meticulously restored facades, a well-maintained movie palace, and polychrome terra cotta

historic buildings that dodged waves of urban renewal and blatant neglect are thriving in milwaukee. on a given stretch, a virtually untouched oriental-themed movie palace and its two neighboring 1870's commercial buildings prove that milwaukee has been proactive in rehabilitating their existing "stock" of historic architecture. i'm pleased to have witnessed this transformation over the past 20 years, and recorded it through the lens of my camera. i will no doubt continue to photodocument the remarkable transformations found in the city' residential and commercial architecture, mostly in and around the third ward, the core of downtown and neighborhoods surrounding the old breweries, moviehouses, and brewer's hill.

the following images were taken last weekend, with an eye toward architectural details on exterior facades. buildings bedecked with carved gray sandstone or polychromatic terra cotta magnetized my focus. by contrast the last group of images provide a detailed glimpse of the artistry and craftsmanship in the oriental theater interior lobby. hanging chandeliers and matching wall sconces, as well as the other decorative elements used throughout the interior spaces, are mostly unaltered since the time of installation in 1927.

sandstone facade detail of the "mackie" (1879), and mitchell (1876) buildings

polychromatic terra cotta, eleborate cornice bracket and carved limestone grotesques

interior chandeliers and sconces, oriental theater (1927)