| How have American movie theaters
evolved over the decades? In the early days of the so-called
"talkies," many people were involved in the ancillary business
of the screening. Organs played music along with silent films.
Theater directors introduced films before they started spinning
reels. Theatergoers met up in elegantly appointed lobbies to
discuss culture and politics before sitting down. As movies
became a more egalitarian art form, theaters were revamped to
accommodate for more "private" experiences. The 1950s saw the
rise of drive-in theaters. Moviegoers could park their cars in a
lot and watch a picture projected onto a big screen. Modern
culture romanticizes the drive-in, but many critics of the time
complained that such theaters lacked adequate safety and
amenities.
Classic movie theaters abound, particularly in Los Angeles,
CA. On a small stretch of Hollywood Boulevard, you can find
Mann's Chinese Theater and the Egyptian Theater, both of which
played enormous roles in film history. Mann's Chinese features a
cemented walkway out in front with handprints and footprints
from movie stars and directors, dating back to the '20s.
Southeast of Hollywood Boulevard, you can stop off at the
ArcLight Theater on Sunset Boulevard. This modern theater is a
favorite of L.A. natives and the home of many opening
screenings. ArcLight tickets cost slightly more than
conventional movie theater tickets, but fans of this theater
love the convenient parking, exceptional amenities, and deep
bucket seats.
Some collectors gather ticket stubs, posters, and other
ephemera from movie theaters. A few old cinema buffs also
collect theater records and pictures of venerable film
buildings. |
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