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Topic: Movie theatre history

Daniel Boisson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 157
From: Buffalo, NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 11-03-2002 11:02 PM

I have a 10 page research project comming up and I decided to do it on the evolution of the american movie theatre.....I'm gonna talk about the style of the theatres, as well as the kinda of film and equiptment used. Then I'm gonna just talk about how everything changed and conclude about whats comming in the near future. Can anyone recomend a good website? thanks.

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3% Body Fat. 1% Brain Activity.

...A projectionist without a theatre...

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Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 11-04-2002 01:06 AM

here

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Christopher Duvall
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 500
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 11-04-2002 03:01 AM

Check on Jerry Lewis. He had alot to do with the modern multiplex.

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Lionel Fouillen
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 230
From: Belgium
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 11-04-2002 04:35 AM

I did the same in 1993 (a dissertation when I was a graduate student). It was more generally about American and European thetres, from early palaces to modern multiplexes. I'm currently rewriting it with MS-Word 2000 and I'm planning to distribute it on my website as a PDF file. A part of it, exclusively dedicated to the Empire Theatre in London, is already on my website (see my profile details for URL).

Regards.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-04-2002 09:17 AM

Check out Marty Hart's Widescreen Museum web site. here

You might also check with NATO (Nat'l Association of Theatre Owners), the Theatre Organ Society, and the Theatre Historical Society. The US Drive-In Owners Association probably has some information, too.

Another angle to try would be personal interviews with people who have been involved with exhibition for many years. Long-time theatre owners, managers, projectionists, ushers, etc. would be a great resource, if you can find the right people. Newspaper ads are useful if you want to find out what was playing and what theatres were open in a given area at a particular time.

This is a big topic for ten pages (I wrote a paper on widescreen processes of the '50s and '60s that was longer than that); you might consider concentrating on the history of a particular geographic location, rather than theatres in general. If you go this route, check with local historical societies for pictures and other material.

If you get the chance, be sure to explore the attics and basements of old theatres; they often have lots of interesting stuff laying around. If you find any old film, find out what it is and, if it is rare, consider donating it to a worthy archive (e.g. Library of Congress, UCLA, etc.). If it's nitrate, get it out of the theatre!

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Bill Gabel
Film God

Posts: 3873
From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 11-04-2002 09:32 AM

Here are a few sites you can try for reseach.
here

here

here

here
here
here

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Daniel Boisson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 157
From: Buffalo, NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 11-06-2002 12:26 AM

wow, thanks, i'll probably use 1 or 2 of the links...(i'll make sure the correct authors get noted)

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Mitchell Dvoskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1869
From: West Milford, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 11-07-2002 05:08 PM

The Theatre Historical Society has exstensive amount of material on this topic. They are a non-profit organization that publishes a newsletter and has conventions each year to tour historic theatres.
here

/Mitchell

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Daniel Boisson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 157
From: Buffalo, NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 11-21-2002 05:36 AM

Well, I finished it [Cool]

I figure I'll stay up all night and do it, then I can leave for thanksgiving break a little early [Big Grin]

These are the 3 sources I specifically used from this website, Thank you very much to everyone, I think this is one of my best papers:)

Brad Miller and Redifer, Joe. Film-Tech.....I refered to some pictures.

Fouillen, Lionel. The Empire Leicester Square....great website.
< http://www.denholm.be/empire/ >

The Theatre Historical Society...

....and now, I sleep [sleep]

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