New visitor? Read more about Mike here, or visit Mike’s main Historic Theatre Photography website here. Continue below for the full roundup on Mike’s passion project: Atmospheric Theatres!

The atmospheric theatre style was designed to evoke the sense of being transported to an exotic outdoor location. Far-away places were considered exotic and so in America that often meant European cities, places which most Americans would never have the chance to visit.

Arlington Theatre
Santa Barbara (California)

Atmospheric theatres were a phase in the evolution of theatre design which followed the grand American theatres and movie palaces of the 1910s and early 1920s, largely modeled on the design of European opera houses; but before the Great Depression took hold leading to increased levels of austerity coupled with the desire to shun opulence, and instead embrace a streamlined modernistic approach with an eye to the future.

Majestic Theatre
San Antonio (Texas)

The atmospheric theatre style eschewed the formal, box-like symmetrical designs of traditional theatre auditoria. Atmospheric theatres were typically asymmetrical and far more playful in their design. Atmospherics were most commonly Mediterranean or Spanish courtyards or garden settings, above which soared a cerulean or azure blue starlit sky, often with clouds drifting lazily past thanks to new technologies for the 1920s enabling the projection of moving cloud effects using light.

But the atmospheric theatre style wasn’t just about creating dazzling effects for the patron: atmospherics were also very much about the economics of running a theatre. Atmospherics cost less to build than traditional theatres – which were differentiated from atmospheric theatres by being called “hard tops” in the United States, usually sporting an expensive central chandelier, a richly detailed plastered classical ceiling perhaps with gilded lines and accents, cherubs and caryatids adorning and supporting the balconies and boxes, and classical detailed murals.

In contrast, the atmospheric theatre style called for a simple rounded plaster dome ceiling at a time when construction costs had escalated after the First World War and wages for ornamental plasterers had reached an all-time high.

Atmospherics Built By Year

The first atmospheric theatre was built in early 1923, although experimentation with the emergent style was taking place as early as 1921. Accordingly, these proto-atmospheric theatres which helped define and inform the atmospheric style as it was being developed, are included in our listings of atmospheric theatres.

The atmospheric theatre style hit its stride in the mid-1920s and then peaked in 1928 and 1929. The style gradually tailed-off in the early 1930s as the Great Depression took hold and audiences clamored for more austere and less opulent surroundings.

The few atmospheric theatres built after the mid-1930s were a design choice generally paying homage to the opulent 1920s style, and deliberately eschewing the early 1930s austere and streamlined approach to movie theatre design.

John Eberson and the development of the Atmospheric style

Visalia Fox Theatre
(California)

The pioneer of the atmospheric theatre style was prolific theatre architect John Eberson. At the opening of the Tampa Theatre in Florida in October 1926, Eberson stated:

“My idea for the atmospheric theater was born in Florida. I saw the value of putting nature to work and so have borrowed the color and design that are found in the flowers and the trees. The inhabitants of Spain and southern Italy live under the sun and enjoy the happiness nature affords them. So I decided their architecture probably would provide the firm foundation for a theater.”

Eberson was probably also influenced by other experiences, including visiting the St. Louis Word’s Fair in 1904 which would have demonstrated the solid and permanent appearance of plasterwork while being used as an impermanent construction material, and Chicago’s Cort Theater (opened 1909, demolished 1934) designed by John E.O. Pridmore which featured a Roman pergola with vine-clad beams and a blue sky ceiling above; an outdoor overhead setting for what was otherwise a traditional traditional auditorium design.

Eberson devised a business model which saw his own centralized studio – the Michael Angelo Studios in New York – mass produce works for the theatres he designed. The studio, overseen by Eberson’s wife Beatrice (Beatty) Lamb, was staffed with dedicated master plasterers and created statuary, moldings, and architectural components which Eberson would then re-use across multiple theatre designs, rearranging the separate elements into different settings, thereby reducing the cost of building a theatre simply through the economics of reuse.

Orpheum Theatre
(Phoenix, Arizona)

The model also meant that Eberson could control the quality of product from start to finish by using his own master plasterers and installation crews. Construction on-site was simplified and therefore costs reduced because ready-made statuary and architectural elements arrived in crated packages and just needed assembled on-site, and then painted, by Eberson’s traveling theatre installation teams.

Eberson declared the Majestic Theatre in Houston, Texas (demolished in 1971), as his first atmospheric theatre. The evolution of Eberson’s atmospheric theatre designs leading up to this point seems clear from his earlier projects prior to the Majestic, which we will refer to as his proto-atmospherics.

The Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas, was Eberson’s first proto-atmospheric. Opened April 1921, it sports a mix of formal Corinthian columns surrounding a triumphal proscenium arch, with symmetrical organ grilles giving way to latticework with a plain blue-lit ceiling behind...perhaps suggestive of a cerulean blue night sky?

Majestic Theatre
(Houston, Texas)

Eberson’s second proto-atmospheric theatre was the Indiana Theatre in Terre Haute, Indiana (opened January 1922), designed in a Moorish style featuring false balconies on the sidewalls with the organ grilles designed to look like backlit windows. The theatre design was developing into something which made it feel like the audience was sitting inside a village or community.

Eberson’s third and final proto-atmospheric theatre was the Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, Kansas (opened September 1922). While still a symmetrical auditorium design, it features statuary, niches, and window-like openings which would go on to become staple features of Eberson’s atmospherics theatres. Notably the theatre also features a smooth blue-sky ceiling bordered by faux tilework roofs in the balcony combined with cove lighting. The ceiling currently contains stars, and if these are original this is hugely significant and adds significant strength to the theory of the theatre being one of Eberson’s proto-atmospheric designs.

Eberson’s first self-proclaimed atmospheric theatre, the Majestic in Houston, garnered much attention with the press noting:

“Revolutionary developments in theatre design have been few since the beginning. Unquestionably the most innovational is the Majestic, Houston, Texas, designed by Architect John Eberson of Chicago.”

Everyone agreed, and the movie and theatre-going public flocked toward this new escape into exoticism. Theatre owners loved the lower cost and faster time to build, Eberson had no end of commissions to take up, and thus the fascination with Atmospheric Theatres was born!

Eberson was a showman; a showman whose designs glorified romantic architecture. His self-proclaimed mission was “to build new dream worlds for the disillusioned”. His legacy of historic Atmospheric theatres, largely in the United States, surely proves that he achieved that goal.

In June 1926, industry publication Motion Picture News printed an interview with Eberson as interest in atmospheric theatres was taking hold of the movie-going audience and theatre managers alike. You can read a web-friendly version of the article, complete with color sketches by Eberson and photos of some early atmospheric theatres, by clicking on the banner below:

The Atmospheric Theatre - an interview with John Eberson

The mid-1926 article was followed-up 18 months later with another major article in Motion Picture News: a second and lengthy interview with Eberson, illustrated with more color sketches from Eberson’s sketch book alongside black-and-white photographs of the increasing number of atmospheric theatres across the United States. You can read a web-friendly version of the article, complete with all its glorious color sketches, by clicking on the banner below:

New Theatres For Old, by John Eberson

Researching Atmospheric Styles

Fox Theatre
(Hanford, California)

The term “atmospheric theatre” can be used rather loosely and at times incorrectly, so let us define the criteria used on this website for a theatre to be an atmospheric:

An Outdoor Setting: whereas the auditorium design need not be asymmetrical (although such designs do tend to feature in the best and most elaborate atmospheric theatre examples), the auditorium does need to represent an outdoor setting.
Stars and Sky: a blue smooth plaster dome ceiling with no straight lines at the edges, featuring twinkling stars.
Fleecy Clouds: definitely a plus but not a requirement. The most elaborate atmospheric theatres all featured moving clouds projected by light onto the sky ceiling (some even featured a moving Moon effect) but smaller theatres simply relied on painted ceilings for a similar effect.

Theatres which are not full atmospherics are included here under the umbrella style of Pseudo-Atmospheric, which includes substyles such as Maverick Atmospheric, Abstract Atmospheric, and Semi-Atmospheric.

Atmospheric Theatre Styles

By far the most popular atmospheric style was Spanish, accounting for 53% of all atmospheric theatres thus far surveyed on this website.

The popularity of Spanish themes likely reflects the fact that atmospheric theatre styles were most popular in the United States during the 1920s, at the same time as Spain was particularly alluring to Americans. Europe seemed mystical, coupled with the fact that most American theatre-goers were unlikely to have the means to visit these exotic European lands. Spanish, and to a lesser extent Italian, landscapes typified the mystic allure of Europe for Americans.

There were also a wide range of more obscure styles such as Dutch villages, Japanese tea gardens, Medieval villages, Mesoamerican temples, and even a theatre design modeled on a 16th century French chateau.

There are yet more atmospheric styles to be found in the records of lost theatres, including examples such as underwater themes featuring Neptune and seahorses!

Spanish Atmospheric Styles

The popular Spanish atmospheric style, accounting for 53% of all atmospheric theatres thus far surveyed, can be broken down into numerous sub-styles.

While many scholars would happily argue whether a particular auditorium interior is a Spanish garden or a Spanish courtyard, Mike has researched the sub-styles listed on this website back as close to the original source as possible. When no historic direction on style is available for a particular theatre Mike has used his experience surveying atmospheric theatre designs across the globe to decide upon a specific sub-style.

In many cases the Italian or Spanish sub-style is as quoted by the architect, however some Spanish styles are represented by how the local media interpreted the theatre at the time of reporting theatre openings. Whereas this may have been based upon interviews with the theatre’s design team Mike concedes it may in part be down to the interpretation of the reporter, and therefore potentially unreliable.

In cases where no sub-style has come to light during the research process, Mike has categorized theatres into one of the existing Spanish sub-styles. This data continues to be reviewed as additional information comes to light.

Atmospherics: the late 20th century and beyond

The atmospheric-styled shopping promenade of the Venetian Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas

The last great atmospheric theatre was built in the early 1940s, however the style has resurfaced at times throughout the decades. In the late 1980s Disney partnered with Pacific Theatres to renovate a single screen neighborhood theatre in Los Angeles, the Crest Theatre.

Theatre designer Joseph (Joe) J. Musil headed-up the project and designed a Hollywood Revival atmospheric interior for the renovated theatre. The auditorium sidewalls featured stylized Hollywood and Los Angeles buildings highlighted with fluorescent paint excited by black/ultraviolet light. The auditorium ceiling was painted to look like the night sky with lights representing stars, and a “shooting star” lighting effect which was triggered just as the main feature got underway.

The theatrical atmosheric design style can be seen in some building designs of the late 20th century, the most obvious example being the Venetian-styled shopping promenades of The Venetian Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas . The style was copied by other Las Vegas casinos to afford patrons the feeling that they were shopping outside.

Atmospherics: further education

Atmospheric Theatres presentation for the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation

Mike has lectured extensively on atmospheric theatre styles, and has also created an 80-minute video documentary all about the atmospheric theatre style, its background, development, history, prolific architects, and legacy.

Unfortunately we cannot provide the documentary for free download here due to copyright but please contact Mike here if you’re interested in seeing the video!

In addition to the database of atmospheric theatres listed further down this page Mike also maintains a public Google Map of atmospheric theatres which is searchable by atmospheric style plus former and current theatre names. Each theatre also includes a thumbnail photo for easy reference.

Atmospheric Theatres Global Map

You can interact with the map by clicking here to open the map in a new window , or by using the map below:

Atmospheric Theatres Timeline

The timeline does not display well on small devices. Click here to open the timeline in a new window.

Additional Atmospheric Theatre Resources

Atmospheric Theatre Search

Atmospheric theatres featured in-depth on this website:

Avalon Theatre, Catalina Island, California, USA

The Avalon Theatre is one of the two main components of the Catalina Casino Building, built by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. and opened in May 1929. The 1,200-seat theatre was designed for movies however has a full stage, orchestra pit, and dressing rooms allowing for stage productions. The theatre still retains its Page theatre pipe organ in almost original condition.

Akron Civic Theatre, Ohio, USA

The Akron Civic opened as Loew’s Akron in April 1929, part of the theatre chain built by exhibitor Marcus Loew. It is one of the few remaining Atmospheric theatres designed by renowned theatre architect John Eberson to survive.

Alex Theatre, Glendale, California, USA

The Alex Theatre opened in September 1925 as a movie theatre and vaudeville house called the Alexander Theatre. It was built by theatre magnate Claude L. Langley who named the theatre for his son Claude Alexander. Following various modernizations over its life, in 1993 the Alex was restored back to its 1925 glory.

Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara, California, USA

The Arlington Theatre is the largest movie theatre in Santa Barbara and was built in 1931 for Fox West Coast Theatres. Although the theatre has undergone several renovations it retains its atmospheric Spanish Colonial / Mission Revival style. The theatre is home to a 4-manual, 27-rank Robert-Morton organ, one of only five “Wonder Morton” theatre organs to have been built.

Avalon Regal Theater, Illinois, USA

The Avalon Theater opened in 1927, designed in the Atmospheric style with a Moorish theme by renowned theatre architect John Eberson. It was a first-run theatre for many years, then a church, then was renovated and reopened as the New Regal Theater in 1987, however closed in 2003.

Aztec Theatre, San Antonio, Texas, USA

The Aztec Theatre opened in June 1926 as a Mesoamerican-themed atmospheric movie theatre, generally considered the most elaborate example of its kind throughout the entire United States. Despite triplexing in the 1970s and an extended period of closure in the 1990s/2000s, the theatre has been restored to its 1920s glory and is currently an active live entertainment venue.

Cameco Capitol Arts Centre, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada

Originally opened as the Capitol Theatre in 1930, the theatre is now a performing arts center called the Cameco Capitol Arts Centre.

This page is under construction, please check back soon.

Canton Palace Theatre, Ohio, USA

The Canon Palace Theatre was built by local businessman Harry H. Ink, who had made his fortune from a sore throat remedy called Tonsiline. Noted theatre architect John Eberson designed the theatre which was reported to have cost over $1 million, and featured the city’s first air conditioning.

This page is under construction, please check back soon.

Copernicus Center, Illinois, USA

The Copernicus Center is a premiere event center in Chicago hosting events, concerts, theatre, educational workshops, culturally diverse activities, and community engagement. The center originally opened as the Gateway Theatre in mid-1930.

This page is under construction, please check back soon.

Hanford Fox Theatre, California, USA

The Fox Theatre in Hanford was built at a time when movies, and in particular “talkies”, were a relatively new phenomenon, but vaudeville entertainment was still a big draw in theatres up and down the country.

Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, Texas, USA

The Majestic was designed by theatre architect John Eberson, famous for his “atmospheric” theatres throughout the United States. The Majestic was completed in 1929 for the Interstate Theaters Company under the management of Karl Hoblitzelle, and was built on the site of the Royal Theater (1909). It is the fifth theatre in San Antonio to bear the name “Majestic”.

Missouri Theater, St. Joseph, Missouri, USA

The 1,400-seat theatre opened at the end of June 1927 with Rough House Rosie (1927) starring Clara Bow. The movie followed a welcome by Publix Theaters, a dramatic short feature, and a demonstration of the Wurlitzer organ by organist Howard Peterson.

This page is under construction, please check back soon.

Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA

The 1,200-seat Oriental Theater opened in late 1927 as a neighborhood movie theatre, reported to have been built at a cost of $200,000. The opening night movie was The Joy Girl starring Oliver Borden, following a newsreel and a short comedy.

Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

The Orpheum Theatre opened in January 1929, at the time the only theatre between Los Angeles and Denver large enough to handle the traveling vaudeville shows which toured the United States on the Orpheum Circuit, changing theatres generally every week.

Paramount Theatre, Abilene, Texas, USA

The Paramount was designed in an Atmospheric style and opened in 1930 as a 1,500-seat theatre serving the town of Abilene’s then 23,000 residents. Although closed in the late 1970s, the Paramount was saved by preservation-minded citizens, reopened in the late 1980s, and has grown to become a cultural beacon in downtown Abilene.

Plaza Theatre, Palm Springs, California, USA

The Plaza Theatre opened in late 1936 with the world premiere of Camille starring Greta Garbo. Built by Julia Carnell, the theatre was designed by architect firm Schenck & Williams in an Atmospheric style with a Spanish village theme.

Polk Theatre, Lakeland, Florida, USA

The Polk Theatre originally opened in 1928 as a 1,400-seat combination vaudeville/movie theatre built to serve a rural town of just 15,000. In 1982 the theatre was saved from the wrecking ball, and now serves as a local performing arts center and movie theatre.

This page is under construction, please check back soon.

Tampa Theatre, Florida, USA

The Tampa Theatre was designed by noted theatre architect John Eberson, in an Atmospheric style with a Mediterranean courtyard theme. The design featured old world statuary, flowers and shrubbery, stuffed birds, and gargoyles; all set under an artificial nighttime sky featuring twinkling stars. 100 years after its opening it is arguably the best-preserved Atmospheric theatre in the United States.

Texas Theatre, San Angelo, Texas, USA

The Texas Theatre in San Angelo opened in late 1929 as a 2,000-seat vaudeville and movie theatre in a town with a population of just 25,000. The theatre was designed in an Atmospheric style by architect W. Scott Dunne. Closed in 1983, the theatre is currently seeking a new tenant.

Uptown Theater, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

The Uptown Theater opened in early 1928, designed as an Atmospheric theatre by renowned architect John Eberson with an Italian courtyard theme. After having lain dormant for several years the theatre is now a popular live entertainment venue.

This page is under construction, please check back soon.

Visalia Fox Theatre, California, USA

The Visalia Fox Theatre was built by William Fox of Fox West Coast Theatres and opened in February 1930. It is one of California’s few remaining atmospheric theatres. The “blue sky” auditorium ceiling still features its original twinkling stars, and would have originally been enhanced with moving clouds adding to the atmospheric spectacle.

Warner Hollywood, California, USA

Opened in 1928 as the Warner Bros. Hollywood Theatre and seating just short of 2,800, this was the largest theatre of its day in Hollywood. The theatre’s footprint was cleverly maximized by orienting the oval-shaped auditorium and stage at 45 degrees to the building’s rectangular footprint.

Global Atmospheric Theatres List

Below we present an ever-expanding list of extant and demolished atmospheric theatres from around the world. Hover over a theatre to see if it’s a link to further information – atmospheric theatre data is being added regularly (currently 66% complete).

Total number of theatres on the list: 160

Number of theatres on the list “linked” with underlying information: 105 (66%)

Theatres featured in-depth on our Historic Theatre Photos website (see links above): 19, with 6 in development

This is a work in progress and there is much data to include such as architect information, photos, and details of current usage for those theatres not operating as originally intended. Please get in touch if you have any data to share!

Chinese

Alongisde the few Atmospheric theatres designed with a Chinese theme, at least one Atmospheric theatre was described as having an “Oriental” theme: the Pekin Theatre in Pekin, Illinois. The outdated and perjorative term Oriental was commonly used throughout the Western world in the early 20th century to refer to the Eastern world, as it was in relation to Europe, and in the case of Atmospheric theatres appears to have referred to a predominantly Chinese theme with influences from nearby regions.

Cine Elizondo (Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico) [Demolished]

Cinemex Real (Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico) former name: Palacio Chino

Oriental Theatre (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)

Pekin Theatre (Pekin, Illinois, USA) [Demolished]

Dutch Village

Only one Dutch themed atmospheric theatre is known to exist, and includes two working windmills within the auditorium!

Holland Theatre (Bellefontaine, Ohio, USA) former name: Schine’s Holland Theatre

Egyptian

Egyptian styles became fashionable and hugely popular in the United States, and other countries, following Howard Carter's discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamen in late 1922. Theatres such as Sid Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood capitalized on the interest in all things Egyptian, and when combined with atmospheric theatre styles popularized in the years following, several Egyptian-themed atmospheric theatres were built in the US.

Colosseum Theatre (Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa) [Demolished]

Egyptian Theatre (DeKalb, Illinois, USA)

Egyptian Theatre (Brighton, Massachusetts, USA) [Demolished]

Odeon Streatham (London, England, UK) former name: Streatham Astoria

Parkway Theater (Oakland, California, USA)

Peery’s Egyptian Theater (Ogden, Utah, USA)

French

A very rare atmospheric style, so far our research has only uncovered substyles of a French chateau and a French garden.

French Chateau: Varsity Theatre (Evanston, Illinois, USA)
French Garden: Paradise Theater (Chicago, Illinois, USA) [Demolished]

Greek

Greek atmospheric theatre styles, or more correctly Grecian styles, all revolve around courtyards. A very specific Greek sub-style is the Greek Agora, agora being the central public space in ancient Greek city-states.

Greek Agora: Peristyle Theater (Toledo, Ohio, USA)
Greek Courtyard: Alex Theatre (Glendale, California, USA) former name: Alexander Theatre; Latchis Theatre (Brattleboro, Vermont, USA) former names: Latchis Opera House, Latchis Memorial Theatre

Hispano-Italian

The fusion of Spanish and Italian styles was generally described as Hispano-Italian, although oftentimes it was more of a concept than rooted in practically fusing these disparate styles together. Sometimes it referred to ancient European styles being combined into a more generic European Mediterranean theme, however more likely it was a catch-all for combination styles where architects had less knowledge of the original styles begin referenced.

Coronado Performing Arts Center (Rockford, Illinois, USA) former name: Coronado Theatre

Paramount Theatre (Abilene, Texas, USA) former names: Paramount Opry, Paramount Country Music Hall

Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center (Omaha, Nebraska, USA) former names: Astro Theatre, Riviera Theatre

Indian

Indian and Hindu themes were popular in the 1920s (an example being the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood) however it seems only two extant atmospheric theatres survive to exemplify the style.

Civic Theatre (Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand)

Visalia Fox Theatre (Visalia, California, USA) former name: Fox Theatre

Islamic

Atmospheric theatres described as “Islamic” in the 1920s were likely directly comparable with Moorish designs with just different words used to describe them. See Moorish, below.

Fox Theatre (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)

Italian

Italian atmospheric theatre styles were easily the most popular after Spanish styles, probably due to the similarly impressive architecture styles of both countries, and perceived exoticism from far-distant countries such as the United States.

Italian Courtyard: Capitol Theatre (Flint, Michigan, USA); Capitol Theatre (Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa); Copernicus Center (Chicago, Illinois, USA) former name: Gateway Theatre; Hershey Theatre (Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA); O2 Academy Brixton (London, England, UK) former names: Brixton Astoria, Astoria Variety Cinema, Sundown Centre, Carling Academy Brixton; Paradise Theater (New York - The Bronx, New York, USA) former names: Venetian Theatre, Loew’s Paradise; Paramount Theatre (Toledo, Ohio, USA) [Demolished]; Patio Theater (Chicago, Illinois, USA); Riviera Theatre (Detroit, Michigan, USA) former name: Grand Riviera Theatre [Demolished]; Saenger Theatre (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA); Savoy Cinema (Dublin, Leinster, Ireland); Stanley Theater (Jersey City, New Jersey, USA); State Theatre (Stoughton, Massachusetts, USA); Triboro Theatre (New York, New York, USA) [Demolished]; Uptown Theater (Kansas City, Missouri, USA)
Italian Garden: Ambassador’s Theatre (Perth, Western Australia, Australia) [Demolished]; Cannon Golders Green (London, England, UK) former names: Lido Picture House, ABC [Demolished]; Capitol Theatre (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia); Capitol Theatre (Chicago, Illinois, USA) [Demolished]; Forum Melbourne (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) former name: State Theatre; Fountain Square Theatre (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA); Loew’s 46th Street Theatre (New York - Brooklyn, New York, USA) former name: Universal Theatre [Demolished]; Majestic Theatre (Houston, Texas, USA) [Demolished]; National Theatre (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA) [Demolished]; Odeon Theatre (Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia) former name: Empire Theatre [Demolished]; Venetian Theatre (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA) [Demolished]
Italian Village: Uptown Theatre (Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA) former name: Oxford Theatre [Demolished]

Japanese

Only one Japanese-themed atmospheric theatre is known to exist, and it is styled on a Japanese [Tea] Garden.

Redford Theatre (Detroit, Michigan, USA) former name: Kunsky-Redford Theatre

Medieval

Although only one extant Medieval atmospheric theatre was initially known, there are additional atmospheric theatres built with a Medieval theme which have come to light over time, one of which spent nearly 20 years as a bookstore!

Medieval Courtyard: Cameco Capitol Arts Centre (Port Hope, Ontario, Canada) former name: Capitol Theatre; Ramona Theatre (Frederick, Oklahoma, USA)
Medieval Village: Chateau Theatre (Rochester, Minnesota, USA) former name: Chateau-Dodge Theatre

Mesoamerican

The Mesoamerican atmospheric theatres identified to date all combine elements from various cultures generally located in the extreme south of North America and much of Central America. Examples include the Aztec, Mayan, Mixtec, Toltec, and Zapotec cultures.

Aztec Theatre (San Antonio, Texas, USA)

Teatro Sierra Maestra (Havana, Havana, Cuba) former name: Teatro Lutgardita

Mexican

Despite the large Mexican population throughout the United States, only one extent Mexican-themed atmospheric theatre has so far been identified.

Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center (Huntington, West Virginia, USA) former name: Keith-Albee Theatre

Moorish

Atmospheric theatres described as “Moorish” in the 1920s were likely directly comparable with Islamic designs with just different words used to describe them. See Islamic, above.

Avalon Regal Theater (Chicago, Illinois, USA) former names: Avalon Theater, Miracle Temple Church, New Regal Theater

Cine Rex (Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium)

Cinema Rex (Bordeaux, New Aquitania, France) [Demolished]

Missouri Theater (St Joseph, Missouri, USA)

Oriental Theater (Denver, Colorado, USA)

Paradise Center for the Arts (Faribault, Minnesota, USA) former name: Faribault Opera House

Rialto Cinema (Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand)

Proto-Atmospheric

Three theatres in the US feature separate architectural design elements which would go on to be combined into a single cohesive design, giving us Eberson's signature atmospheric theatre style, first seen in the Majestic Theatre in Houston, Texas.

Indiana Theatre Event Center (Terre Haute, Indiana, USA) former name: Indiana Theatre

Majestic Theatre (Dallas, Texas, USA)

Orpheum Theatre (Wichita, Kansas, USA)

Pseudo-Atmospheric

Many theatres were built in a somewhat atmospheric style but do not fully conform to the “stars and clouds” standard. We introduce our own terms here, such as Hollywood/Revival-Atmospheric, Semi-/Half-Atmospheric, and one from Wikipedia: Budget Atmospheric.

Abstract Atmospheric: Avalon Theatre (Avalon, California, USA)
Maverick Atmospheric: Kelvin Cinema (Glasgow, Scotland, UK) [Demolished]; Orient Cinema (Glasgow, Scotland, UK) [Demolished]
Revival Atmospheric: Nimoy Theater (Los Angeles, California, USA) former names: UCLAN Theatre, Crest Theatre, Loew’s Crest, Metro Theatre, Pacific’s Crest, Crest Westwood
Semi-Atmospheric: Avenue Theatre (London, England, UK) former names: Spanish City Cinema, Odeon Theatre Northfields, Coronet Cinema; New Victoria Cinema (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK) former name: Odeon Edinburgh; Poncan Theatre (Ponca City, Oklahoma, USA); Southtown Theatre (Chicago, Illinois, USA) [Demolished]

Spanish

Spanish was, by far, the most popular atmospheric theatre style, accounting for approximately half of extant atmospheric theatres – more if demolished theatres are included. Spanish sub-styles were wide and varied, and one person's definition of a Spanish Courtyard may challenge another person's definition of a Spanish Garden. Accordingly we present all Spanish styles grouped together, with sub-styles as identified by the architect and/or newspaper reports at theatre openings.

Andalusian Courtyard: Boulevard Picture House (Glasgow, Scotland, UK) former name: Vogue Cinema [Demolished]
Andalusian Garden: Akron Civic Theatre (Akron, Ohio, USA) former name: Loew’s Akron
Andalusian Village: Arlington Theatre (Santa Barbara, California, USA); Blackpool Winter Gardens’ Spanish Hall (Blackpool, England, UK) former names: Spanish Congress Hall, Spanish Courtyard
Mediterranean Courtyard: Bama Theatre (Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA); Campbeltown Picture House (Campbeltown, Scotland, UK); Lido Theatre (The Pas, Manitoba, Canada); Majestic Theatre (Nampa, Idaho, USA) former names: Nampa Opera House, Nampa Theatre [Demolished]; Tampa Theatre (Tampa, Florida, USA)
Mediterranean Garden: Arcadia Theatre (Dallas, Texas, USA) [Demolished]; Carpenter Theatre (Richmond, Virginia, USA) former name: Loew’s Theatre; Russell Theatre (Maysville, Kentucky, USA)
Mediterranean Village: Indiana Roof Ballroom (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA); Polk Theatre (Lakeland, Florida, USA); Uptown Theatre (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
Spanish Baroque: Louisville Palace Theatre (Louisville, Kentucky, USA); RKO Keith’s Theater (New York - Queens, New York, USA) [Demolished]; Smith Opera House (Geneva, New York, USA) former names: Geneva Theatre, Smith’s Opera House
Spanish Castle: Annex Theatre (Detroit, Michigan, USA) former name: Riviera Annex Theatre [Demolished]; El Raton Theatre (Raton, New Mexico, USA); Elmwood Theatre (Elmhurst, New York, USA) former names: Queensboro Theatre, Loews Cineplex Elmwood; Golden State Theatre (Monterey, California, USA) former name: State Theatre; Kenosha Theatre (Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA); Ritz Cinema (Cambuslang, Scotland, UK) [Demolished]; State Theatre (Lexington, Kentucky, USA)
Spanish Courtyard: Alhambra Theatre (Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA); Avon Theatre (Medford, Wisconsin, USA); Barrymore Theatre (Madison, Wisconsin, USA) former names: Eastwood Theater, Cinema Theater; Canton Palace Theatre (Canton, Ohio, USA); Capitol Theatre (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) [Demolished]; Cineteca Alameda (San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico) former name: Cine Teatro Alameda; Crown Uptown Theatre (Wichita, Kansas, USA) former name: Uptown Theatre; Emanuel Evangelist Temple (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA) former name: Zenith Theatre; Garden Theatre (Winter Garden, Florida, USA) former name: Winter Garden Theater; Granada Theatre (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada); Granada Theatre (Cleveland, Ohio, USA) former name: Loew’s Granada Theatre [Demolished]; Hanford Fox Theatre (Hanford, California, USA) former name: Hanford Theatre; Merced Theatre (Merced, California, USA) former names: Elite Theatre, Strand Theatre, Rio Theatre, United Artists Merced Movies 4; Midwest Theatre (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA) [Demolished]; Monkland Theatre (Montreal, Quebec, Canada); Music Box Theatre (Chicago, Illinois, USA); Newark Gospel Tabernacle (Newark, New Jersey, USA) former name: Stanley Theatre; Odeon Richmond (Richmond, England, UK) former names: Richmond Kinema, Premier Cinema; Palace Theatre (Marion, Ohio, USA); Paramount Theatre (Long Branch, New Jersey, USA) former name: Broadway Theatre [Demolished]; Paramount Theatre Center and Ballroom (Anderson, Indiana, USA) former name: Paramount Theatre; Plaza Theatre (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia); Plaza Theatre (Glasgow, Kentucky, USA); Ramova Theatre (Chicago, Illinois, USA); Ritz Theatre (Corpus Christi, Texas, USA) former name: Ritz Music Hall; Ritz Ybor (Tampa, Florida, USA) former names: Rivoli Theatre, Ritz Theatre; Rivoli Theatre & Pizzeria (La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA) former name: Rivoli Theatre; Runnymede Theatre (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); State Theatre (Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA); Tabernacle of Prayer Lifeline (New York - Queens, New York, USA) former name: Loew’s Valencia Theatre; The State Room (South San Francisco, California, USA) former name: State Theater; Théâtre Denise-Pelletier (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) former name: Granada Theatre; Tivoli Theatre (Spencer, Indiana, USA); Toledo Theatre (Glasgow, Scotland, UK) [Demolished]; Uptown Theater (San Francisco, California, USA) former names: New Alcazar Theatre, Republic Theatre, Sutter Theatre, Lloyd Downton’s Uptown [Demolished]; Whittier Theatre (Whittier, California, USA) former names: McNees Theatre, Warner Bros. Whittier, Bruen’s Whittier [Demolished]
Spanish Deco: Le Grand Rex (Paris, Paris, France)
Spanish Garden: 7th Street Theatre (Hoquiam, Washington, USA) former name: Seventh Street Theatre; Avalon Atmospheric Theater (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA) former names: Garden Theater, Avalon Theater; Capitol Theater (Rockford, Illinois, USA); Cinemax Cinema (Edgware, England, UK) former names: Ritz Cinema, ABC, Cannon, Belle-Vue Cinema [Demolished]; Daly City Theatre (Daly City, California, USA) [Demolished]; DuPage Theater (Lombard, Illinois, USA) [Demolished]; Granada Theater (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) former name: Suburban World Theatre; Lensic Performing Arts Center (Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA) former name: Lensic Theatre; Meyer Theatre (Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA) former names: Fox Theatre, Bay Theatre; Olympia Theater (Miami, Florida, USA); Plaza Theatre (El Paso, Texas, USA); Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts (Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA) former name: Sheboygan Theatre; Texas Theatre (San Angelo, Texas, USA); Warner Hollywood (Hollywood, California, USA) former name: Hollywood Pacific
Spanish Renaissance: Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix, Arizona, USA)
Spanish Revival: Mayfair Theatre (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Spanish Villa: Majestic Theatre (San Antonio, Texas, USA); Paramount Theatre (Austin, Minnesota, USA); Roxy Theatre (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) former name: Towne Cinema
Spanish Village: Aragon Ballroom (Chicago, Illinois, USA); Palace Theater (Oakland, California, USA); Plaza Theatre (Palm Springs, California, USA); Rainbow Theatre (London, England, UK) former name: Finsbury Park Astoria

Undersea

Only one known undersea-themed atmospheric was built, featuring sea horse, mermaid, and zodiac motifs. Sadly it was demolished in 2007.

Nortown Theater (Chicago, Illinois, USA) [Demolished]

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