The Beginnings of Cinema
Cinema ‘halls’ or theatres began to appear in the final years of the nineteenth century, and were generally concerned with both showcasing the new technology of film, and providing an alternative entertainment to the music halls and cabarets that were also popular at the time. Showings consisted of travel scenes and news broadcasts – bearing in mind there was no sound recorded with the film, so any sound heard came from in-cinema performers or announcers.
In the early twentieth century, cinema began to spread and become an accepted form of entertainment. A charity drive for the Titanic victims saw the opening of the Picture House in Clevedon in 1912, and it still remains in operation today. In the years leading up to World War II, cinemas in the United States and United Kingdom grew more and more decorative and lavishly fitted – designed as a place to see and be seen, cinemas were thought of as being cutting edge. During both World Wars, cinemas broadcast news updates and segments aimed at rallying the population to the cause. Of course prior to sound technology (by 1929 most films were ‘talkie’ or accompanied by recorded sound), cinemas had to include room for bands and speech performers; after the introduction of sound this was no longer a necessity.
The years following saw widening screens, better sound quality, and even experimental technologies such as 3D and smell-o-vision. Even with the introduction of television, cable or subscription services, and more recently the widespread take-up of the internet, cinema has consistently been a popular choice for young and old as a form of entertainment.