Batiste Madalena (1902–1988) was an American commercial artist best known for the original advertisements he created for the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY from 1924-1928.
Each of his posters measured approximately 48" x 24" to fit into the theatre's glass covered advertising cases.
The influence of C. Coles Phillips “fadeaway” style can be seen in some of Madalena's works, for example his poster for Up Stage with Norma Shearer.
In 1928 Mr. Eastman sold his Theatre to the Paramount-Publix chain and the original advertisement scheme was abandoned.
That same year Mr. Madalena opened his own commercial art studio where he worked until his retirement in the late 1960s.
A few weeks after he left the employ of the Eastman Theatre, Madalena happened to pass the building.
With the encouragement of his children Rita and Richard,[1] Madalena entered some of the posters in a local art show in 1975.
[2] Los Angeles documentary film maker, Steven Katten, was visiting Rochester that week for a filmmakers' convention.
[3] Steven and Judith Katten arranged a traveling exhibit of the paintings through the Art Museum Association that ran into 1985.
[2] In the March 1986, Hirschl & Adler Galleries of New York City organized the first exhibit of Madalena's work in Manhattan.