J. A. Partington was a producer, inventor and stage manager. Born on the Isle of Man in 1890, he and his family migrated to California when he was five. Partington produced stage shows which were performed before featured films at the Granada and...
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J. A. Partington was a producer, inventor and stage manager. Born on the Isle of Man in 1890, he and his family migrated to California when he was five. Partington produced stage shows which were performed before featured films at the Granada and Metropolitan Theatres in San Francisco and later for the Publix Theatres Corporation. Partington is best known for his invention of the rising orchestra pit and the disappearing footlights. Partington produced the stage shows of the Roxy Theatre for Fanchon and Marco until his death. He died in New York City in 1944. The J. A. Partington Papers span the years 1924-1931 and consist of photographs, production notes, sheet music and scores and in some cases stage plans of his productions at the Granada Theatre in San Francisco and the Publix Theatres Corporation, particularly the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles and the Paramount Theatre in New York City. There are some issues of Publix Opinion, the house newsletter of the Publix Theatres Corporation. There are no materials from Partington's career at the Roxy Theatre in New York City.
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