for car show or themed events, it wasn't a factory feature. The iconic look came from the body shape and the checkerboard decals on the sides. 

The iconic front hood enblem

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Those of us who remember and experienced the Bemus Bay Pops recall all the magic for many summers along the shores of Chautauqua Lake in Bemus Point NY. All of this was brought to us thanks to the vision of Dan Dalpra and his family .. wife, Sue and their three daughters Danelle, Dana and Deanna.  

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Bemus Bay Pops Summer Concert Season Lineup

20th Anniversary

2017 

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 VIP Seating on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Pops!

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Jimmy and the Soulblazers were a popular band who came every year from the Canton, Ohio area.  Everyone was on their feet for the soulful tunes on a Sunday afternoon.

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The Chippewa Lake Water Ski Team is Ohio's only competitive water ski show team.  They appeared on Chautauqua Lake for several seasons to the delight of Pops spectators performing various acts like pyramids, ballet and jumps.

These four chairs were built by Artone Industries in Jamestown NY for the judges during the popular singing competition called "The Choice".  

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The Pops lawn looking West from The Italian Fisherman Restaurant.

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As summer evenings fell upon the Pops an even more magical feel was experienced through the sights and sounds of the performers and their music. Music is Life.  That's why our hearts have beats.

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Even the water took on a reflective hue from the floating stage lights.

One of the most popular bands to appear on the Bemus Bay Pops Floating Stage!

Boogie Wonder Band from Montreal, Canada

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Boogie Cindy, BWB Founder

Marky de Sax

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Thank You

Boogie Wonder Band

for all the disco memories!

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Master of the Sound

Thank you Russ Illig and Raven Sound

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When night fell after a beautiful sunset the real magic was experienced.

This Pops evening the BCC Band from Buffalo, NY stepped onto the Bemus Bay Pops Floating Stage and brought joy to all who loved and remembered The Beatles. 

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A special salute to Bemus Bay Pops 2017 from Mike Ferguson, the official Pops announcer which turned out to be the final Pops season in Bemus Point.

Thanks for the Memories.

🎶 

Gus

A special Pops employee who kept a loving watch over the Pops.

Thank you.

❤️ 

Memories are echoes of our past, both bittersweet and bright, acting as lanterns guiding us through life's dark or sunny days, a library in the heart, a bridge of love, or whispers of what was, holding laughter, lessons, and loved ones close, reminding us that even when time pulls us apart, these moments remain, a treasure to cherish or a gentle ache, a story played forever. 

 

Landmark Theatre

362 S. Salina Street

Syracuse, New York 

The Landmark Theatre is an historic movie palace from the 1920s originally Loew's State Theatre (belonging to a chain of theaters begun by Marcus Loew) known for its opulent design by Thomas W. Lamb and its role as a major live entertainment venue for Broadway shows, concerts and comedy.  

Thomas Lamb was commissioned as architect for the new project.  He had already designed the Strand, Temple and Keith's, but this was to be the city's largest theatre with 3,000 seats and an eight-story office tower.  Site aquisitions costing $1.9 million began on March 29, 1926 and groundbreaking for construction began nearly a year later on March 15, 1927.  Construction of the theatre involved more than 300 workers and cost $1.4 million.  A little more than 11 months later, the theatre was ready.

The 1930s and the Great Depression provided some of the theatre's finest hours.  In the cultural style of the times, a uniformed doorman or "barker" greeted patrons outside the theatre.  Three cashiers staffed the outdoor box office kiosk and crisply uniformed ushers, overseen by captains, directed patrons into lines between rich vilvet ropes and then to seats as they became available.  Sharply dressed "candy girls" graced the concession counters.  Meanwhile, a basement carpenter shop created signs and stage props to order. 

The Curtain Goes Up for the First Time

Loew's State's opening was announced February 18, 1928.  The new theatre was advertised as "the last word in theatrical ornateness and luxuriousness." By mid-morning of that first day, hundreds had formed lines outside the new theatre.  For an admission price of 25 cents, patrons were directed by uniformed ushers through the lobbies, absorbing the wealth of colors and materials such as marble and terrazzo.  Rich tapestries, exotic furnishings and filigrial* chandeliers also adorned the patatial theatre. 

*delicate ornamental work resembling fine wire twisted into patterns. 

The Landmark Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places May 2, 1977.  The architectural style is Neoclassical.

The main auditorium houses 2800 seats was decorated in rich reds and golds and elegantly accented with wall ornaments.  The 1,400-pipe Wurlitzer organ offered its own exotic flavor, treating patrons to such sounds as a glockenspiel, marimba, bird whistles, hoof beats and surf sounds for silent films.  It showed its first "talkie", "The Broadway Melody" on March 30, 1929.

In 1954, Loew's State Theatre's organ became inoperable. Ten years later the company sold the beloved organ and its components were crated and later installed in the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto, California. 

The Stanford Theatre now features the Landmark Theatre's former "Mighty Wurlitzer".  It is played live before and during intermission of classic films, providing a nostalgic experience akin to the silent film era. Maintained and performed by skilled organists, Jerry Nagano (Organist of the Year in 2017) and Dennis James (a veteran silent film accompanist), this grand instrument accompanies silent films and enhances the atmosphere for other classic features, making the theatre a significant destination for film and music lovers. It's a large, custom-built pipe organ known for its ability to mimic an entire orchestra and produced special effects.  The organ adds a unique sense of grandeur and nostalgia, transporting audiences back to the golden age of cinema.

The Opus #1836 Wurlitzer was restored by David Woodley Packard, son of the Hewlett-Packard co-founder. Packard purchased and restored the aging Stanford Theatre to its original splendor.  The visible part of the instrument where the organist sits, came from Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.  The organ's pipes, which line both walls of the theatre and date back to 1928, came from Loew's Theatre in Syracuse.

 

 

Barcelona Lighthouse and Innkeeper's Cottage

Barcelona Harbor

Westfield, New York 

Finished in 1829, this 40 foot lighthouse is the world's first to be lit by natural gas though this was difficult to maintain.  It was decommissioned as a navigational aid in 1859, after only 30 years, due to the decline in commerce and improvements in channels.  The Lighthouse Board noted it was no longer considered necessary. 

The structure is historically significant as one of the oldest on the Great Lakes.

In 1828, Congress appropriated $5,000 for a lighthouse in what was then Portland Harbor.  The tower was completed in 1829 and the first innkeeper was Joshua Lane, appointed in 1829.  

The lighthouse's purpose was tied to the hope Barcelona would become a major commercial center after the Erie Canal opened.  However, the harbor's commercial significance declined after the rise of railroads.

According to the original deed, the property reverted to the Holland Land Company when the lighthouse was discontinued.  In 1872, the property was sold to Lieutenant Governor George W. Patterson for a nominal sum and remained in the Patterson family for over a century. 

New York State acquired the property in 2008 and it is now part of the state park system.   Ongoing restoration efforts has been underway including recent $2.9 million projects to rehabilitate the tower.  The lighthouse is now lit for decorative purposes through an agreement with the town of Westfield.

As of 2025, the exterior stone work has been completed along with the interior stairway with 44 steps to the viewing platform. On a clear day, you can see the shoreline of Canada across Lake Erie at approximately 27 miles. In comparison, the mileage is approximately 32 miles from the Presque Isle pennisula in Erie, Pennsylvania to Long Point, Ontario. 

The area now serves as a state park with a visitor center and museum in the innkeeper's cottage.  It is open to the public and available for tours.