The early 20th-century ushered in an audaciously romantic American gem: the picture-palace. As "movie-magic" permeated society, pleasure domes of unrivaled artifice and euphoric pageantry sprouted up across the nation. Designers embodied the splendor of ancient temples, Renaissance palaces, and European opera houses. Cinema's appeal revamped theatres as treasured gathering places. This series transports viewers into bygone playhouses of exotic cultures, while showcasing how cinema's glamour, appeal, and broad access subverted class distinctions conventionally upheld in classical theatre.
