THERE AREN’T MANY SYNAGOGUES whose sanctuary features metal upholstered folding theater-style seating. Usually the older synagogues have benches or pews — which is what Mishkon had in its previous space. (Guess which type of seating is more comfortable?)
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Expressing a Modern Sensibility
According to our 2003 Historic Structure Report (HSR), when the sanctuary was built in 1948, it “expressed an aesthetic sensibility that strove to combine elements of the traditional and modern.” The author noted that the mural above the bimah expressed the traditional aspect, while the theater seats exemplified the modern aspect, for they were constructed of contemporary materials — most notably steel (p. IA-4; see also IC-3).
Provenance of the Seating
Along the aisle of each row of seats is a side panel, and on that panel is this stamped manufacturer’s mark:
The furniture manufacturer Heywood-Wakefield was formed in 1897 upon the merger of two longstanding rivals. It became best known for its solid wood, Art Deco–inspired mid-century modern furniture. (Many of those pieces are now considered collectibles.) Meanwhile the company’s plant in Menominee, Michigan, produced commercial metal furniture such as auditorium chairs, bus and train seating, and school furniture. That’s where our seating was manufactured, circa 1948.
Production continued there until about 1981, when the company declared bankruptcy. (In 1992, another company acquired the rights to the Heywood-Wakefield name and today produces high-end wooden pieces in the same style — while the manufacture of metal furniture was not continued.)
• https://www.heywoodwakefield.com
• https://www.worthpoint.com/dictionary/p/furniture-furnishings/furniture-manufacturers-united-states/heywood-wakefield-furniture
Such Seating Continues to Be Valued
As an example of the continued appeal of vintage theater seats, a furniture restorer in the Portland, Oregon, area is selling sets of 3 such seats — reupholstered in pleather or “in your choice of colors and fabrics” — on Etsy for $1,950 per set. He remarks, “These are extremely well made, unbelievably comfortable, and made to last a life time. The armrests are American hard wood. They are modular and connect to one another via an ingenious fastening system which allows multiple seats in a row as many or few as you wish.”
Prospects for Restoring Our Theater Seating
Our 2003 HSR considered restoring the sanctuary’s seats to be a relatively low priority. Still, it it made the following observations.
The upholstery on the theatre-type seating is deteriorated and not feasibly repairable. Replacement with an appropriate and compatible new textile is recommended. Individual seat hardware is malfunctioning and can be repaired on a case-by-case basis. Repainting the seat shells could be considered as part of a comprehensive seat rehabilitation project. (p. IIC-25)
The present Heywood-Wakefield company offers the following advice on its website.
We are not aware of any company which manufactures completely interchangeable parts for old Heywood-Wakefield contract seating. However current auditorium or theater seating companies may have something that is close, or perhaps they can custom-make what is needed. The AMERICAN FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION in High Point, NC, (919) 884-5000, should be able to direct interested parties to such manufacturers, and the CHICAGO MERCHANDISE MART’s yearly NEOCON show, perhaps the country’s largest and most complete exhibition of contract and commercial furniture, features American, European and Japanese manufacturers. Interested parties should call or visit the Mart at Mart Plaza, Chicago IL 60654, (312) 527-7600.
There are also several trade publications such as Wood and Wood Products Magazine and Custom Woodworking Business Magazine (address for both: P. O. Box 1421, Lincolnshire, IL 600691421) which sometimes feature advertisements of companies that make seating or components for seating. They maintain a website called Industrial Strength Woodworking, which appears to be growing all the time. Industrial Strength Woodworking contains the online version of W&WP’s “Red Book”, which is a huge source guide used by woodworking professionals to source suppliers. You may find a company that can help you there. There is also the WoodWeb, and searching Google for “theater seat manufacturers” returns at least three good sites.
To our knowledge, there is no place to get vintage Heywood-Wakefield upholstery fabrics, of the types that are shown in the old catalogs, or as might be found on an individual piece of “found” furniture. Furthermore, the nature of the upholstery fabric business almost certainly guarantees that the companies which made original Heywood-Wakefield fabrics have long since closed or relocated.… The Los Angeles area has an abundance of upholstery manufacturers and fabric suppliers.… Vintage fabrics must be carefully inspected for signs of fatigue before committing to expensive re-upholstery jobs, and we generally don’t recommend them for anything but replaceable cushions which can be changed easily and relatively inexpensively.
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