Friday, April 13, 2007

The Big Casino.

As you approach the casino, the first thing you see is the box office...



Which has nautical-Moderne murals on all the walls above and around it...



The semi-circular lobby...



I tried to get a photo of the auditorium last night after the movie ended. It wasn't easy to see with only the red footlights beneath the screen for illumination. So, naturally, I set the camera to the wrong exposure mode and got this washed-out, grainy result. Squint, and you can see a bit of the detail, including the mermaid painted above the proscenium's curved arch....



The indistinct shape you can see in the previous photo below and to the left of the screen is the theater's original pipe organ, which is played before the movies on Friday and Saturday night, as well as for special silent-movie presentations...



It's a magnificent old place, a classic movie palace that is being restored and maintained with respect for its history.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Outstanding, wish we had something like that around here.

MrScribbler said...

I wish it wasn't a $100 round-trip ferry ride to visit it!

Wish I'd taken more photos, especially when the projectionist gave me a tour though the booth and showed me all the lovingly restored vintage projection equipment.

Anonymous said...

Well, if you're going to get stuck someplace, this is a great place to do it. Really great pics, too. :)

Anonymous said...

Wow! Beautiful. What a trip. I think of you everytime I see an old theater now.

Anonymous said...

Cool stuff Scribbs!!

Gill

Dorrie said...

ok, now scratch Disneyland... my next visit you'll have to take me there! *wink*
maybe I'll post my approach pictures to the island, even though they're a few years old....

John0 Juanderlust said...

Now that's a place worth the visit.
Incredible. That is one monster ax too. How much work does it need? Can you get some sort of recording of the sound if you go back? even through a computer mic would be cool.
Great tour you gave. Thanks. I like the look of the island and the theater.

Doug said...

How have they managed to keep developers away? It's a beautiful building, Scribbs, and you shoot a great photo guide.

Anonymous said...

I have such fond memories of Catalina - from a family a vacation and a summer camp one year. Thanks for reminding me.