Tower Theatre, Compton, façade, night

Item Overview

Title

Tower Theatre, Compton, façade, night

Uniform title

Tower Theatre (Compton, Calif.)

Architect

Lee, S. Charles, 1899-1990

Date Created

1935-36

Date

1935/1936

Collection

S. Charles Lee Papers, 1919-1962

Notes

Description

Designed for a working class community in Los Angeles, the Tower Theater is a modest design which presents a stylish black and white Deco exterior (62701). The night view shows the effective use of neon and spotlighting to illuminate the fluted Moderne tower (62702). The box office is surrounded by circles of light bulbs on the lobby ceiling and a sunburst design on the lobbyýs terrazzo floor (62703). Poster cases are framed by scrolled pediments and simulated columns. The interior uses exaggerated columns, mirrors, white traditional-style furniture, and gilt to suggest a palatial elegance that is distant from the lives of the theatreýs clientele (62704-62705). Hanging lanterns and striped upholstery in the auditorium impart a subdued elegance (62706-62707).

Physical Description

Extent

1 photographic print

Keywords

Genre

Black-and-white photographs
Architectural photographs

Longitude

33.8963388

Latitude

-118.207995

Resource type

still image

Subjects

motion picture theaters
Entertainment
Landmarks