After the Final Curtain: The Fall of the American Movie Theater

by Matt Lambros

There is nothing remarkable about a movie theater today; but that wasn't always the case. When the great American movie palaces began opening in the early 20th century, they were some of the most lavish, stunning buildings ever seen. However, they wouldn't last -- with the advent of in-home television, theater companies found it harder and harder to keep them open.Some were demolished, some were converted, and some remain empty to this day.  After the Final The Fall of the American Movie Theatre will take you through 24 of these magnificent buildings, revealing the beauty that remains years after the last ticket was sold.

Genres: Nonfiction, Media Tie In, American History, Photography, History

240 pages, Hardcover

Published November 15, 2016

About the author

Matt Lambros is an architectural photographer who began photographing abandoned buildings over ten years ago. A graduate of Boston University's Digital Imaging and Photojournalism programs, Lambros has since been documenting the decay of America's abandoned theaters in the hope of shedding light on these forgotten buildings and the efforts to re-purpose them. Part of raising awareness for these treasures is his involvement with various organizations that work to restore and reopen abandoned theaters in the United States. Lambros has donated time and photographs to support such organizations as the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts, who in 2009 acquired the historic Victory Theatre, abandoned since 1979. Lambros' abandoned theater photography has appeared in major worldwide publications, including The Guardian and The New York Times. His work with Proctor's Palace Theatre, Loew's Poli Theatre and Loew's Kings Theatre (among others) has been featured in art galleries around the world.

Reviews

[GlenK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there a place more forlorn than an abandoned movie palace? They flourished during the 1920s and 30s when movie going was a routine pleasure (and even before that with vaudeville). In the end, they were done in by the very excesses that made them so spectacular in their prime: their size (often enormous with the smallest featured in this book holding a bit over 1000 seats and the largest at well over 3000) and their opulence (all that ornate and fragile and expensive plasterwork). This book focuses on 20+ theaters, some of which are already gone and some that have miraculously survived and even flourished. The photographs by Matthew Lambros are really excellent as is the accompanying text.

[Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures but sad to see. I worked as a theatre manager in the early 70s in some palaces that have since been torn down, multiplexed or utilized for another purpose.
Letting these former beauties turn into crumbling ruins is horrible. They are historic dinosaurs and should either be preserved or buried.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and amazing pictures. I have always been facinated by the history of the older architecture of theatres. Matt Lambros really has some amazing photos. This is must have!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful view of merely a few of America's sadly neglected movie palaces of yesteryear.....I cried a number of times during the reading. *sniffle*

[Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first "Coffee Table" book of 2026.
A bit disappointing actually , but perhaps my expectations got in the way.
The author Matt Lambros, is by trade, an architectural photographer, and a very good one at that.
He can show you, and highlight a building, interior or exterior, from any angle.
The problem is that he cannot turn back time.

Many of these wonderful, ornate, historical theaters have had their day.

Built at great expense, they have fallen too far to realistically keep up.
The result is too many pictures of fallen plaster and partially collapsed roofs.
Not just in a few cases, but in the case of most of the featured sites.
If you are looking for a "Feel Good" book that shows the saving power of community spirit that repeatedly "saves the day", then you really won't find it here. (Although there are a few).

In most cases the owners got in over their heads and the local authorities waited too long in supporting a rescue plan for one of their communities greatest assets.
Matt features buildings that he actually visited and photographed.
I wish that he got to visit grand restored theaters such as the Stanley Theatre in Jersey City, N.J
Built as the flagship of the Stanley-Fabian chain, the massive and ornate Stanley Theatre was the 6th largest movie palace in the country at the time of its opening. It was also the 2nd largest Atmospheric style movie theatre ever built in the USA, and ultimately the 11th largest movie theatre ever built in America. It's prospects looked quite grim. However, in one of the most significant movie palace restorations ever, it was purchased by the Watchtower Bible and Tract society in 1983 to be restored as a regional Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall. The Witnesses then set about on a massive and sensitive restoration project, entirely undertaken by thousands of volunteers, to completely clean, repair and restore the building to its original appearance. Fortunately, despite the years of neglect, the Stanley Theatre was virtually intact, having never been multiplexed or converted into other uses.
I would have liked to see stories like that included in this book here.
An index would have been a nice addition to this publication.

[Amy Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this stunning book 100 stars. I'm a huge classic movie fan but it wasn't until I saw the documentary Going Attractions; The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace that I became absolutely enthralled and passionate about the theatres that originally played the movies I love. The haunting and beautiful but heartbreaking images used in the documentary were mostly by Matt Lambros and I knew I had to get his book.

The book is a large coffee table size with full size photos along with story of each theatre and it's current state. The pictures capture the beauty and magnificent opulence of these buildings,but many are coated in mold, have ruined ceilings and heaps of destroyed chairs and fallen plaster on the floor. It's gut wrenching to see the contrast of such stunning design and history just being left to rot and decay, it's infuriating and makes one passionate to help save these places that are no less majestic than proper castles or cathedrals. I cried looking at the photos and reading about the ones that have been destroyed, all that work and ambience gone forever. And my breath caught with wonder as I poured over the pictures, taking many minutes over each, to fully comprehend every detail in each design.

This book is a bit more pricey than some but it's worth every penny. I'm so excited to get his other books now. If you love classic movies, theatres, architecture or just mysterious abandoned places,this book will delight you and also depress you, but it's an important document on some of the most beautiful buildings,ones forever lost, ones in danger of that fate and some with a fighting chance.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting pictures accompany a brief look at the history of 24 movie theaters. I would have liked a photo or two of how the theaters used to look for a comparison.