01
For most people who have attended a movie theater built before 1965, there is a fond memory of the luminescent neon mingled with the smell of freshly popped popcorn.
Enticements created to draw patrons downtown, movie theaters through the 1950s were fantasy castles of sorts, enhancing the illusions celluloid film projected on the enormous single screen flanked by velvet curtains in the flickering darkness. Amplifying this experience, ornate neon signage surrounded by synchronized flashing tungsten bulbs led customers inside, where row upon row of multicolored, sugar-coated rectangular boxes of candy sat just inside the doors, at eye level for the younger set, and, of course, the mouth-watering, buttery yellow kernels waiting to be consumed by all. The dim glow of narrow aisles led to plush red seats standing at attention. Those same seats bobbed back to military neatness when one stood to leave after the film credits rolled, causing a dim recollection of life outside the theater. These were simplistic but astute devices that successfully whisked willing audiences on a journey into the most popular form of entertainment of the day, movies that would help shape the ideas, goals, and beliefs of their generation and generations to come.
Architecture was of utmost importance wherever the theatres were located, be it a small town or a large city. The grand theatres, better known as “Movie Palaces,” exemplified the flight of fancy that our national conscience longed for. These extravagant theaters hosted over a thousand guests, and were more popular in urban centers that could support a large influx of people with events not soon forgotten. The inside façade held its own illusions, ranging from an overhead ceiling of stars to cityscapes with balconies, many reminiscent of European destinations. Drive-ins also drew customers with larger-than-life screens, moonlit nights awash with stars, and treats to satisfy the entire family. Even smaller town venues found ways to create magic for their audiences, with special events, dish give-aways, or just good company in the next seat over.
The name of this body of work, and the subtitle of my book is "Please Remain Standing," a nod of recognition to my hometown theater, the Carib, in Clearwater, Florida. In the 1970s, before every single showing, the theater manager, a U.S. Marine veteran named Clarence, would request over the loudspeaker to "Please remain standing for our national anthem," after which a scratchy, sprocket-stripped and jerky reel of the "Star Spangled Banner" would play. If someone in the audience did not stand, Clarence would stop the film, clear his throat (again, over the loudspeaker), and in an irritated tone repeat "Please remain standing..."; the reel would not begin until there had been compliance in the theatre, or more often, the house lights would be illuminated to identify who was NOT standing. The Carib and Clarence have long passed on, but attending the Carib inspired me to begin the journey of photographing this portfolio, now in its 44th year.
As Kevin Lynch asserts in his book What Time Is This Place, “One danger in the preservation of environment lies in its very power to encapsulate some image of the past; an image that may in time prove to be mythical or irrelevant. For preservation is not simply the saving of old things but the maintaining of a response to those things.” Beginning as a black and white college assignment, this portfolio transitioned to color in graduate school, thanks to Professor Chuck Swedlund pointing out that I was missing one of the most important features. (He was so right.) These single-screen cinemas, built between 1910 and 1965, hold countless collective memories and stories for those fortunate enough to attend their hometown theater, where neighbors can gather and be in community. Now with over 1,200 theatres in this portfolio from every state and some European countries, the goal remains the same: to preserve and celebrate the beautiful architectural details of illusionary magic that enchants and binds the community to their own distinctive theaters.
if you have a memory of attending a theater that you would be willing to share, I would love to hear from you! (bvanwink@icloud.com)
America’s Hometown Movie Theaters: Please Remain Standing
Author and Photographer, Benita VanWinkle
Due out in April 2026 and available for pre-order now from www.baueranddean.com
