Ticket to Paradise: American Movie Theaters and How We Had Fun

A journey back in time to the movie theatres of the past and the days when those theatres were as exotic and exciting as the movies on screen. For over 20 years John Margolies has been documenting theatres and drive-ins nationwide. Emily Gwathmey's introduction traces the evolution of the movie theatre from turn-of-the-century nickelodeons and magnificent cinematic cathedrals like the Roxy, to homespun small-town theatres and vanishing drive-ins. Accompanying the photographs are memories shared by movie patrons whose lives were transformed by Saturday matinees, family outings at the drive-in and romantic dates in plush velvet environments. There are also rare postcards, archival photographs and memorabilia from private collections.