![]() While environmental context is only occasionally provided, Margolies' eye was often drawn to signage or other graphic elements of buildings that expressed the ingenuity or eccentricity of their makers. Given the breadth of his subject matter, common typologies and motifs in vernacular architecture can be identified through their repetition. These structures were usually isolated in the frame and photographed head-on or at an oblique angle to provide descriptive details. In his photography, Margolies utilized a straightforward, unsentimental approach that emphasized the form of the buildings. Margolies' work was influential in the addition of roadside buildings to the National Register of Historic Places beginning in the late 1970s. ![]() Yet, in many instances, the only remaining record of these buildings is on Margolies' film, because tourist architecture was endangered by the expansion of the interstate system and changing travel desires. Emerging with the prosperity of the post-WWII era, roadside and commercial structures spread with the boom of suburbanization and the expansion of paved roads across the United States. Margolies' Roadside America work chronicled a period of American history defined by the automobile and the ease of travel it allowed. These holdings form the core of what Margolies considered the exemplary images of his subject matter. Approximately half of the slides show sites in California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Texas, but all 48 contiguous states are represented.The Library of Congress began to acquire portions of the archive in 2007, with the bulk of the materials arriving in 2015. Frequent subjects include restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters, motels, signage, miniature golf courses, and beach and mountain vacation resorts. Photographed over a span of forty years (1969-2008) by architectural critic and curator John Margolies (1940-2016), the collection consists of 11,710 color slides (35mm film transparencies). The City of San Antonio World Heritage Office oversees Mission Marquee Plaza, along with the Spanish Governor's Palace in downtown San Antonio.The John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive is one of the most comprehensive documentary studies of vernacular commercial structures along main streets, byways, and highways throughout the United States in the twentieth century. ![]() Today, Mission Marquee, with its large stage and screen, serves the community as a meeting place to enjoy various outdoor activities throughout the year including festivals, film screenings, arts & culture events, open-air markets and more. The City’s investment of nearly $2.3 million is due to the community’s commitment to this 60,000 square-foot space. This effort is part of a larger strategy to enhance the quality of life for area residents. Najim YMCA was built on site and features fitness classes, health and wellness programs and access to the Mission Trails and the Mission Reach extension of the famed San Antonio River. In 2011, the Mission Branch Library was the first building added to the Mission Drive-In property, and offers a playground and exercise equipment. For generations, many families locally and from the South Central Texas region gathered to watch movies when it served as a drive-in theater. The area is rich in history and culture, and is considered to be one of San Antonio’s iconic gems. The facility is located on the Southside of San Antonio near Mission San Jose, which is one of San Antonio’s five historic Missions recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Mission Marquee Plaza, formerly known as the Mission Drive-In Theatre, officially opened in 2014.
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