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In the meantime, you might like some of these links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Eberson

http://www.myspace.com/movietheatrecorridor

http://eventstoday.ning.com/page/page/show?id=2011020:Page:686

www.historictheatres.org

www.lhat.org

http://www.schine.org.futuresite.register.com/

http://www.agilitynut.com/theatres/ny2.html

http://www.cobbles.com/simpp_archive/schinecase.htm

http://www.foxtheatreinstitute.org/

http://www.schine.org.futuresite.register.com/

In 1905, Pittsburgh movie theater owners Harry Davis and John Harris helped establish the first of what would become a popular form of movie theaters spread throughout the country, the five-cent nickelodeon. By the time the ornate Al Ringling Theater, the very first "Movie Palace"  was built in Baraboo, WI the die was cast. The movie business that Tom Edison spurned was here to stay. (Al Ringling, one of the founders of the Ringling Bros. Circus built his theater for the then incredible sum of $100,000). Then In 1915, the movie “The Birth of a Nation” re-paved the way in gold for feature films.

 By 1915, feature films were so successful that the five cent ticket admission prices would expand to ten cents, ending the era of nickelodeon movie theaters and cementing the popularity of movie theaters, large and small all across the U.S. and Central New York State.

 John Eberson, Architect

Born in Romania in 1875, Eberson came to this country in the early 1900s and settled in St. Louis, MO. While employed by the Johnston Realty and Construction Company, Eberson began to experiment with the design standards he would be most remembered for. His first recorded theater project was The Jewel in Hamilton, Ohio in 1909. By 1910 he was living in Chicago, an important center for theater architecture at the time, and receiving steady work as a theater architect. In 1926 Eberson moved his base of operations to New York City, where he remained until his death in 1965.

Eberson attained national, and even international acclaim for his atmospheric theatres, many of them executed in exotic revival styles, including Italian Renaissance, Moorish Revival and others. The first of these such theatres is considered to be the Orpheum in Wichita. "He specialized in depicting outdoor settings with no formal walls and made the whole auditorium a gigantic stage set that enveloped the whole audience."

John Eberson, later in partnership with his son Drew, created some of America’s most magnificent and unique movie theaters. Many of Eberson’s greatest works are in the atmospheric style. This genre of theater architecture sought to transport the patron into another time and place, to give the illusion of sitting in an exotic setting. The most delightful atmospherics were of the outdoor variety. Peaceful garden settings were created using by twilight skies and twinkling stars. Grottos with waterfalls and stuffed birds perched among statuary were favorite touches of "Papa John", as he was affectionately called. Although not the actual creator of the atmospheric style, he was the one to popularize and market this idea on a wide scale basis.

His early designs were reminiscent of the grand palatial opera houses of his homeland. Symmetry was very important in these early designs; delicate rosette strewn urns and elaborate cartouches were crafted out of fine plaster in exact duplicate on each side of the house. Prosceniums of unusual beauty and detail framed his stage presentations, again crafted in delicate plasterwork. His later designs took the French inspired - but uniquely Americanized - Art Deco themes to new and, at times, outrageous heights. At the top of his game, Eberson was sought out by the Schine brothers to work on not only their biggest but at times their smaller theaters.

Eberson felt there was a need for creating an environment of illusion for Americans to distract them from life's problems and provide them with an atmosphere of rest and beauty. Eberson was aware of the extravagance of the standard of "hard-top" school of theatre architecture begun in opera and vaudeville houses and continuing with movie palaces. The architect Thomas W. Lamb was the principal proponent of the "standard" style.

Eberson either built or redesigned the interiors of many Schine theaters. Documentation exists to verify his work on the Schine circuit’s theaters in Ashland Ohio, Norwalk, Ohio, Lockport NY, Auburn NY, Norwich NY, Glens Falls, NY and the home office Glove Theater in Gloversville, NY. The style and design of many other Schine theaters certainly suggest his influence, if not outright direction.

Syracuse's First Movie House (Nickelodeon) built by an Auburn Developer

Obit — George H. Morgan, aged 63 years, died at his home, 27 William Street in Auburn, NY on January 26, 1919. Mr. Morgan was the builder of the Morgan Theater in Auburn and founder of the Novelty Theater in Syracuse, the first motion picture house in that city.

Not only was Mr. Morgan known as one interested in the picture houses, but he was prominent as a contractor and built many homes in Auburn on Chedell Place, Mary Street extension and Mattie Street extension, as well as in other sections of the city.

 He was born In Owasco, where his father kept the village general store. He worked for a time in the dry goods house of Lyon, Elliott & Bloom and others. He went to St. Paul, Minn., and engaged in the manufacture and sale of showcases, and stayed 10 years. His contract and building came when he again took up his residence in Auburn.

 One of the first to see the possibilities of the motion picture industry, he started the  Novelty Theater in Syracuse. He continued in its management for seven years and then came to Auburn, where he built the Morgan. He was the active manager of the place until 1916, when he sold an interest to A. F. Hanning and Ross A. McVoy. 

 The Novelty Theater in Syracuse resided at 511-515 W. Fayette Street.  In Auburn, 60 Genesee Street.

Whoever said one picture is worth a thousand words may have seen this postcard of Morgan’s theater. I ran across it at an auction and had to have it.

 The Jefferson Theater was attached to the Osborne Hotel on State Street and owned by the Osborne Family.

Auburn Schine Theater (then)

How to get that classic movie theater look in your home theater? - Have you asked yourself that question?  Try this site for an answer

http://www.ehow.com/how_5237913_classic-palace-look-home-theater.html