Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, Emerson College.
In the decades that followed World War I, a new experience opened the doors to opulent and transportive design. Architects and designers borrowed inspiration from ancient temples and Renaissance palazzi to create new “movie palaces” rich with stylistic interpretations of Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco. These interiors intended to captivate audiences as much as what they viewed on screen—the movie house itself creating an immersive backdrop for the overall experience of movie-going.
In the series “Pleasure Domes: Architecture of Gilded Dreams” photographer Christos J. Palios captures these spectacular settings to both preserve their legacy and share their grandeur with audiences beyond those who have filled the seats.
San Antonio’s Majestic Theater.
“What I enjoy most about these spaces is the eclectic stories they each vividly express about their era through diverse architectural ornamentation,” Palios explains. “Long before television, visiting these interiors was the highlight of people’s week. It was where they went to be entertained and to socialize, to see and be seen!”
Grand Lobby of the Paramount Theater, Oakland, California.
The photographer notes that, in the heyday of such theaters, the broad egalitarian appeal of moving pictures subverted class distinction and connected humanity in freshly potent ways. “Architecture of Gilded Dreams” allows us to wonder how such “iconic and fanciful American interiors will continue to evolve in a post-2020 world of ever-shifting connection.” The aim of the series, Palios notes is “to help preserve and celebrate the rich memories and historic relevance of these distinguished spaces.”
Photography by Christos J. Palios.
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