In 1946, the lobby of Loew’s Criterion cinema in Times Square served as a secret laboratory for photography. LIFE photographer Yale Joel built a small, stuffy booth in the middle of the crowded theater lobby. He hid inside this dark box with his camera equipment to remain invisible to the public. One wall of the booth featured a two-way mirror. To the moviegoers in the lobby, the mirror looked like a normal piece of glass for checking their appearance. From the inside, however, the glass was completely transparent. This allowed Joel to see every person who stood in front of it without them knowing he was there.
People treated the mirror with complete honesty because they believed they were alone. Men and women stopped to fix their hair or straighten their hats before entering the theater. Some individuals used the mirror to pick at their teeth or adjust their makeup. One man made exaggerated faces to check his reflection from different angles. A young woman practiced a glamorous smile, unaware that a professional photographer recorded her every move. These unguarded moments provided a rare look at how people act when they think no one is watching.
The lobby of the theater was a busy hub of activity. The air was filled with the smell of popcorn and the sound of ticket machines. Moviegoers dressed in their best suits and dresses for a night out in New York City. Joel sat for hours in the heat of the booth to capture the perfect shots. He waited for the exact moment when a person’s expression shifted from serious to silly. The contrast between their formal clothing and their casual, private behavior created a humorous effect.
