forgotten objects rediscovered: what the patio theater's tradesmen left behind

i approached my exploration of the patio much as i had the congress, spending most of my time in the theater’s attic, looking for any and all objects left behind by the tradesman who worked there in the winter of 1926 (this timeframe is based on the opening date of january 29, 1927, and on several fragmented newspapers found sporadically strewn about in forgotten spaces). i was overjoyed to find (with great frequency) the usual detritus, artifacts commonly uncovered in the dark nooks and crannies of depression-era theater attics – cigarette packs, union labels, abandoned trade tools, and matchboxes.

the image gallery below offers a photographic study of objects found in the patio theater's ceiling - in and around the original wooden catwalk. the mazda light bulb boxes were found in great numbers near each of the electric "stars." the boxes once containing electric tape, sockets, and electric wire were left by the electricians sometime in 1926, while installing conduit throughout the attic and against the walls. finally, the newspapers, matchbooks, cigarette packs, and borden's glass milk bottles were found in various plaster cavities, embedded in expandable steel lath, and other areas where the plasterers were likely working.

based on previous salvage experiences, including repeated visits to congress theater's attic, i would guess there are many more artifacts waiting to be found, and that i will need to return to the patio's dimly-lit cavernous attic several more times in order to collect enough forgotten objects to begin "seeing" the tradesmen that worked there over ninety years ago.