These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
The Paramount Theatre, OaklandIf your visit to the cinema entails sitting in sticky chairs while trying to block out the sound of fellow viewers crunching pop-corn, Franck Bohbot's photos will make you wish you lived in the 1940s.
The French photographer traveled across the film industry's heartland, California, to try to capture the majesty and mystique of cinemas from the golden age of Hollywood. His images depict the splendor of art deco movie palaces of old, and transport us to a bygone era when cinemas were temples to gods and goddesses of the silver screen.
By Milena Veselinovic, for CNN
These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
Paramount Theatre, Oakland"Some of the greatest emotions I have known in my life often happened in a cinema, and for that reason I wanted to I honor it," says Bohbot, "they also represent the 'American dream' because most of the Hollywood studios founders were immigrants from Eastern Europe, and self-made men," he adds.
These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
Grand Lake Theater, OaklandThe majority of cinemas Bohbot visited were built during the first half of the 20th century, with an ornate art deco design which stands in sharp contrast to the pared-down and largely identikit look of a contemporary cineplex: "Nowadays the technology is amazing and let's you watch a movie on a big screen in a comfortable seat, but sometimes the majestic details of the facade, the lobby and even the curtains can really add to the pleasure," explains Bohbot.
These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
Orinda Theatre, OrindaThe photographer endeavored to convey the full scale of the grandeur of the space in his pictures, while at the same time illuminating details such as walls, rugs, lamps and ornaments. Some photos, like one of the Orinda Theatre above, were taken in near darkness, with just the screen as the source of light.
These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
TCL Chinese Theatre, HollywoodOne of the cinemas on Bohbot's list was an icon of American popular culture -- the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood which played host to three Oscar ceremonies. Formerly known as the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, it first opened in 1927 with the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille's film The King of Kings. The historic auditorium was renovated in 2013 and converted into an IMAX screen, while still retaining its former spirit.
These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
Grand Lake Theatre, OaklandThe vast hall of the Grand Lake Theater in the city of Oakland seats 1,600 people, and after being badly damaged in a fire in 1989, it has been fully restored to its past glory. "The neo-classical style and Egyptian motifs give this cinema something mystical," says Bohbot.
These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
Lobby of Orinda Theatre, Orinda"I am an eternal nostalgic," says Bohbot "and I wanted to in a way create a lasting memento to these places with so much history. "
These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
The Crest, Westwood, Los AngelesThe walls of The Crest Theater in the Westwood area of Los Angeles are adorned by frescoes depicting the beaming lights and the distinctive skyline of Hollywood. Opened in 1940, it was declared a Cultural Historical Monument in 2009.
These glorious Hollywood movie palaces take us back to cinema's golden age —
The Paramount Theatre, OaklandBohbot found that most cinema owners were happy to let him wander the empty auditoriums, and he spent half a day taking pictures completely uninterrupted at The Paramount Theatre in Oakland, pictured here. "This theater is an art deco gem. The fact that I was able to photograph it in all its glory is a great privilege," says Bohbot.
New People Cinema, San Francisco
The photographer did include one contemporary cinema in his series, the New People Cinema in San Francisco's historic Japantown quarter, because he thought it lived up to the glamor of movie theaters from the 1930s and 1940s: "This cinema can easily rub shoulders with movie palaces of old. It made such a strong impression on me with its play of light and simplicity," says Bohbot.
The photographer did include one contemporary cinema in his series, the New People Cinema in San Francisco's historic Japantown quarter, because he thought it lived up to the glamor of movie theaters from the 1930s and 1940s: "This cinema can easily rub shoulders with movie palaces of old. It made such a strong impression on me with its play of light and simplicity," says Bohbot.
