When Movies Were Theater: Architecture, Exhibition, and the Evolution of American Film (Film and Culture Series)

This multilayered history tells the story of American film through the evolution of theater architecture and the surprisingly varied ways movies were shown, ranging from Edison's 1896 projections to the 1968 Cinerama premiere of Stanley Kubrick's __2001__. The study matches distinct architectural forms to movie styles, showing how cinema's roots in theater influenced business practices, exhibition strategies, and film technologies. There was a time when seeing a movie meant more than seeing a film. The theater itself shaped the very perception of events on screen. This multilayered history tells the story of American film through the evolution of theater architecture and the surprisingly varied ways movies were shown, ranging from Edison's 1896 projections to the 1968 Cinerama premiere of Stanley Kubrick's 2001. William Paul matches distinct architectural forms to movie styles, showing how cinema's roots in theater influenced business practices, exhibition strategies, and film technologies. There Was A Time When Seeing A Movie Meant More Than Seeing A Film. The Theater Itself Shaped The Very Perception Of Events Onscreen. This Multilayered History Tells The Story Of American Film Through The Evolution Of Theater Architecture And The Surprisingly Varied Ways Movies Were Shown, Ranging From Edison's 1896 Projections To The 1968 Cinerama Premiere Of Stanley Kubrick's '2001'. The Study Matches Distinct Architectural Forms To Movie Styles, Showing How Cinema's Roots In Theater Influenced Business Practices, Exhibition Strategies, And Film Technologies. Introduction: An Art Of The Theater -- Making Movies Fit -- Store Theaters: A Radical Break -- Palatial Architecture, Democratized Audience -- Elite Taste In A Mass Medium -- Uncanny Theater -- The Architectural Screen -- Conclusion: Ontological Fade-out -- Appendix 1: Stage Shows And Double Features In Select Markets Outside New York City -- Appendix 2: Feature Films Based On Theatrical Sources, 1914-2011 -- Abbreviations Used For Citations In Notes. William Paul. Includes Bibliographical References, Filmography And Index. Table of Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction: An Art of the Theater 20 1. Making Movies Fit 40 2. Store Theaters: A Radical Break 81 3. Palatial Architecture, Democratized Audience 114 4. Elite Taste in a Mass Medium 141 5. Uncanny Theater 205 6. The Architectural Screen 249 Conclusion: Ontological Fade-Out 294 Appendix 1: Stage Shows and Double Features in Select Markets Outside New York City 318 Appendix 2: Feature Films Based on Theatrical Sources 322 Appenidx 3: Filmography 328 Appendix 4: List of Theaters 332 Abbreviations Used for Citations in Notes 336 Notes 338 Selected Bibliography 418 Index 432 "There was a time when seeing a movie meant more than seeing a film. The theater itself shaped the very perception of events onscreen. This multilayered history tells the story of American film through the evolution of theater architecture and the surprisingly varied ways movies were shown, ranging from Edison's 1896 projections to the 1968 Cinerama premiere of Stanley Kubrick's '2001'. The study matches distinct architectural forms to movie styles, showing how cinema's roots in theater influenced business practices, exhibition strategies, and film technologies" -- OhioLink Library Catalog