|
|
 
|
|
Author
|
Topic: Oldest continual running movie theater
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen Furley
Film God
Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002
|
posted 06-11-2002 09:53 AM
There are several British cinemas which claim to be the oldest; The Phoenix East Finchley is another. This one claims to be the longest continually-operating. It has been closed three times for modernisation/refurbishment, in 1938 when the auditorium was reversed and new projection box built at entrance end, in the early '70s when the rake at the rear of the auditorium was increased, and changes made to the foyer, and a few months ago when further changes to foyer, with improvments to toilets and disabled access were made. I haven't been back since re-opening to see exactly what they have done, but it has always operated as a cinema when it was open.I suspect that you will find several other contenders in this country; the requirements of the Cinematograph Act prevented the showing of films in many of the existing venues from January 1910, and many new cinemas, conforming with the new requlations, were built within a few months in 1909/1910. Several of these are still operating, the Ritzy Brixton is another which springs to mind, but I think this is slightly later than the others mentioned.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.
Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 06-11-2002 10:18 AM
These obviously are not continuously-operated purpose-built cinemas, but they are open and showing movies. 
Brattle Hall, Cambridge MA (1890) 
Apollo Theater, Princeton IL (1882) Loring Hall, Hingham MA (1852) Metropolitan Theatre, Iowa Falls IA (1899)
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Jonathan M. Crist
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 531
From: Hershey, PA, USA
Registered: Apr 2000
|
posted 06-11-2002 10:43 AM
I own and operate the Elks Theatre in Middletown, Pennsylvania which was built as a movie theatre and has been operated continuously since its opening on October 24, 1911. For history and pictures see [URL=http://www.elkstheatremiddletown.com][/URL]
There is something wrong with the above link. The website may be accessed through its server address of www.northamptonpa.com/elks
The next oldest continually operting theatre in this are of which I am aware is the State Theatre in Boyertown Pennsylvania which has been in continuous operation since 1913.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen Furley
Film God
Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002
|
posted 06-13-2002 01:08 PM
"Although my wall have been up since 1892, We have only been running as a cinema since 1931"The September 1999 edition of 'Cinema Technology' has an article on the Odeon Salisbury, whichis housed in a 400 year old timber framed building; I'm surprised that the fire regulations allowed that, at the time when it became a cinema. I remember visiting the place some years ago, with the Cinema Theatre Association, but I can't remember if the auditorium is that old, or if it is just the foyer. Of course, there would have been many alterations over the years; how much of the original fabric of a building has to remain for it to be considered original?
| IP: Logged
|
|
Stephen Furley
Film God
Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002
|
posted 06-13-2002 01:21 PM
"The theater is still in the original shape. The vaudville stage is in bad shape and hidden by the large screen. It has been painted many times, but the original plaster, decorative pipes from the organ, and wookwork is still in tact. I will get some pictures and post when I get the keys. When I worked there 1986-1991 we still ran carbon arcs and Simples E-7's. Now all converted to platters"I would be interested to see the pictures. Pity that it is no longer using carbons, I don't suppose you have any intention of converting it back, do you? Such conversions are sadly rare, I only know of three: Two of these were in England, one was later divided up and converted back to xenon again, the other remained a single screen, with both projectors converted to xenon, one of them running features from a tower, the other adverts and trailers on 2000 foot spools while the tower was rewinding. As this machine was only used for a few minutes at a time they converted it back to carbon. I can't remember where it was now, but it closed a few years later. The third is the Lowe's Jersey Theater in Journal Square, Jersey City which I visited recently, converted to xenon when tripled in the '70s, recently restored to single screen with Ashcraft arcs on Kinoton FP20s. Well worth a visit, but not showing film during the Summer, programme for later in the year not yet published. The last public cinema in England which I knew of still running carbon has just converted, no doubt there are still a few somewhere, but I don't know where. If anyone does know of any, please let me know.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|
Home
Printer-friendly view of this topic