I've always loved going to the movies. I grew up in Belgium, a small rural village near Danville, Illinois, where I hitchhiked or rode the bus to the Fischer Theatre. Mysterious Island, The Bellboy, Goldfinger, Bonnie & Clyde and The Graduate all played there. Watching TV at home with my family was wonderful, but going to the movies at a theatre was a whole new world. Seeing the lighted marquee and posters, while walking up to the ticket booth, was exciting and liberating. I decided California was the place for me while I was stationed in San Diego, during my time in the Navy. My interest in photography began when I moved out here, and it has become an important part of my life. I started this movie theatre project almost 12 years ago, and although I put it aside for many years, it never lost its appeal. During my research, I began to imagine a book of these theatres; I wanted to capture, and share with others, their unique charm and individuality. I've traveled up and down California, and back to the Midwest, to find the older movie houses that are still surviving, or have been closed or converted for other uses. From the beginning, I realized that I wanted to document more than history, and I believe that Black and White photography expresses a timeless quality and emotion that is perfect for these images. I hope you enjoy them, and connect with some of your own memories as you look at my photographs. -Bob