Loew's Theatre, 625 South Fourth Street, Louisville

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,56-LOUVI,17-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The first John Eberson atmospheric theatre in the state or region, Loew's Theatre is a lavish and perfectly preserved movie palace of the late It is an excellent example of Churrigueresque architecture. John Eberson was one of the three greatest theatre architects of the period of the PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: The theatre formally opened on September 1, 2. Architect: John Eberson. John Eberson was a noted theatre designer of the who designed many of the "picture palaces" of the Loew's theatre chain. His bust is set in one of the coffers of the vestibule ceiling among the busts of other, more famous men. The original lease stipulated that the architect work with Leon Fleishmann, who was to receive a maximum commission of 3.

Original and subsequent owners: Loew's Theatre is located on lot number 129 of block in the City of Louisville. The following references to the title of the lot are found in the Jefferson County, Kentucky Deed Books: Deed, March 12, recorded in Deed Book page 1, Lawrence Jones and Mamie P. Jones, Henning Chambers and Mina B. Chambers, Samuel C. Miller and May L. Miller, William H. Veeneman and Edna M. Veeneman, and Fidelity and Columbia Trust Company entered into a 25 year lease with the Marcus Loew Booking Agency for the construction of a theatre. Written in form similar to a building contract, specifications are set forth such as the capacity, which was to be at least and preferably and the cost, which was not to exceed LOEW'S. THEATRE HABS No.

(Page 2) Deed, April 25, recorded in Deed Book page Fidelity and Columbia Trust Company, Lawrence Jones and Mamie P. Jones, Henning Chambers and Mina B, Chambers, Samuel C. Miller and May L. Miller, William H. Veeneman and Edna M. Veeneman sold the property to the Theatre Realty Corporation, which was composed of the former owners with Lawrence Jones as president. An identical deed, dated March 27, and recorded in Deed Book page was signed approximately a year later. Deed, May 3, recorded in Deed Book page The Theatre Realty Corporation sold the property to the Louisville Operating Company for Deed, November 29, recorded in Deed Book page The Louisville Operating Company, Inc. sold the property to United Artists Theatre Circuit, inc. 4. Builder, contractor, suppliers: George M.

Eady Co , foundation Atlas plaster and Steel Co plaster J. P. Wagner's Sons Co...copper marquise, tower and general ornamental sheet metal work Frey Planing Mill Co.... , millwork Mercury Electric Sign Co sign Carroll-Rogers Co floor coverings Wurlitzer organ 5. Original plans and construction: No original plans are known to survive. Accounts in the newspapers at the opening of the theatre extol the magnificence of the building, but go little beyond that in terms of a detailed architectural description, because the structure was far too complex to describe. One item of interest at the opening of the theater was the presence of a large screaming macaw in the lobby of the theater, symbol of Lowe's theaters.

Local newspaper accounts reported that the construction cost was between and According to a newspaper account its original cost was [Ref. Drew Eberson, AIA, Stamford, Conn, for plans ] 6. Alterations and additions: Old screen removed and wide screen installed. Sign changed from Loew's to United Artists Theatre. Screen installed in balcony and balcony remodeled as second floor theatre, entitled "Penthouse Theatre." Exterior sign changed to accommodate new name. Total cost was approximately Wurlitzer organ restored.

LOEW'S THEATRE HABS No, {Page 3) B, Historical Context: From its opening on September 1, which featured the movie, "Excess Baggage," to the present Loew's has shown motion pictures, including one world premier, to audiences composed of stars and those from every conceivable walk of life. Prom an opening account at its opening comes this quote: "When one fancies the historian of some distant future reconstructing our day, it is not an idle fancy to suppose that he will lay particular stress on the motion picture palaces that are scattered across America and in doing so he will find something expressive of the character of these times we know as modern." PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION General description: The basic construction material of the theatre is concrete and steel.

The 40' x theatre has a four-story facade, a two-story foyer, an inner lobby and a large rear ell. Ornate terra-cotta Churrigueresque frontispiece resembles a retablo with a prominent forward marquise tower at the center, instead of a traditional niche. Tile relief surface is rich and varied. Cartouches, acanthus leaves, urns and coats-of-arms enliven the facade and numerous finials mark the skyline. Interior includes predominantly Churrigueresque styling of exterior. Surface texture has aggregation of ornament. Jewel-tone, polychrome finish is used on plaster walls. A plaster retablo at the inner entrance wall is surmounted by a cast of Donatello's "David". Side staircase in the lobby has a baldachino landing.

Floors have geometric tile pattern; the ceilings are vaulted and coffered, with portrait heads, including the architect Eberson's. The auditorium ceiling has unusual atmospheric clouds and stars." PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Original Architectural Drawings: Original plans of the theatre by John Eberson are in possession of the architect's son, Drew Eberson, AIA, Stamford, Connecticut. B.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,56-LOUVI,17-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

1. Primary and unpublished sources: Deed BOOKS located in the County Clerk's Office, Jefferson County Cour chouse, Louisville, Kentucky. National Register Nomination Form on the theatre, for further description of the interior, April LOEW'S THEATRE HABS No.

(Page 4) Secondary and published sources: Newspaper clippings: "Governor and Mayor Praise New Theatre." The Herald-Post, September 2, advertisements, Courier-Journal, September 1, "Loew's State to Open Its Doors Today," Herald-Post, September 1, "On the Screen - Loew's," Courier-Journal, September 2, "Loew's Cinema Palace Opens," Herald-Post, September 2, "Louisville's New Theatre," Herald-Post, Rotogravure Section, September 2, "Loew's Theatre Is Sold to Eastern Corporation," Cour ier-Journal, April 25, "Loew's and Kentucky Are installing Wide Screens," Courier- Journal, August 30, "Loew's Theater Changes Ownership," Courier-Journal, October 24, U.S.

Court Ordered Change In Ownership of Theater Here," Cour ier-Journal, October 26, "Loew's bo be Renamed Here," Courier-Journal, December 22, "Loew's Theater Name The United Artists," Courier-Journal, February 19, "...take the Grand Staircase to the left..." Courier-Journal, December 17, "Penthouse Theatre Symbolizes Revitalized Downtown District, by Sherwood Kohn, Louisville Times, February 18, "Penthouse Theater Praised as Downtown Attraction," Courier-Journal, April 12, "Graveyard Shift Fixes Organ," by Floyd Edwards, Louisville Times, August 24, "Back When..

.Loew's Theater Was Built," Courier-Journal, October 26, LOEW'S THEATRE HABS No, (Page 5) "Nude, Er, Ah, Statue Stolen from Theater," Courier-Journal, i December 2, "A Retiring George Hunt Remembers in Film Titles," by Jean Dietrich, Courier-Journal, December 26, "Nostalgic Notes," by Mike King, Courier-Journal, May 25, Langsam, Walter E. Metropolitan Preservation Plan. Louisville: Falls of the Ohio Metropolitan Council of Governments, Quenroe, Elroy. "John Eberson in Richmond, Virginia: Architect for the Twenties." Master's Thesis. University of Virginia, March PART IV. PROJECT INFORMATION The project was undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in cooperation with the Preservation Alliance of Louisville and Jefferson County, Inc.

Under the direction of John Poppeliers, chief of HABS, the project was completed during the summer of at the HABS Field Office in Louisville by Prof. John Haggard, (Syracuse University), Project Supervisor; David Arbogast (Columbia University), project Historian; Mary Oehrlein, Project Foreman; Bayer Lee (City College of New York), Architect; and Mary M. Herd (University of Tennessee) and Charles Raith (University of Cincinnati) , student assistant architects. Lucy Pope Wheeler, a HABS writer and editor, did the initial editing of the written data. Susan McCown, a HABS historian, completed the editing in the spring of for transmittal to the Library of Congress. HABS staff photographer Jack E.

Boucher took the photographs of the structures in ADDENDUM TO: HABS LOEW'S THEATRE HABS KY,56-LOUVI,17- (United Artists Theatre) (Penthouse Theatre) 625 South Fourth Street Louisville Jefferson County Kentucky COLOR TRANSPARENCIES HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior C Street NW Washington, DC