Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: how many theatres are 111 years old?

This is topic how many theatres are 111 years old? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Edwin Schwing (Member # 1270) on 06-22-2007, 12:16 AM:

I recently spent a big chunk of my vacation time driving to my home town and back so that I could visit my Father on Father's Day.

I also had the opportunity to visit my local theatre that is 111 years old.

The place no longer runs movies, but it sure has a nice stage with plenty of fly space.

It was built in 1896 after the original wooden structure burnt down.

It was to be torn down in the 70's, but thankfully it was not. Now it is a vibrant and important deity of the small town that I call my home town.

Any one else?

E

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 06-22-2007, 07:37 AM:

Where is this?

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 06-22-2007, 08:02 AM:

No, but I've been in a few multiplexes that LOOK that old.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 06-22-2007, 08:14 AM:

Parts of the Odeon, Salisbury, though not the auditorium, date from Tudor times.

We've got quite a number of purpose-built cinemas still operating which are 97 years old; many new cinemas were built in 1910, in order to meet the requirements on the Cinematograph Act of 1909, which came into force that year. Most of them had rather similar architecture.

Posted by Thomas Pitt (Member # 4322) on 06-23-2007, 05:57 PM:

I know there are several theaters (for drama) that were built before 1900, some of which were converted into cinemas when movies took off. It's perfectly possible that there are cinemas even to this day that are over 100 years old, although they will only have operated as a cinema for a much shorter time.

Taking the old Bradford Odeon as an example, originally opened in the late 1920s as the New Victoria Theatre. In the 1960s it was converted into a 2-screen Odeon, and later a 3-screen, but has now closed.

Sometimes even other buildings have been converted into cinemas in the past, showing no hint of their former usage. You then have to ask, do you only count the years the site was operating as a cinema? Or do you count the time since it was originally built, for whatever purpose?

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 06-23-2007, 06:43 PM:

In the U.S. 111 years is pretty old for a theatre, Carnegie Hall is older.

Posted by John McConnel (Member # 2000) on 06-23-2007, 10:54 PM:

My theatre is 86 going on 87. It opened Aug. 23, 1920, with Clara Kimball Young in EYES OF YOUTH, along with a short pipe organ concert and a stage show presented by the Vanderbilt University Glee Club.

Posted by Edwin Schwing (Member # 1270) on 06-23-2007, 11:20 PM:

Here is a link to the place if anyone is interested.

http://www.lakebentonoperahouse.org/index.html

I used to volunteer there when I was a kid, and was in several plays. I always did love the place and know that that is where I got bitten by the "theatre bug".

E

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-24-2007, 01:28 PM:

A number of the theaters that I service are actually older than that.

Mark

Posted by Ray Faultless (Member # 903) on 06-24-2007, 06:06 PM:

The oldest working cinema in the UK. The Elecric Cinema in Birmingham. Built in 1909.

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 06-25-2007, 10:44 AM:

I don't think it is possible to count the time before conversion to a cinema when establishing the age of a cinema. (If an old church is used then there would be difficulties.

Many old cinemas have had a period of time where they have been closed or changed usage (this applies to Scotland's two oldest cinemas..

Some sites have undergone significant 'refurbishment' which has stripped much of the original interior and exterior features, so it is difficult to tell the true age of the building.

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 06-26-2007, 08:37 AM:

The Hamilton Theater in Hamilton, NY opened in 1895. It was originally called the Sheldon Opera House. It's been running movies since silent days and is now a triplex owned by Colgate University.
Bob

Posted by Keith Peticolas (Member # 971) on 06-30-2007, 01:54 AM:

I did some hot and hard time in the booth at the Fountain Theater in Mesilla, New Mexico.
Pretty damn old and very cool place. Hi Dad.
http://www.fountaintheatre.org/pages/history.html