The Times piggybacks on its Oscar coverage and runs a nice history of Marcus Loews, a pioneer of movie exhibition and an early owner of MGM.
With five such massive "wonder theaters" in New York and New Jersey, Loew helped usher in the golden age of moviegoing in the 1920's, with New Yorkers seeing about 50 films a year on average. In anticipating what would delight and impress mass audiences, Loew drew on his own experience. "He would note that hardly anyone had their own bathroom, and if they did, it wasn't much to look at," Mr. Melnick said. "And so even going to the bathrooms would be a treat." With manicured and tuxedoed ushers and pristine interiors (Loews did not have concessions until the 1940's), the theaters were spacious, uplifting temples of escapism.
Pour some out for Marcus Loews tonight as you yell at the glitz of the Oscars. He helped make the movies glam.
You can visit Loews' classic movie theatres and others worldwide. Go to Cinema Treasures, a Web site devoted to movie theater preservation that allows you to browse by
• Architect
• Chain
• Firm
• Function
• Location
• Photo
• Screens
• Seats
• Status
• Style
Film geeks could plan a hell of a road trip...
