A movie theater, movie theatre or cinema is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ("movies" or "films").
Most movie theaters are commercial operations catering to the general public, who attend by purchasing a ticket. The movie is projected with a movie projector onto a large projection screen at the front of the auditorium.
Some movie theaters are now equipped for digital cinema projection, removing the need to create and transport a physical film print.
Spelling and alternative terms
Outside of North America, most English-speaking countries use the term cinema but formerly spelt "kinema" In these areas the term "theatre" is usually restricted to live-performance venues.
Colloquial expressions, mostly used for cinemas collectively, include the silver screen, the big screen (contrasted with the "small screen" of television) and (in the United Kingdom) the pictures, the flicks, and the flea pit (which derives from the long-standing belief that the seats were infested with fleas as they were so uncomfortable to sit on, resulting in frequent fidgeting).
A "screening room" usually refers to a small facility for viewing movies, often for the use of those involved in the production of motion pictures, or in large private residences.
History
Before 1900
On April 23, 1896, the first "theater" "There were seats for about 90 persons and the admission was three cents.
1900-1919
The first permanent structure designed for screening of movies in the state of California was Tally's Electric Theater, completed in 1902.
1920 to 1980
In the next ten years, as movie revenues exploded, raced to build the most lavish, elaborate, attractive theatres.
After 1980
People can pay to watch movies at home, through cable television or streamed from the Internet: pay-per-view (PPV) and video on demand (VOD). This may have contributed to an industry wide slump in the late 1980s.
3D
Sometimes a 3-D film is shown. Visitors borrow or keep special glasses to watch it. Depending on the system used, these are e.g. polarized glasses.
Design
like a stage theater, consists of a single auditorium with rows of comfortable seats, as well as a lobby area containing a
box office for buying tickets,
a counter and/or self-service facilities for buying snacks and drinks, and washrooms.
Multiplexes and megaplexes
first two-screen theatre, The Elgin Theatre was created in 1957 by Nat Taylor in Ottawa, Ontario, when he expanded the 20 year old facility. Taylor is credited as inventor of the multiplex or cineplex, and later founded the Cineplex Odeon Corporation, opening the 18-screen Toronto Eaton Centre Cineplex, the world's largest at the time.
Drive-in
A drive-in movie theatre is basically an outdoor parking area with a screen at one end and a projection booth at the other. Moviegoers drive into the parking spaces which are sometimes sloped upwards at the front to give a more direct view of the movie screen. Movies are usually viewed through the car windscreen (windshield) although some people prefer to sit on the hood of the car.
Luxury Screens
Cinemas in city centres are increasingly offering luxury seating with services like complimentary refills of soft drinks and popcorn, a bar, reclining leather seats and service bells. The Vue Cinema chain is a good example of a large-scale offering such a service, called "Gold Class".
Age restrictions
Admission to a movie may also be restricted by a motion picture rating system. According to such systems, children or teenagers below a certain age may be forbidden access to theaters showing certain movies, or only admitted when accompanied by a parent or other adult
Exhibitors
There are about 1800 cinema-halls located in Tamil Nadu, with nearly 80 of them located in Chennai. Below is a list of the most prominent exhibitors in the box office.
Sathyam - 2,380 seats (Chennai )
Albert - 1,225 seats (Chennai)
Devi - 1,212 seats (Chennai)
Melody - 998 seats (Chennai)
Abirami - 927 seats (Chennai)
Kasi - 917 seats (Chennai)
Sangam - 877 seats (Chennai)
Maharani - 733 seats (Chennai)
Udhayam - 700 seats (Chennai)
Santham - 567 seats (Chennai)
Padmam - 540 seats (Chennai)
Suriyan - 480 seats (Chennai)
Devi Bala - 369 seats (Chennai)
Subham - 306 seats (Chennai)
Mayajaal - 3000+ seats (Chennai)
Inox - 909 seats (Chennai)
Most movie theaters are commercial operations catering to the general public, who attend by purchasing a ticket. The movie is projected with a movie projector onto a large projection screen at the front of the auditorium.
Some movie theaters are now equipped for digital cinema projection, removing the need to create and transport a physical film print.
Spelling and alternative terms
Outside of North America, most English-speaking countries use the term cinema but formerly spelt "kinema" In these areas the term "theatre" is usually restricted to live-performance venues.
Colloquial expressions, mostly used for cinemas collectively, include the silver screen, the big screen (contrasted with the "small screen" of television) and (in the United Kingdom) the pictures, the flicks, and the flea pit (which derives from the long-standing belief that the seats were infested with fleas as they were so uncomfortable to sit on, resulting in frequent fidgeting).
A "screening room" usually refers to a small facility for viewing movies, often for the use of those involved in the production of motion pictures, or in large private residences.
History
Before 1900
On April 23, 1896, the first "theater" "There were seats for about 90 persons and the admission was three cents.
1900-1919
The first permanent structure designed for screening of movies in the state of California was Tally's Electric Theater, completed in 1902.
1920 to 1980
In the next ten years, as movie revenues exploded, raced to build the most lavish, elaborate, attractive theatres.
After 1980
People can pay to watch movies at home, through cable television or streamed from the Internet: pay-per-view (PPV) and video on demand (VOD). This may have contributed to an industry wide slump in the late 1980s.
3D
Sometimes a 3-D film is shown. Visitors borrow or keep special glasses to watch it. Depending on the system used, these are e.g. polarized glasses.
Design
like a stage theater, consists of a single auditorium with rows of comfortable seats, as well as a lobby area containing a
box office for buying tickets,
a counter and/or self-service facilities for buying snacks and drinks, and washrooms.
Multiplexes and megaplexes
first two-screen theatre, The Elgin Theatre was created in 1957 by Nat Taylor in Ottawa, Ontario, when he expanded the 20 year old facility. Taylor is credited as inventor of the multiplex or cineplex, and later founded the Cineplex Odeon Corporation, opening the 18-screen Toronto Eaton Centre Cineplex, the world's largest at the time.
Drive-in
A drive-in movie theatre is basically an outdoor parking area with a screen at one end and a projection booth at the other. Moviegoers drive into the parking spaces which are sometimes sloped upwards at the front to give a more direct view of the movie screen. Movies are usually viewed through the car windscreen (windshield) although some people prefer to sit on the hood of the car.
Luxury Screens
Cinemas in city centres are increasingly offering luxury seating with services like complimentary refills of soft drinks and popcorn, a bar, reclining leather seats and service bells. The Vue Cinema chain is a good example of a large-scale offering such a service, called "Gold Class".
Age restrictions
Admission to a movie may also be restricted by a motion picture rating system. According to such systems, children or teenagers below a certain age may be forbidden access to theaters showing certain movies, or only admitted when accompanied by a parent or other adult
Exhibitors
There are about 1800 cinema-halls located in Tamil Nadu, with nearly 80 of them located in Chennai. Below is a list of the most prominent exhibitors in the box office.
Sathyam - 2,380 seats (Chennai )
Albert - 1,225 seats (Chennai)
Devi - 1,212 seats (Chennai)
Melody - 998 seats (Chennai)
Abirami - 927 seats (Chennai)
Kasi - 917 seats (Chennai)
Sangam - 877 seats (Chennai)
Maharani - 733 seats (Chennai)
Udhayam - 700 seats (Chennai)
Santham - 567 seats (Chennai)
Padmam - 540 seats (Chennai)
Suriyan - 480 seats (Chennai)
Devi Bala - 369 seats (Chennai)
Subham - 306 seats (Chennai)
Mayajaal - 3000+ seats (Chennai)
Inox - 909 seats (Chennai)
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