Architecture Archives - Driving for Deco

The Little Theatre at 240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY.

The Little Theatre 240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY. Photo by the authors.

September 29th was Silent Movie Day and to honor it the Little Theatre in Rochester, New York screened G. W. Pabst’s 1929 film Pandora’s Box. Starring silent film icon Louise Brooks the film played in historic theatre 1 which will be celebrating its 95th anniversary on October 17th. I haven’t been to Little Theatre 1 since before the pandemic and its 2020 Art Deco renovation. So this was the perfect excuse for me to go see the theatre and a great film as well.

The front of the Little Theatre on East Avenue.

The Little Theatre’s East Avenue facade. Photo by the authors.

The Little Theatre Movement

In the 1920s as the American film industry, through large studios like Paramount and First National, began an almost monopolistic control on making and exhibiting motion pictures a new type of theatre emerged. The Little Theatre movement, created by the Motion Picture Theatre Guild, was a direct response to mainstream cinema. These theatres would program European imports and more experimental domestic films and cater to the intellectuals. By the end of the decade Little Theatres were opening in most major American cities with Rochester, New York’s opening in the autumn of 1929.

The Little Theatre on East Avenue in Rochester, NY, 1929.

The Little Theatre shortly before opening in October, 1929. Photo from beroachitecture.com

The Little Theatre, Rochester, New York

Rochester’s Little Theatre was typical of the size of other “Little Theatres”, having seating of less than 500, unlike the several thousand seating capacity of mainstream picture palaces. Another feature of these theatres was to offer patrons free coffee and cigarettes and lounges to intellectually discuss films. Edgar Phillips and Frederick Pike designed the Little in the new modern style just becoming popular in the United States. The East Avenue facade is of polished, black terracotta tiles. Breaking up the dark facade are cast, aluminum inserts.

Cast aluminum decorations over a doorway in the front of the Little Theatre.

One of the cast aluminum decorations on the Little’s facade. Photo by the author.

And includes a frieze of stylized flora over the second story windows. Thanks to the Art Deco facade the theatre has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A section of the second story stylized frieze.

A section of the stylized frieze over the second floor windows. Photo by the authors.

Premiere engagement newspaper ad for the Little Theatre, October, 1929.

Advertisement of the Little’s premiere week. Image from Democrat & Chronicle, October 20, 1929.

The Little’s original mission was to be a venue for the fast dying art of the silent film. Nicknamed the “House of Silent Shadows” the opening program included the Italy / French co-production of Cyrano de Bergerac (Dir. Augusto Genina, 1923). The lavish, stencil color production was accompanied by a three-man orchestra playing from upper left balcony.

Frame capture from the DVD of the 1923 film Cyrano de Bergerac.

Frame from Cyrano de Bergerac (Augusto Genina, 1923). Frame capture from the Image DVD.

With the onset of the Great Depression not long after the Little Theatre’s opening, concessions to its mission were necessary, and sound equipment installed. With the conversion to sound, a marquee was added to the exterior in 1931.

The Little Theatre showing the 1931 marquee addition.

The 1931 marquee during the run of Rome Express in 1932. Image from cinematreasures.org.

The next change to the theatre’s exterior came right after the end of the Second World War, when a new “zigzag” vertical sign replaced the original one.

The East Avenue facade of the Little Theatre with the 1946 vertical sign.

The Little Facade showing the 1940s vertical sign. Photo by the authors.

The Little’s interior has seen more changes through the years than the outside. Originally the seat configuration features two sections with a center aisle down the middle. Cylindrical wall sconces lined the auditorium walls. The downstairs lounge while comfortable was not especially moderne in style.

Photos showing the original interior of the Little Theatre.

Photos of the Little’s original interior design as featured in the 20th anniversary booklet from 1949. Photos from cinematreasures.org.

Ownership of The Little changed through the years, at one time becoming part of Jo-Mor Theatre chain. In the 1980s coming under new management headed by William Coppard and John and Pam Blanpied, the Little’s original mission as an art house was restored.

The auditorium’s interior had undergone alterations by the 1980s as well. Seating now was in three sections a large center section and two smaller sections along the walls. Gone were the original seats and wall sconces. This would change with a 2019-2020 renovation / restoration. While not an authentic restoration bringing the theatre back to its 1929 appearance, it is a thoughtful renovation, that captures the spirit of the 1920s Little.

Little Theatre entrance. Photo by the authors.

Lobby

Reproduction of 1920s / 1930s milk glass shades in the entrance lobby. Photo by the authors.

1920s inspired mirror and poster case. Photo by the authors.

Art Deco inspired ceiling lights on the ceiling of the inner lobby. Photo by the authors.

Renovated inner lobby. Photo by the authors.

Inner lobby corner and stairs down to the lounge.

Inner lobby corner and stairs to the downstairs lounge and restrooms. Photo by the authors.

Downstairs Lounge

Stairs leading (with original 1929 railings) to the downstairs lounge. Photo by the authors.

Downstairs lounge with Streamline Moderne inspired furniture and a reproduction Art Deco ceiling light and wall sconces. Photo by the authors.

Detail of the reproduction ceiling in the downstairs lounge. Photo by the authors.

Auditorium

Side wall of the auditorium with new wall sconces reminiscent of the original 1929 lighting. Photo by the authors.

Detail of auditorium wall sconce. Photo by the authors.

The new seats with Art Deco inspired upholstery, mimic the shape of the original 1929 seats. Photo by the authors.

Looking toward the screen in the renovated auditorium. Photo by the authors.

So if you happen to be in Rochester and want to see a movie check out what’s playing at the Little. And maybe there will be a screening of a classic film in Little 1, if so, don’t miss it.

The Little Theatre, Rochester, New York. Photo by the authors.

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, Tiquen Guys)

Sources:

Wayne, Peter; “Small but Mighty”; City; 2024, October; pp 10 – 11.

Cinema Treasures

Vintage postcard of Detroit, Michigan. Image from amazon.com.

We spent our last sightseeing day exploring some of the art and architecture of Detroit. We visited three great attractions: The Detroit Institute of Arts, the Fisher Building and the William Livingston Lighthouse.

Detroit Institute of Arts

The rear entrance to the Detroit Institute of Arts. Photo by the authors.

Stop number one, a visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts. This museum is famous for their amazing collection in over 100 galleries covering 658,000 square feet. The origins of the museum date back to 1881.

Newspaper magnet, James E. Scripps (1835 – 1906) toured Europe for five months and kept a journal of his family’s trip through Italy, France, Germany and the Netherlands. After returning to the United States, he printed portions of the journal in his paper The Detroit News. These popular serialized journal entries were published in book form later that year, leading to an art exhibit in 1883. The exhibit inspired many prominent Detroit citizens to form a board to create a permanent art museum. And in 1888 the Detroit Museum of Arts opened its doors.

The Detroit Museum of Arts on Jefferson Avenue. The building was razed in 1960. Image from wikipedia.org.

With the changing of the museum’s name to the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1919, also came the search for a new and larger location. Breaking ground for the present building in 1923 its doors opened four years later.

A grand entrance and our guides. Photo by authors.

: A closer view of the barrel ceiling. Photo by authors

: Pewabic tile water fountain. Photo by the authors.

We were lucky to have great tour guides to show us around the museum in our friends David, Jules and their son Owen. I was there to see the Diego Rivera murals and not much else. But there was so much more that I would have missed if it was not for our friends pointing out the other treasures and other parts of the building.

Detroit Industry Murals

Diego Rivera - Detroit Institute of Arts

Introduction to Diego Rivera and his murals. Photo by the authors.

Vast mural to the right. Photo by the authors.

The frieze above far wall. Photo by the authors.

One of the large panels of the Detroit Industry Mural.

One of the large panels of Rivera’s Detroit Industry Mural. Photo by the authors.

: A corner detail. Photo by the authors.

: Pewabic tile floor medallion. Photo by authors.

Looking back from where we entered and Anthony, too!. Photo by the authors.

A (very) Small Sampling of the Art Collection

: The Diggers, by van Gogh. Photo by the author.

: Vincent van Gogh, 1889. Photo by the author.

: View of Le Crotoy from Upstream by George Seurat. Photo by the authors.

: George Seurat, 1889. Photo by the authors.

: Mont Sainte Victoire by Paul Cézanne. Photo by the authors.

: Paul Cézanne, 1904-06. Photo by the authors.

: Self-Portrait by Vincent van Gogh. Photo by the authors.

: Vincent van Gogh, 1887. Photo by the authors.

: Arrangement in Gray: Portrait of the Painter by James McNeill Whistler. Photo by the authors.

: James McNeill Whistler, 1872. Photo by the authors.

: Culebra Cut by Jonas Lie. Photo by authors.

: Jonas Lie, 1913. Photo by the authors.

Babylonian Exhibit

An interesting and informative exhibit. Photo by the authors.

: Ziggurat brick, 859-825 BCE. Photo by the authors.

: Bronze ceremonial belt, 850-650 BCE. Photo by the authors.

: Mosaic with the Personification of the River Tigris, late 100-200. Photo by the authors.

: Mosaic by unknown artist, late 100-200

Is it real or a fake? A genuine archeological mystery. Photo by the authors.

Sampling of Miscellaneous Exhibits

Metal and glass - Detroit Institute of Arts

A variety of utility wares. Note the “Art Deco” teapot (#5) from 1800. Photo by the authors.

Metal and porcelain ware. Photo by the authors.

Eastern culture inspired design. Photo by the authors.

: Lajos Mack, circa 1900. Photo by the authors.

: Otto Prutscher liquor set, Vienna Austria. Photo by the authors.

Tiffany table lamp with dragonfly motif.

Tiffany table lamp with a dragonfly motif, 1899 – 1902. Photo by the authors.

Joseph Urban Gondola chairs and matching table.

Pair of Gondola chairs with matching table, designed by Joseph Urban for the Weiner Werkstätte shop, New York City, 1922. Photo by the authors.

After exploring the Detroit Institute of Arts it was time for lunch. We lunched at the museum with our friends who were kind enough to spend the morning showing us around the museum.

Our Guides to the Museum David & Jules Quin with their son Owen.

Our guides, David and Jules Quin and their son Owen. Photo by the authors.

After lunch Chris and I headed to our tour of the Fisher Building.

The Fisher Building

The view of the Fisher Building from the car as we headed back to our hotel. Photo by the authors.

After lunch with our friends at the museum we headed off to our next destination. On a very hot day, we toured the beautiful and recently restored Fisher Building. Designed by Albert Kahn in 1927 for the Fisher Brothers’ as there central headquarters of the Fisher Body Corporation. The original design called for three towers; the other two, casualties of the Great Depression.

Preliminary drawing of the original design of the Fisher Building. Image from internationalmetropolis.com.

Still, with no expense spared, first class artisans contributed their talents from engineering to the fine detail work throughout. And he most notable feature is the three story arcade featuring Géza Maróti, hand-painted barrel-vaulted ceiling. Recognized as “Detroit’s Largest Art Object”, it is undergoing continued restoration since 2015 at the cost of 30 million dollars.

The western facade of the Fisher Building, taken from the parking lot on West Grand Boulevard. Photo by the authors.

Detail of the upper floors of the Fisher Building's western facade.

Upper floor details on the Western facade. Photo by the authors.

Free tours are available but you need to call ahead to reserve a place. Our guide tended to be a bit “superior” in attitude. Add to this this, an ex-Fisher Building guide was part of our group and the knowledge egos were on full display. Regardless, the tours are informative and well worth the time.

Main Floor Views

The Fisher Building Story

Fisher Building vestibule ceiling light.

Brass and frosted glass vestibule ceiling light. Photo by the authors.

Samples of the bronze plaques decorating the walls between the main floor and first balcony above. Photos by the authors.

Opposing mosaics at the end of the west gallery celebrate the artists’ craft. Photo by the authors.

The building is clad in marble and showcases intricate mosaics and bronze detailing throughout. The tower once feature gold leaf tiles. Covered in asphalt to prevent detection during WWII, this coating could not be removed without further damage. Now, green terra cotta tiles illuminated by gold lights pay homage to the original design.

Views from the Main Floor

: Additional mosaic and an inlaid bronze tribute. Photo by the authors.

: Above is one of the many hand painted ceilings and custom designed chandelier. Photo by the authors.

Bronze inlays symbolizing air, earth, fire and water, surround Mercury, the god of transportation. All are set in various tones of marble. Photo by the authors.

: View of the main gallery. Small shops and boutiques line the lobby.

: A view of the main entrance atrium. Photo by the authors.

A striking, and recently renovated, hand-painted ceiling. Photo by the authors.

: A view an entrance arcade. Photo by the authors.

: Detail of a mail slot. Every detail is harmonious to the overall vision. Photo by the authors.

Looking up, and down the gallery. The ceiling is completely hand-painted. Photo by the authors.

The interior boast a state-of-the-art theatre and a variety of boutique shops.

Second & Third Floor Views

: Looking down toward the main atrium. Photo by the authors.

: The grand gallery. Shops and boutiques line the first floor. Photo by the authors.

: The smaller mezzanine lights compliment the intricately painted barrel ceilings. Photo by the authors.

: Detail of another barrel arch with a different motif. Photo by the authors.

Detail of the medallion above the intersecting hallways below. Photo by the authors.

: Arches create unique views of the artistry throughout the building. Photo by the authors.

: Intersecting arches creating interesting compositions. Photo by the authors.

You get a feeling of the building’s scale in relationship to people. Photo by the authors.

: The architecture creates its own art. Photo by the authors.

: Arches create frames for the art. Photo by the authors.

: An interplay of arches and color compliment each other. Photo by the author

The intersection of arches creating an abstract heart. Photo by the authors.

: Even the balustrades are works of art, Photo by the authors.

: Fluted columns and complimentary railings frame elements of the building. Photo by the authors.

: Second floor mezzanine / gallery. Photo by the authors.

: Pierced metal detail and etched shades of one chandelier. Photo by the authors

: The gallery with shops below. Photo by the authors.

: View from the mezzanine. Note the plaque of Mercury below. Photo by the authors.

View of the arcade (and Chris taking a photo) from the third floor. Photo by the authors.

The Executive Suites

Etched elevator doors. Photo by the author.

: The executive elevator call button. Photo by the authors.

: Door knob detail. Photo by the author

Views from the 26th Floor

: The view south towards downtown. Photo by the authors.

: Looking north. Photo by the authors.

The Lower Level

If you visit the Fisher Building, be sure to check out the lower level. Built for general services (mail room, rest rooms, etc.) it is less ornate than the main floors above. However, it still has striking features to be appreciated.

Main staircase of the lower level. Photo by the authors.

The tile floor in the lower level men’s restroom. Photo by the authors.

Lower level elevator bay. Photo by the authors

The William Livingstone Lighthouse

The William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse on Belle Isle.

The William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse. Photo by the authors.

Standing on the northeast corner of Belle Isle in the Detroit River is the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse. It is named in honor of the long-time president of the Lake Carriers Association, president of Dime Bank and owner of the Detroit Evening Journal. The lighthouse was dedicated on October 17, 1930, the fifth anniversary of Livingstone’s death.

Dedication ceremony of the Livingstone Lighthouse, 1930.

Dedication ceremony of the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse, October 17, 1930. Image from: lighthousefriends.com

This was our first glimpse of the lighthouse on the trail from the parking lot. Photo by the authors.

Like the Fisher Building the lighthouse was design by Albert Kahn with decorative elements by Géza Maróti. The 58 foot, fluted column is the only marble lighthouse in the United States. Topping the Georgia marble clad lighthouse is an octagonal bronze enclosure that houses the 8,600-candlepower beacon. The light is visible for fifteen miles. Encircling the top of the tower, just below the beacon are soaring, bronze eagles.

The summit of the Livingstone Lighthouse.

The top of the Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse. Photo by the authors.

Above the entrance is a Maróti bas relief of a woman symbolizing humanity overcoming nature. The star, the wind and the water in the relief are representing navigation and seafaring.

Detail of the entrance and Maróti bas relief of the Livingstone Lighthouse.

Detail of the Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse and Maróti bas relief over the entrance. Photo by the authors.

Maróti also created the dedication plaque on the back of the lighthouse.

The Livingstone Lighthouse dedication plaque.

Maróti’s dedication plaque. Photo by the authors.

Much of the island has mature trees which render the lighthouse’s original purpose obsolete. But the setting is beautiful.

The Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse on Belle Isle.

Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse. Photo by the authors.

A funny story: we overheard a young couple discussing the tower. The woman, in total awe said the tower must be 600 feet tall. The young man looked at her and laughing said, “No. That would be a hundred of me tall.”

William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse on Belle Isle. Photo by the authors.

Even though we found a few great pieces, like the rosewood corner and Howell chrome tube tables, Detroit did not prove to be too successful for what we collect. What we did find great were all the great attractions Detroit had to offer. From the Henry Ford Museum, to the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica to Cranbrook and all the sites in this post, Detroit was a fantastic Driving for Deco destination.