The Fox Theater I, Oakland
New York-based French photographer Franck Bohbot traveled to California to spotlight the most amazing movie theaters, big and small, as an homage to the history of film in his series titled Cinema. He captures the grandiose scale of some exquisitely designed theaters as well as the compact, intimate setting of a few indie film houses. In either case, there's something attractive about the architecture and inexplicably significant about the rooms in which strangers gather for a shared experience.
Bohbot's photo series is as much about the architecture of each venue as it is about the actual event of people entering these mini arenas, awaiting entertainment. The emptiness of the theaters allow the viewer to take in the symmetry and silence of each space, while admiring everything around the blank screen. Without a movie projecting in front of a crowd, one is able to appreciate the intricate details of each location and the draw of going to a movie theater for a viewing, rather than watching something on their computer or mobile device.
The Paramount Theatre I, Oakland, California
The Paramount Theatre II, Oakland, California
The Paramount Theatre Lobby I, Oakland, California
The Grand Lake Theatre II, Oakland, California
Egyptian Theater, American Cinematheque, Los Angele
Alameda Theater I, Alameda, California
The Grand Lake Theater I, Oakland
The Paramount, Lobby II, Oakland
Orinda Theatre, Lobby, Orinda
Orinda II, California
The Four Star Theatre II, San Francisco
The Crest Westwood I, Los Angeles
Brava Theatre, San Francisco
Orinda Theatre I, Orinda
The Castro Theatre, San Francisco
Alameda Theater, Lobby I, Alameda
