Oriental Theatre
2230 N. Farwell Avenue,
Milwaukee,
WI
53202
2230 N. Farwell Avenue,
Milwaukee,
WI
53202
29 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 64 comments
I said November, 2006; I meant November 2009.
I have posted a photo taken in November, 2006, a straight-on shot of the full facade.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31182161
wondering if there are any pictures from 1986-looking for something when Blue Velvet was playing there or when REM had a concert there-I am also still looking for older pictures-from the 1930’s- of the area which seem to be hard to come by-
thanks
thanks—I have looked at most of the links here and most photos are close up exteriors of the theatre or marquee only-I am trying to find full size photos showing the whole building and buildings on adjacent blocks of the street along North Avenue
hello all-I am trying to find exterior pics of the Oriental and surrounding businesses-either recent or historical-or both——exterior pics showing the Oriental and businesses 1 block East and 1 block West along North Avenue——I have tried the Historical Society, UW-Milwaukee, and public library, and have found surprisingly few pictures——I will try the Oriental and Landmark directly but would appreciate any suggestions-thanks!
That was the 1-22-27 issue, p 26 for the record
Interestingly, a 1927 issue of Exhibitor’s Herald announcing the Oriental and Senate(?) theatre projects in Milwaukee names Gurda & Gurda as the architectural firm. Anyone know what the story is there?
Recent photos of this theatre are HERE
The Theatre Historical Society visited here on June 21st. Of all the theatres on our itinerary to me this was the most impressive. The original 1920’s lamps hang down along the grand lobby entrance. The famous organist from Milwaukee, Jelani Eddington played the Kimball organ for us and sounded magnificent. Those giant buddahs with colored eyes and the elephants about just awesome.
Life: Thank You for taking the time to detail all of this. Now I can see the arrows and the image you originally mentioned is the last on your list.
Maybe it is an incompatible browser sort of thing. There should be orange arrows within the pircture frame at top. Clicking on the arrows allows me to move from picture to picture. Here is the whole photo set:
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig1.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig2.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig3.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig4.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig5.html
You can also access via the Searle & Associates Projects page, Adaptive Reuse section:
http://www.searlarch.com/projects.html
Looks to me like a very tasteful project. Here is how Searle describes it:
Built in 1927, the Oriental Theater is an example of an exotic revival movement that used Arabian, Egyptian, and Far Eastern ornamentation. The corridor between the two new theaters is designed to reinforce the illusionary quality of fantasy and grandeur inherent in the old movie palace. The corridor columns, simplified versions of the originals, are made of faux marble plastic laminate with wood trim. The concern in this remodeling was to preserve the existing theater volume and ornament, while enhancing its quality with the addition of the two theaters.
Absolutely a stunning and unique looking theatre. A reminder of an era of great showmanship.
Life: is this the photo you intended? It looks toward the stage front, not the two little auditoriums. And “arrows at the top”? I see none.
Great auditorium photos, showing the two cinemas built under the balcony, can be found here:
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig3.html
Use the arrows at top of photo to navigate.
Thanks for the correction.
A small point: the ORIENTAL is not owned by Landmark, but operated by them under a lease. So, the long term welfare of the theatre is more in the hands of its owner (a group of local business investors heretofore specializing in housing), rather than its operator. To be sure, if Landmark should somehow leave the theatre, its future would be more in doubt, since investors buy to increase their investment returns, not out of nostalgia for any property.
The Oriental is definitely well cared for, and there are more than a couple of theater buffs among the staff there. It is, however, owned by Mark “day-and-date” Cuban’s Landmark Theatres…
Those are some very beautiful photos of the Oriental lobbies. A couple of massive multiplexes have opened in New York in the past decade where an attempt was made to recapture the dream palace flavor — one in the Disney-ized 42nd Street, and the Sony near Lincoln Center. Of course, nothing can compare to the real thing. I do hope owners of gems like the Oriental appreciate what they have and keep things at least maintained, if not completely restored.
Russell Phillips Photos:
Lobby
Upper Lobby
I lived on Farwell Avenue across the street from the Oriental as a student at UWM in the early seventies. I remember often taking advantage of the cheap double features they showed then. My first time at the Oriental was a Halloween costume party in 1970 I think. They showed the original Frankenstein film — quite a revelation to see it on a big screen — and the entire audience, most quite stoned and/or tripping out of their minds, howled when Dr. Frankenstein’s father lit up and puffed greedily on his very large carved pipe. Those giant Buddhas with the glowing eyes and jewels were truly amazing, as was the rest of the decor.
That’s cool. No problem Jim. I haven’t listed an email address on purpose. From time to time I get into it with people who I think are trying to use and abuse the preservation community, like Paul Warshauer. I don’t need messages from guys like that.
Life: I’m glad to hear about your screening at the AVALON, but since this is the ORIENTAL’S page I don’t feel right talking about another theatre here. I would have privately E-mailed you, but when clicking on your moniker in blue at the bottom of your comment, I am taken to to your Profile page where I should find your E-mail address under CONTACT INFO, but there is nothing there. That can be rectified if you will click on the link PROFILE in the upper right corner of any page and, if your cookies are turned on, you will be taken to your own page where you can correct the oversight.
Otherwise, you can click on my name below and thus find the E-mail to contact me.
Good news Jim. I have always wanted to see a movie at the Oriental & have never gotten around to it. I have been to a screening at Milwaukee’s Avalon. The Avalon was great when I was there in the early 90’s. Hope it will come back to life again.
jim,
I can’t thank you enough for the information on Alexander Bauer. THe reason I am looking is that I grew up in the house he designed and built for himself in 1929. The house was built in Whitefish Bay in 1929, and the upstairs bathroom is apparently very similar to the one at the Oriental Theater. My mother passed away in december of last year and we are getting ready to sell the house, and I wanted to put as much info together as I could.
I really appreciate you taking the time to respond…and so quickly. Thanks again. gincleary
“gincleary”: This is a bionote about ALEXANDER HAMILTON BAUER: Bauer formed an architectural practice parternership with Gustav A. Dick (AIA) in 1921 as “Dick & Bauer”. They designed six movie palaces in Milwaukee, as well as many regular commercial buildings, churches, and homes. In 1931 the parternership was incorporated with Dick as president and Bauer (a native Milwaukeean who was graduated from the U. of Wis. at Madison) as treasurer and his wife as vice-president. Dick was born in Milw. in 1872, and died there in 1935 and Bauer continued the firm through 1937. Bauer served as president of the Wis. chapter of the AIA, and belonged to the Wis. State Assn. of architects, as did Dick. He was one of the founders of the First Church of Christ Scientist in the suburb of White Fish Bay, as well as being a member of the Milwaukee Real Estate Board, The City [social] Club, the Milwaukee Art Inst., and various Masonic lodges. He later collaborated with noted Milw. architect Alexander Eschweiller. Bauer died of a cerebral hemmorage in 1946 at the County Emergency Hospital (defunct) which he had helped design. Source: Historic Milw. Inc. booklet of 1992.
“Life’s too short”: I live too far from the ORIENTAL to be able to watch its marquee, but there always seems to be an ad in the paper for movies seven days a week. This is under Landmark management, but the periodic pipe organ concerts have been silenced for over a year now after some major electrical damage to the relay, I’m told.