I was wondering how many other theaters are out there that have been around and in operation and for how long. I am trying to find the oldest, I know that the Strand has to be up there in the running for oldest.

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Leo Ecktinap reminded me that two other venues also lay claim to be the oldest purpose-built cinema still operating in the UK:
"The Picture House in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland and the Duke of York's cinema in Brighton. Can't remember any dates for Brighton but the question mark over the Campbeltown Picture House is whether the building was intended to be a cinema when it first went up in early 1909. There is some confusion over whether it was originally designed as a theatre - the company that began it went bust soon after the builders moved in and was bought out before it was complete."

 

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.

 

Is the auditorium still in anything like original condition, or does any of the original decoration, plasterwork etc. survive? If so, can you post some photographs somewhere for us to see. I haven't seen any pictures of American theatres of this era.

The balcony was converted into another screen in 1986. It was done with great care and taste. I know most of these conversion are not done well, but this one was done well. In 1982 the business next door was gutted and a 2nd screen put in. So now there are 3 screens.
 

Brattle Hall, Cambridge MA (1890)

Apollo Theater, Princeton IL (1882)

Loring Hall, Hingham MA (1852)

Metropolitan Theatre, Iowa Falls IA (1899)

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.

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Adam Fraser www.pinestheatre.com

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"Running through life at 24 frames per second"
 

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?

 

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.