After the Final Curtain: The Fall of the American Movie Theater 1st Edition by Matt Lambros (Jonglez Publishing)

 

 I grew up in a time long ago when places like this meant something to me and my generation. "An acre of seats in a palace of splendor" they used to say. We'd see a movie and watch a stage show in places like this.The author understands what he's seeing in a wonderfully whole way. There's no lamenting here that I can see. Sure, a lot of us would like to places like this restored. But that's not possible any longer for a lot of these. But where there's hope for the old grande dames, Lambros tells us so. The photography is evocative and powerfully presented. 

There is nothing remarkable about a movie theater today; but that wasn't always the case. When the great American movie palaces began opening in the early 20th century, they were some of the most lavish, stunning buildings ever seen. However, they wouldn't last -- with the advent of in-home television, theater companies found it harder and harder to keep them open.

Some were demolished, some were converted, and some remain empty to this day. After the Final Curtain: The Fall of the American Movie Theatre will take you through 24 of these magnificent buildings, revealing the beauty that remains years after the last ticket was sold.