Movie theaters used to be glamorous places, like music halls or opera houses. The spectacle of the movie-going experience extended out into the actual look and feel of the cinema. But many of these ornate old movie theaters have fallen into disrepair, and look like gorgeous disaster areas.


The Hulme Hippodrome but known as the Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall and Second Manchester Repertory Theatre as well (1901-1960s)


After its closure as a theatre, it was used as a bingo hall from the mid-1970s to 1986.



(via Derelict Places and True British Metal)

Michigan Theatre, Detroit, Michigan (1925-1976)


The 4,038-seat theatre with extravagant details was built in 1925 with the 13-story Michigan Building office tower on the site of the small garage where Henry Ford built his quadricycle. As a movie theatre it closed in 1967, but reopened two times until 1971. It was transformed to a club in 1972 and a concert venue in 1973, but the place finally closed in 1976. It's been a parking garage since then.


(via Bourbon Baby and grabadonut)

Proctor's Palace Roof Theatre, Newark, New Jersey (1915-1968)



(via Matt Lambros/After The Final Curtain)

Palace Theatre, Gary, Indiana (1925-1972)


Closed after the local US Steel plant went into decline.


(via Ken Fager and Joey Lax-Salinas)

Eastown Theatre, Detroit (1930-1990s)


The 2,500-seat theatre designed by V.J. Waier & Company and opened in 1930 operated as a cinema until the mid-1960s. From 1969 to the early 1970s it was a famous concert venue, where the Doors, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead and Alice Cooper played, among others. Later the building was used as a jazz venue, an adult film theatre (called the Showcase), a rave party venue, and a church.



(via Bob Julius, Jen F, memories_by_mike 1 - 2)

The 1,772-seat Broadway (later renamed to Paramount) Theatre, Long Branch, New Jersey (1912-1959)



(via Sean McGrady, After The Final Curtain and Cinema Treasures)

Paramount Theater (formerly H. C. Miner's Newark Theater, a vaudeville house), Newark, New Jersey (1886-1986)



(via Cinema Treasures, After The Final Curtain and Joseph A)

The 1,500-seat Ramova Theatre, Chicago (1929-mid 1980s)



(via Ramova Theatre, Rick Hall and Matt Lambros/After The Final Curtain)

Aegidium Cinema (formerly known as The Diamont Palace), Brussels, Belgium (1905- late 1990s)





(via Simon Blackley, ArcheoNet Vlaanderen, JePe Cee/Picasa, Vincent Merckx and ma2)

The Coronet Cinema, London (1936-2000)




(via 28dayslater and Andrew Woodyatt)

Glenroyal Cinema, Shipley, West Yorkshire, England (1932-1962)


It was reopened as a casino in 1963, and many other alterations were made to the building until 2008, but the upper circle is untouched since the last screening.




(via Phill. D)

A hidden and abandoned theatre in New York's East Village (operated between 1926 and 1959)




(via Ev Grieve and Alec Eiffel Photo)

United Artists Theatre, Detroit, Michigan (1928-1973, but it was the recording theatre of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra between 1978 and 1983.)


(photo by Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre/TIME and Mike Russell)

Bonus: Loew's King's Theatre, New York (1929-1977, now under renovation)





(via Gothamist, photos by Tod Seelie and loma)