This concept drawing, probably executed before World War II, uses simple curved forms of Streamline Moderne in the building. A huge sign with a spiral or helix-shaped tower dominates the façade
The auditorium interior reveals Lee's use of the inexpensive Quonset hut truss system, also used in the Puente Theatre (51101-51110) and the Garmar Theatre ((30301-30305) from the same period. In the immediate post-war period the system was used to build housing, commercial and factory buildings to satisfy the pent-up demand for new construction.
The finished theatre conforms closely to the design of the night-time rendering. The box office and sign focus attention on the corner. The use of artificial brick cladding was fashionable for both commercial and residential building of the period. (See also the Garmar Theatre in Montebello 30301-30305 for similar treatment of the exterior.
Lee's concept rendering for a storefront theatre in the popular Egyptian theme betrays little attention on the façade to Egyptian-derived elements. The tall pylon sign, the illuminated marque extended out over the sidewalk, and the dramatically curved forms all serve to advertise the product to the audience on the street.
Lee's design for the candy counter incorporated the Streamline Moderne curves initially planned for the exterior. Glass, shiny stainless steel fixtures, curved blond wood veneers and downlights in the ceiling all contribute to the effect.
With plush upholstered seats, touches of gilt and glitter, formal pilasters, and the almost Japanese delicacy of a mural, Lee suggests an atmosphere of elegance to transport the audience from their daily lives
A narrow aisle between the glass wall and the poster wall allows access to change the posters. This photograph reveals that the glass wall is not curved, but instead is composed of a series of flat glass panes butt-jointed together to form a curved shape.
Lee's sketch offers a prototype for a theatre that could be built cheaply and quickly. The simplest means of quickly constructing a theatre-sized space was to build a Quonset hut, a method devised in the late 1930s using small wood members to create an arched truss frame, which was then often clad in metal for warehouse purposes. A number of motion picture theatres were built in this way. They offered inexpensive rapid construction of theatre spaces in small towns such as Puente, an agricultural community east of Los Angeles.
The auditorium is a so-called atmosphere theatre, a popular design type which created a stage set surrounding the audience. In this example, the auditorium simulates a Spanish Colonial Revival village into which the audience enters to see the show. Simulated buildings project from the walls, ivy hangs from their balconies and windows, trees painted on the wall behind provide a natural setting, and the whole is illuminated to create a realistic effect. Above is the dark sky, painted with clouds and featuring twinkling lights simulating the stars.
Automatic photo machines and automatic vending machines epitomized the automatic theme of the Studio. The wallpaper with nude silhouettes added to the stylish atmosphere.
These photographs of the State Theatre in Stockton show a early twentieth-century theatre that was used for stage acts and movies. These photographs were in Leeýs collection , because he was asked to submit a proposal for remodeling. The collection contains no records of his remodeling concepts.
Note on back of photograph: Carved glass panel depicting the Academy of Motion Pictures (from which the Theatre takes its name) and the Arts of the Theatre. At main entrance to auditorium. Panel is 10' [feet] high.
Simple curving lines and a sumptuously draped curtain suggest an understated elegance. The wall pilasters conceal indirect lights. Large round translucent glass discs in the ceiling diffuse the light over the space.
The larger than life-size sculpture of hunter with a bow and his dog is sleek and heroic, in the style of Prometheus at Rockefeller Center or the work of Carl Milles.(40819,40819)
This construction photo shows the basement and the mass of wood framing used to make the forms for the poured concrete. The large derrick in the background was used to lift the materials and equipment up as the building rose.
The photograph shows that the auditorium design was extremely simple. It was the bands of indirect lighting running up the walls and across the ceiling as well as vertically along the side walls and underneath the rear ceilings that created the effect. (40819)
Construction photos show the odd open steel frame along the top of the building to give it increased strength (70104), the scaffolding along the Broadway elevation (70105), a view down into the interior showing the steel framing (70106), and the process of applying the finish decoration on the balcony interior (70107).
In the ladies' lounge Lee scaled down the furniture and used curves and rounded edges. Individual vanities with shelves, seats and mirrors were typical of large motion picture theatres of the period. The bouquet of flowers on the table indicates that the photograph was taken at the time of the opening.
The floor plan (2070001) shows how the geometry of overlapping circles shaped the design. The architectural drawing of the façade (2070002) depicts a spool of film unwinding, the inspiration for the spiral form used on the pylon (10102-10103)). Compare the photo of the auditorium (10105) with the floor plan (2070001) and the ceiling plan (2070002).
On this wall an archer takes aim at a gazelle, while birds fly overhead. Jewel-like lanterns composed of geometrically shaped glass panes hang from the ceiling.
Main entrance to the auditorium. No matter what aisle one is to be accommodated at, he enters thru this main portal. All ushers' resistance has been overcome by this mode of entrance. This feature has been protected in the Note on back of photograph: Patent Office by the Architec
The glamour of the movies is suggested by the tropical palms decorating the side walls and the dramatic swags simulating a sumptuous curtain that frame...