What Was the Original Name of a Movie Theater?

Movie Theater|Theater

Movie theaters, also known as picture theaters or cinema halls, have been around since the late 1800s. They are an integral part of our culture and entertainment, and many of us can recall wonderful memories of going to the movies with friends and family. But did you know that movie theaters had a different name when they first opened?

In 1895, the first movie theater opened in New York City. It was called the Nickelodeon Theater, named after the cost of admission: a nickel.

The theater was extremely popular and soon other Nickelodeon theaters opened across the country. These early movie houses were often located in storefronts or other small spaces and featured short films or “nickelodeons” that were only a few minutes long.

In 1906, Thomas L. Tally opened the first dedicated movie theater in Los Angeles, which he called The Electric Theater. This was one of the first establishments to show feature-length films, and it quickly became popular among moviegoers. Soon after, more electric theaters began popping up around the country.

By 1920s, movie theaters had become immensely popular across America and their numbers had grown significantly. At this time, most cinemas were no longer referred to as nickelodeons or electric theaters; they were simply called “movie houses”. Movie houses typically featured larger auditoriums than Nickelodeons or Electric Theaters and would show feature-length films for an entire evening.

Conclusion:

The original name for a movie theater was Nickelodeon Theater because admission cost was five cents or a nickel at that time. However, by 1920s most cinemas were simply called “Movie Houses” as they featured larger auditoriums than earlier versions and would show feature-length films for an entire evening.