A History of Moviegoing in America (Virtual)

Ever since the movie industry was born in the 1890s, audiences have thrilled to watch stories come to life on the big screen. By the 1920s, extravagant movie palaces were constructed in downtowns all over the country, and moviegoing was transformed into a luxury experience. This would end in the 1950s with the rise of the suburbs and the explosion of drive-in theatres, followed by shopping mall multiplexes. Today, you can choose an IMAX theater, or stay home and watch a new movie through your streaming service. This presentation will look at the fascinating history of movie theaters and examine how the experience of moviegoing has changed over the decades.

Brian Rose is a professor emeritus at Fordham University, where he taught for 38 years in the Department of Communication and Media Studies. He’s written several books on television history and cultural programming, and conducted more than a hundred Q&As with leading directors, actors, and writers for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Screen Actors Guild, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Directors Guild of America.