History of Movie theater in Timeline

A movie theater, also known as a cinema or movie house, is a business that shows films in auditoria for public entertainment. Most movie theaters are commercial operations where people buy tickets to see movies.

March 1900: End of Pantomimes Lumineuses Screenings

Émile Reynaud's run of animated movies, Pantomimes Lumineuses, concluded in March 1900 at the Musée Grévin in Paris.

1901: Construction of l'Hôtel du Syndicat CGT

The building that would later house L'Idéal Cinéma, initially known as l'Hôtel du Syndicat CGT, was erected in 1901.

November 1905: First Film Screening at l'Hôtel du Syndicat CGT

l'Hôtel du Syndicat CGT, later renamed L'Idéal Cinéma, held its inaugural film screening in November 1905.

1905: Rise of Nickelodeons

Around 1905, nickelodeons, small and affordable movie theaters often converted from storefronts, began to proliferate in the United States.

August 1908: Opening of Korsør Biograf Teater

The Korsør Biograf Teater in Korsør, Denmark, commenced operations in August 1908 and is recognized as one of the oldest continuously running movie theaters globally.

1915: Decline of Nickelodeons

By around 1915, the popularity of nickelodeons began to wane.

1918: Gasthaus Sello Becomes Full-Time Movie Theatre

In 1918, the Gasthaus Sello in Pankow, Berlin, where the Skladanowsky brothers had demonstrated their Bioscop in 1895, was converted into a full-time movie theater known as Pankower Lichtspiele.

1922: Introduction of Stadium Seating at Princess Theatre

The Princess Theatre in Honolulu, Hawaii, introduced "stadium seating" in 1922, featuring sharply inclined rows for unobstructed views of the screen.

1925: Pankower Lichtspiele Renamed Tivoli

The Pankower Lichtspiele movie theater in Pankow, Berlin, was renamed Tivoli in 1925.

1940: Fantasound Developed by RCA

RCA developed Fantasound, an early interlock system, in 1940 for Disney's Fantasia. This system allowed for synchronized projection and sound, paving the way for stereophonic sound in cinemas.

February 1953: Premiere of Triorama Program

In February 1953, James Mage, an early pioneer in 3D film, premiered his Triorama program using his 16mm 3D Bolex system. The program included four shorts: Sunday In Stereo, Indian Summer, American Life, and This is Bolex Stereo.

September 1953: Decline of 3D Films

The initial craze for theatrical 3D films began to decline in August and September 1953.

1957: World's First Two-Screen Theater

The Elgin Theatre in Ottawa, Ontario, became the world's first two-screen theater in 1957, thanks to the efforts of Canadian theater owner Nat Taylor.

1963: Pioneering Multiplex in the United States

Stanley Durwood of American Multi-Cinema is credited with pioneering the multiplex concept in the United States in 1963, recognizing the operational efficiency of managing multiple attached auditoriums.

1964: Durwood Divides Roxy Theater into Multiple Screens

In 1964, Stanley Durwood further developed the multiplex concept by dividing his existing Roxy theater into multiple screens, demonstrating a method for creating multi-screen venues from existing structures.

1967: Launch of Mobile Cinema Units in Britain

The British government introduced seven custom-built mobile cinema units in 1967 as part of a campaign by the Ministry of Technology to promote higher standards.

1972: Creation of Sol Cinema

The World's smallest solar-powered mobile cinema, Sol Cinema, was created from a converted 1972 caravan in the UK.

1977: Closure of L'Idéal Cinéma

L'Idéal Cinéma in Aniche, France, ceased operations in 1977.

November 1988: Studio 28 Becomes First Megaplex in the US

Studio 28 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, expanded and reopened in November 1988 with 20 screens, making it the first megaplex in the United States created by expanding an existing facility.

1993: Demolition of L'Idéal Cinéma Building

The structure that housed L'Idéal Cinéma was demolished in 1993.

1994: Closure of Tivoli Theater

The Tivoli theater, formerly known as Pankower Lichtspiele, closed its doors in 1994.

May 1995: Opening of AMC Grand 24 Megaplex

The AMC Grand 24 in Dallas, Texas, opened in May 1995, marking the first purpose-built megaplex in the United States.

1995: Carmike Cinemas: The Largest Theater Chain in the US

In 1995, Carmike Cinemas held the title of the largest theater chain in the United States.

1995: Establishment of Centre Culturel Claude Berri

The Centre Culturel Claude Berri, incorporating a new movie theater named Idéal Cinéma Jacques Tati, was established in 1995.

2004: US Ticket Sales Decline, Box Office Revenue Increases

Between 2004 and 2013, the number of movie tickets sold in the US decreased by almost 11%, while box office revenue increased by 17%. This discrepancy was primarily due to increased ticket prices.

2006: Decline in Movie Ticket Sales Due to Home Entertainment

In 2006, a Pew Media survey highlighted a growing trend of declining movie ticket sales attributed to the increasing preference for home entertainment options. The survey indicated a five-to-one ratio favoring movies watched at home over theaters.

May 2008: Datasat Purchases DTS's Cinema Division

In May 2008, Datasat Digital Entertainment acquired the cinema division of DTS. Datasat used time codes printed on film to synchronize with a CD-ROM soundtrack, enabling multi-channel and foreign language tracks.

2008: Construction of Cabiria Cine-Cafe

Renata Carneiro Agostinho da Silva completed the construction of the Cabiria Cine-Cafe, the smallest purpose-built cinema, in Brasília DF, Brazil, in 2008.

2009: Renewed Interest in 3D Films

In 2009, movie exhibitors showed renewed interest in 3D film, leading to an increase in 3D screens in theaters. This renewed interest was partly driven by the availability of 3D movies and the desire for theaters to compete with home theaters.

2010: RealD Expects 15,000 3D Screens Worldwide

By 2010, the RealD company anticipated having 15,000 3D screens globally, highlighting the growing popularity and adoption of 3D film technology.

2010: Canadian Movie Theater Revenue Increases

Canada's movie theater industry experienced an 8.4% increase in total operating revenue between 2010 and 2012, reaching $1.7 billion. This growth was largely attributed to higher box office and concession sales.

2010: Cabiria Cine-Cafe Recognized by Guinness World Records

In 2010, the Cabiria Cine-Cafe was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the smallest purpose-built cinema.

2012: Canadian Movie Theater Revenue Increases

Canada's movie theater industry experienced an 8.4% increase in total operating revenue in 2012, reaching $1.7 billion. This growth was largely attributed to higher box office and concession sales.

2013: US Ticket Sales Decline, Box Office Revenue Increases

Between 2004 and 2013, the number of movie tickets sold in the US decreased by almost 11%, while box office revenue increased by 17%. This discrepancy was primarily due to increased ticket prices.

2013: Average US Movie Ticket Price

The average price for a movie ticket in the United States reached $8.13 in 2013. Prices often varied based on time of day, day of the week, and age group.

2014: Simultaneous Release and Streaming Services Impact Movie Theaters

By 2014, the movie theater industry faced growing concerns stemming from the practice of simultaneous release, where films were made available in theaters and on-demand streaming services on the same day. The rise of streaming platforms like Netflix also contributed to these concerns.

2015: Rise of Online Ticket Sales

By 2015, online ticket sales and automated kiosks in theater lobbies became increasingly prevalent, offering convenience to moviegoers and changing the ticketing landscape.

2015: United States Total Movie Screens

By 2015, the United States boasted a total of 40,547 movie screens across the country.

2015: IMAX Introduces "IMAX with Laser" Format

In 2015, IMAX introduced "IMAX with Laser," an updated format utilizing 4K resolution laser projectors, further enhancing the viewing experience.

2015: Wanda Cinemas Dominates the Chinese Market

In 2015, Wanda Cinemas emerged as the leading exhibitor in China, commanding a significant 18% share of the country's screens with 2,700 screens spread across 311 theaters. That same year, China had a total of 31,627 screens.

2015: Sol Cinema Featured in Lenovo Advert

Sol Cinema gained further recognition in 2015 when it was featured in a Lenovo advertisement for the launch of a new tablet.

2016: China's Projected Screen Count

Projections for 2016 indicated that China's total number of movie screens was expected to approach 40,000.

2016: Observation Booth at National Science and Media Museum Closed

Until 2016, the IMAX cinema at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, England, allowed visitors to observe the projection booth. This provided a unique glimpse into the operation of IMAX technology.

2019: Cinemaxx Rebrands as Cinépolis in Indonesia

In 2019, the Indonesian cinema chain, Cinemaxx, underwent a rebranding initiative and adopted the name Cinépolis.

2020: Safety Guidelines Implemented in Indian Movie Theaters

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, movie theaters in India began implementing safety guidelines and precautions in 2020 to ensure the well-being of patrons.

December 2022: Largest Permanent IMAX Screen Certified

The largest permanent IMAX screen, measuring 38.80 m × 21.00 m, was certified in Leonberg, Germany, on December 6, 2022. This screen was created by Traumplast Leonberg.