Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

The Oak Village Theatre, located on one end of a strip shopping center, Houston, Tex., has this huge attraction board pointing to the building across the parking area. Soffit of the marquee is brightly lighted by recessed strip lights above a suspended aluminum grille ceiling. Mosaic tile in blue tones faces the boxoffice and the area above the doors. Black letters are used on the white reader board. NEW SHOP CENTER THEATRE FOR HOUSTON T he new Oak Village Theatre, located in the Oak Village Shopping Center, Houston, Tex., was designed by Richard B. Walton and Woodrow Bush, architects, to fit harmoniously into the overall design of the shopping center which was already under construction before the theatre lease was negotiated. The theatre is located at the end of the strip center and, while its architecture is distinctive, it is not dominating. The building is of pink Mexican brick, with panels of limestone to break up the mass of the auditorium with a pleasing decorative effect. The part of the building which contains the lobby, lounge, projec tion room and lease areas was lowered to provide a good relationship between the theatre and the existing center. The projection room is at a level slightly above the marquee which is covered with oriental stucco accented by panels of expanded aluminum, colored white, set in aluminum frame. The attraction board mounted on the marquee is also white with black letters, and the marquee soffit is lighted by means of recessed strip lights over a suspended aluminum grille ceiling. Mosaic tile in an overall tone of blue was used over the entry doors and as facing for the boxoffice. The doors and frames are aluminum with solar bronze, heat-absorbing glass. The bronze glass reflects the general color scheme, and the floor of the outer lobby is washed terrazzo in a rust color to match portions of the interior. The inside colors are a combination of blue, rust, white and gold, with walnut interior doors and fixtures. The carpet is a pattern of rust, tan and maroon with white accents. The walls of the foyer and lounge are plaster, painted white with gold flecks, and a large, antique mirror and gold vinyl wall covering decorate the east wall of the lounge. Walnut benches are covered with blue vinyl upholstery. LIGHTING IS RECESSED The ceilings are acoustical plaster, painted bone white. All lighting in the foyer and lounge areas is recessed. Builtin vending machines augment the refreshment stand. The 1,050-seat auditorium is divided into three general areas: the rocker loge, the smoking loge and general seating. The chairs are of the latest design with blue nylon upholstery over foam rubber cushions. Chair standards are blue to match the ceiling. Auditorium walls are acoustical plaster, broken into splayed panels, and painted in various shades of rusty rose. The carpet is the same as that in the foyer and lounge. The screen curtain is the full height and full width of the auditorium and is gold antique satin. The screen is the largest in the state of Texas, built in one piece, and allows a zero projection angle, due to its height and the low second-floor projection room. Lighting in the auditorium is recessed, and in a random pattern, except for a row of spots focused upon the screen curtain. The theatre is equipped for the latest Continued on page 12 V/arm colors were used to create this inviting foyer and lounge in the Oak Village. The carpet is in rust, tan, maroon and white. The walls are painted plaster, white with gold specks, and the benches are walnut, upholstered in blue vinyl. Built-in vending machines along one wall supplement the service at the refreshment bar at left. 10 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION