The American Movie Theatre

The photographs in this catalog contain a sample of images from the series "The American Movie Theatre", a body of work containing over 70 images, captured over a 4 year period, by photographer Russell Phillips.

"As much as I respect the historic value of the vintage movie theater, I am equally interested in how the application of color defines our perception of a place. The uninhibited use of color and ornamentation of vintage theatres reflects an age of optimism. The inclusion of vending machines, candy counters and posters, all of which have their own nostalgic value and chromogentic ambitions, contribute to the seductive atmosphere. The theatres photographed are in the Chicago area and many have since been razed, abandoned, or split up into smaller spaces and re-purposed."

The American Movie Theatre series is part of the permanent collect at the Chicago History Museum.