all original c. 1930's polychrome enameled ornamental cast iron mayan revival indian mask motif fisher theater interior illuminated seat end with glass jewels

Bldg. 51 Museum Collection
Out of stock
SKU
UR-29820-18
heywood-wakefield mfg. co.

 

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exceptionally rare and historically important all original interior theater seat end with original polychromatic paint finish. the freestanding seat end features a detachable mayan revival figural mask with nose and eyes containing glass jewels that are illuminated from behind with original white porcelain socket. the socket has since been rewired with a low wattage bulb. the hard to find and highly sought after theater chair seat end was manufactured by the heywood-wakefield company. measures 23 inches in height by 10 inches in width. the distinctive artifact was salvaged from the fisher theater, a unique detroit example of a mayan-style movie palace. designed by the firm of graven & mayger, the fisher theater could seat 2,715 in its plush auditorium seats. the interior featured two balconies, an orchestra pit, a 4-manual/36-rank wurlitzer organ, and in the lobby, a goldfish pond, real banana trees, and macaws which patrons could feed by hand while waiting for the next show. in the early-1930's, the theater was operated by paramount-publix and became home to the 40-piece sam benavie orchestra as well as elaborate stage acts. by the 1950's, the stage shows were gone, and the fisher theater began showing only films. its wurlitzer was removed in 1956 and installed in the senate theater. for the last few years of the 1950's, the fisher theater became a second-run house and screened its final movie "the magnificent seven" in 1960. the next year, the fisher theater was acquired by the nederlander theatrical corporation, which hired the firm of rapp & rapp to remodel the theater at a cost of nearly $4 million. in the process any and all traces of the original mayan theme ornament or design was completely obliterated.

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