#1 HISTORIC AMERICAN
MOVIE THEATERS NATIONWIDE

Act One:
Since the birth of the motion picture era more than a century ago,millions of Americans have flocked to downtown theaters for the latest films.Historic theaters were designed to transport audiences to fanciful, faraway places with their Art Deco, Egyptian and Chinese motifs, bringing a unique dimension to the moviegoing experience.

Act Two:
The multiplex is born. Movie studios gain influence over distribution companies, helping determine which theaters run their films; often, independent, historic theaters are left out of the loop. Many are forced to close, often demolished in the face of staggering competition from suburban multiplexes. Downtowns suffer at the loss of these Main Street anchors.

"The proliferation of the chain theater has made it tough for independent historic theaters to book first-run movies and stay economically viable," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust. "Hundreds of these irreplaceable cinemas have been demolished, and more close every year. The closing of a historic movie theater is more than the loss of a single piece of our heritage; it greatly affects the downtown economy as well."

THREAT
Because multi-screen chain theaters can show more movies to smaller audiences, they don't need a full house to make a profit. Historic movie theaters, which have higher operating costs anyway, typically have hundreds or even thousands of seats per screen. When the theater isn't full, it's harder to stay viable. The sheer size of large theater chains influences movie distribution, so independent theaters generally don't have much clout in obtaining those profitable blockbusters that would fill the house.

When historic theaters close, they are often demolished. Not only does this destroy downtown anchors, it can damage local economies. As theaters are frequently located in the midst of their downtowns, they have been centers of community activity and keep many downtowns active long after dark. Closing a historic theater often means the loss of reliable income for surrounding
businesses.

SOLUTION
Independent historic movie theaters can be profitable for distribution companies because they seat many more people per screen and keep a smaller percentage of the profits than do multiplexes. But access to first-run movies is essential to their success.

If a theater must close, it doesn't have to be demolished. Adaptive reuse can save a theater's unique architecture while finding a new use for the space - but reuse must be approached carefully to make it possible for the theater to be returned one day to its original use. Theaters are often adapted as performing arts centers, live entertainment venues, nightclubs and even churches. Such uses can honor the theaters' architectural heritage and keep the buildings centers of community life.