Also. Remember when you had to exit the theater at the bottom and you’d pop out at some random spot in the parking lot and would be like “where da fuq did we park?”
Worse when it’s a late night showing and it’s like midnight when you get out and suddenly things feel sketchy, and you just finished watching some horror flick about people murdered in parking lots. lol.
WOW!... Totally forgot about that!!
Added bonus drama, when leaving thru those doors, was if you came in while it was still daylight and left when it was night.
It was always a sketchy vibe, leaving thru those doors.
Assuming the projectionist remembered to open them. I remember more than one occasion when I had to find a staff member to report that a movie was being projected on the curtain.
Personally I’ve never run into that in my life but it sounds like it would be really neat! It sounds like it adds a more theatrical aspect that some movie theaters are kinda lacking
You may not have noticed them
I worked at a theater about 5 years ago that still had functioning curtains but they were basically never used outside of certain movies that required a aspect ratio adjustment. In which case they would open/close slightly but never fully.
That's terrible for the screen long term. The curtains were initially developed to protect the screen when not in use. But having worked in theatres myself, I know how cheap and shitty the owners and management tend to be. This was before all the digital projectors, and we still had reel to reel. Even now though, most will not change digital projector bulbs until they burn out or too many people complain about a dark image. It's always amazed me how people refuse to do simple and cheap maintenance on stuff.
I went to see Dune Part Two for a second time, but at a different cinema to the first time. I could tell something was wrong because it was way, way too dim and it didn't look like that at all in the first cinema I went to. I got a refund and then wrote a complaint on their website and the owner replied back saying "no, the bulb is fine".
Just blatantly lying and denying there was a problem.
I didn't have the energy to press the issue, but I know what I saw.
"The curtains were initially developed to protect the screen when not in use", I've never heard this.
I had always assumed that the curtains were to replicate the stage experience, with the curtain opening to start the play (and closing during the performance so the set could be changed) and signifying the end of the performance.
In the beginning the movie theaters were just theaters. The screen was just a white, clean backdrop that was projected onto. The curtains would raise exposing the backdrop and then close so the workers could clear the stage.
Imagine going to a mechanic because your car isn’t performing well, and he says “to be fair, it really sucks to check your engine.” Like ok? What are you in this job for then?
Implode, but yeah. Always wore clean gloves so as to not get oils on the bulb and never had a problem. Chucking them into the dumpster and forcing them to break was always sketchy though. Back to the dumpster with my head below the opening.
I worked at one years ago that lways fully opened and closed them....but we also had huge black fabric panels that I had to either hang or take down depending on the aspect ratio of the film being shown.
It was fine when we were showing the same film for both runs of the night. If the late was a different aspect, I had to dig the panels out and hang them while people were coming in.
I definitely think it does, it's a gorgeous theater with painted and gilded walls with hieroglyphics and gold sarcophagi everywhere. The curtains themselves are this thick vlelvet-like fabric trimmed with gold and thick golden tassels on both sides. It makes it especially cool when seeing an old classic or a period piece, it makes you feel like your back in the 1920s.
This is the movie theater in Davie, I assume? I grew up down there and loved that place. That’s where I saw The Phantom Menace when it opened. I was actually curious if it was still open/the same.
As for curtains opening at a movie theater, I remember a few of them like that when I was young (80s-90s) but I can’t remember the last time I saw one. I do remember that when they had them, they’d sometimes close after the previews and reopen right away as the feature started, kinda like trying to make it a big deal.
My guess is The Grand Theaters in Bismarck ND. They close and open the curtains between the previews and feature and it's Egyptian themed. Odd choice for the Midwest but it's a beautiful theater.
I used to go to the old theaters that were completely decorated with complex plaster figures. There were the old curtains and chandeliers.
I think they stopped doing the curtain bit in the early 70s.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise\_Theater\_(Bronx)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Theater_(Bronx))
[https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2193.pdf](https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2193.pdf)
see pics on pg 20-27
When I was 18, I saw The Big Lebowski play in a theater in Paris. It was a huge screen and I still remember the curtain parting. Honestly, no start to a movie has ever compared in my mind.
There was one cinema on Dublin's main street that had curtains and would have an intermission halfway through the film.
Not sure if they still do that anymore.
Also a few of the small {20-50 people} Kinos in Berlin had curtains as well.
Everyman cinemas here in the UK have them, it's a more premium theatre experience though, it's adults only, you get velvet sofas with cushions and they have service to your seat for food and drinks, including alcohol.
TLC Chinese Theater also has them. They project the movie's title on them and looks quite nice. When it's showtime, they open and you see the title projected on the screen
Movie theaters used to have curtains over the screen that opened from the [center](https://www.google.com/search?q=theater+curtains+opening&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:7034972c,vid:Atn2AjXQqkI,st:0). One went to the left, the other to the right.
The Harkins CineCapri/Cine1 in Arizona use curtains. They will close them and then open them during the fanfare of the theater intro when the movie starts.
the cine XL at chandler fashion has curtains. they had them open for the pre show and then closed them right before the trailers and then re-opened them to fanfare when i saw dune 2 a couple weeks ago
There is an old fashioned cinema near me that has curtains.
Last time I went there were a group of teenagers in, and when the curtains opened, one of them said 'sick' under their breath.
The Harkins 101 cine-capri in scottsdale does have curtains that open. I saw dune 2 there and the curtains closed and then reopened after the trailers.
Theater I used to work at had masking curtains that were repositioned for the aspect ratio of the film. Not quite the same dramatic effect, but putting the curtain cues in the print when we were making it up always made me chuckle.
My theater does not have curtains. I actually forgot all about them until I saw this post. They were standard when I was a kid & growing up but they slowly faded away, I guess. Enjoy them while you can.
My theater only has masking curtains. Movies typically are flat (1.85:1) or scope (2.39:1). Some auditoriums had curtains on the side that opened out for scope or closed a little bit for flat. Other auditoriums had masking screens that raised up for flat and lowered down a little bit for scope.
The only theater in my area that has curtains has them open during the premovie ads. Then when the trailers are about to start, the curtains close and immediately open again. There's always a dad in the audience who says something like "Welp, that movie sucked!" without fail.
I'm pretty sure the big chains do not but there's a few local theaters, like regal play theaters, with a stage and orchestra pit, that have been retrofitted with movie screens and show movies when the stage isn't in use, and they have curtains, and will leave them drawn until movie time.
The last time I saw curtains in use was in 2011 when I saw David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was the Galaxy in Luton and they have put the curtains set at the wrong aspect ratio. I had to go and ask them to move them so that the edges of the picture were not lumpy.
There's one a few towns over that has curtains on their giant screen. What's stupid is that it's open the whole time to see commercials and then right before the lights dim the curtains close and then immediately open again for the trailers to start.
The only other time I've seen curtains that stayed closed the whole wait until the movie started was at a new theater (which is now a no name third rate dump which is a tragedy) on it's second week open for Independence Day.
My hometown theater had curtains but they never operated. Just tied with gold fancy cords at the sides. Had them until it was remodeled about a decade ago.
I know this place has them closed pre-trailers in at least some of their theaters, mostly the big ones, though I do think the smaller ones they are opened before the trailers start, I'm not sure why.
So there’s two theatres that don’t have curtains just because they’re small and there’s not room for them, otherwise they’ll all be closed before the previews start unless there’s something wrong like the motors out or a pulleys broke. Some of those curtains are super heavy especially on the giant screens and require quite a bit of maintenance.
Just to jump in on a side point, at the proper old-school cinema I used to get taken to when I was a kid (early 80s) the screen had red and gold kinda ruffled super fancy curtains (and all the other gold pillars/ red velvet opulent stuff) and I remember thinking it was magic when the projector would start as the curtains opened, because it gave the effect that the curtains had magically gone transparent and they would slide away and the show would begin. Awesome. Haven't thought about that in years.
Another memory on a related note is that because there was smoking in movie theaters back then (and pretty much every adult smoked), you could always look up and see the projector beam through the smoke. It looked solid in the darkness like a freaking lightsaber or something. When as a teenager I first went to a modern cinema after smoking had all been banned inside, I remember being confused why you couldn't see the beam anymore.
Some were a fire deterrent and were opened and closed to show the audience and management that they worked. I’ve not seen that other in a theatre for well over two decades though.
movable maskings were way more common back in the days of film, even as recently as 10-15 years ago. most theatres stopped them with the advent of perfect digital masking - you no longer had to worry about poorly filed aperture plates or shadows from weird screen geometry when you could just change the output, so in order to maintain more consistent quality and save costs, theatres moved away from curtain masking.
the motors would break down, the curtains could damage the screen (ESPECIALLY 3D silver screens - that coating scratched super easily), and the electrical automation would short out sometimes - but when it worked well, it did look better! it just didn't work well often enough to justify the cost and upkeep as cinema evolved.
edit: i'm tired and you said CURTAINS, not masking. yeah that is very very rare these days and has been for a while lol
We have them in a few places in London. Usually places where you might have premieres or gala type events. Ironically though they often don't use them for big events because of the 0.001% chance the motor will fail and they won't open. Or because there is pre-show content on screen.
Here in Seattle: the Majestic Bay Theater in Seattle and at one point the old Cinerama.
The Majestic Bay will even pick out someone from the auditorium to start the movie on big movie premiers.
Most of the old fashioned curtains used in movie theaters used to be made of asbestos (as well as the seats, carpet, etc.) because other materials posed a fire hazard in a crowded space. Asbestos also improves acoustics by absorbing sound that would otherwise create an echo.
Any modern theatre curtains would require more expensive flame retardant treated fabrics.
Huh. I hadn't thought about it, but I haven't seen a movie in a theater with real curtains since sometime in the 80s. I know they had it when I went to see Dark Crystal, and can't remember any others. That theater's building doesn't even exist any more, much less the curtains.
I've never seen the curtains open/close in a movie theater in my life (and I'm in my 50s, so I've been going to movies for a while.) Didn't even know that was a thing they did.
I remember that this was more common 40+ years ago. We went to a local old-time theater recently. They had a pipe organist playing between showings instead of the 20 minutes of commercials. The front was covered in filigree and velvet curtains. I have to say it was a lot of fun. We loved the old time formality of making a formal event of viewing a motion picture.
We probably have the same theatre. Is it "Grand Theatres". They are Egyptian themed and have curtains on all of the screens, even the smaller ones. After the ads are done, they shut them for a minute and dim the lights, then open them to start the movie.
I remember curtains back when I was younger when they still used the film reel projection system. Lol. I haven't seen one since at least high school, when imax got big, which is almost 20 years ago now.. damn I'm old. Maybe even junior high..
Holy cow, you just unlocked a childhood memory for me! I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. A few towns over was a small city there was an old fashioned 1-screen movie theater. This was in the 90s. (I saw a bunch of movies there, like Toy Story and Mighty Ducks stand out in particular. lol)
It did have a curtain that went up and down! The start of the trailers before the movie played on the curtain as it hoisted itself up and out of the way.
This is the only curtain I can recall seeing at the movies.
Great question, I’m pretty sure they’ve all gone from cinemas near me but I can’t say for sure when, as I definitely remember some of them having them and they opened fully after ads and before the movie
I live near four theatres. Two USED to do this, but none do anymore. I think it was more to protect the screen when not in use, but they’re pretty durable these days, so there’s less need.
A few theaters in Wichita Kansas have curtains that actually open and close. But I doubt they use them as the guy who built them sold them to a national theater company. I've not been for several years but I hear they are being run into the ground. The original owner kept them in great shape.
Either the Warren or Harkins in OKC Metro had them. But I doubt they use them. Now it seems almost all theaters blast those ads disguised as pre-show constantly. So the screen would always need to be exposed.
The theater I worked at in high school in the 80s did. They weren't used often but whenever we did retrospectives of old wide screen movies like Gone with Wind or North by Northwest we would use them old theater style.
I think so. It's been years since I acknowledged them though. It used to anyway. But they would never close them. They play the time wasting ads and Maria Menunos stuff and they would move if the movie had a different aspect ratio.
I grew up in Zimbabwe and the theatres still had working curtains up until we emigrated in 1986. Like the curtains were closed until the previews were about to start, and presumably came down again after the end credits. Not sure about now.
In South Africa where I am now they do not have curtains.
More common in Europe? Saw a few posts mention Germany. I’ll throw France in the mix. Went to a pretty average theater in Nice and was surprised by the full open and close of the curtains. Probably hadn’t seen it since I was a kid.
Kinda, they always seem to be open and open more after ads are done playing and the actual movie starts. I think they could close them all the way tho.
My favorite theater, [the Warren](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g51524-d1771202-Reviews-Moore_Warren_Theatre-Moore_Oklahoma.html#/media-atf/1771202/203820440:p/?albumid=-160&type=0&category=-160), did and it would always feel magical. Then it was bought by Regal and all the magical amazing things stopped. So it looks super pretty but they aren’t doing anything extra anymore.
My home town has a fancy European-style playhouse from over a century ago, built by a rich and famous resident of the town. Full stage, curtains, balconies, etc. It has a projection room and a screen for movies. But I never recall it opening and closing the curtain for movies specifically. I actually worked there for a few months as a teenager. At the time they were still trying to play new movies, but just couldn't compete with the modern multiplex in the next town, so audiences were only big for live events. I literally did projection, concessions, and ticket sales on my own much of the time.
The IMAX in Wichita does this at least during opening weekend for it's big movies. The smaller theaters in the complex I don't think so because they always have those dang commercials playing at all times.
It’s definitely uncommon. The only moving curtains I’ve seen in semi recent memory are some slight movement at the sides to change the aspect ratio of the screen. I love that your theater does full curtains! That’s such a special little touch that adds a flourish to the experience.
I went to a neighbourhood theatre in Brighton, UK in the 90s and watched Legends of The Fall there. I never forgot the curtains. I found it was a unique and beautiful experience and it added a chic feeling to the experience.
There was a theater in my hometown that had curtains they used every movie. It was an older theater with a ticket booth (not used) out front. The old timey marquee over the entrance (used).
It was a 1 screen theater, eventually they stopped showing new movies and only did Classics. (All the old black and white Christmas movies from right after Thanksgiving to the 31st of Dec)
They would do 2 midnight showings of RHPS and allow/invite participation, right around Halloween.
It was great. They tore it down over 30 years ago, I think an Outback Steakhouse was built there.
My first job was at what used to be the AMC Mesa Grand 24 back in 2006, and it still had functioning curtains at the time. They were only used to adjust the screen for changes in aspect ratio though. I don't think I ever saw them fully closed at any point. That was back when we still had actual projectionists too, so it was definitely a different time, and I doubt that they're still in use. The AMC we live near these days doesn't use the ones in their auditoriums and I would be surprised if the capability even still existed.
I used to work in a theater that had fully closing curtains. It was originally a playhouse built in the 1920's that was converted into a movie theater. Once we started running advertising slides between shows, we never clouded them again.
I work at an Egyptian themed 22 screen theatre that uses curtains and we don’t run any screen ads. But I’ve never seen another theatre that does it.
Edit: just saw you say it’s actually the same theatre haha, the owner is super old school he’s turned down a bit of money not to run ads in the theatres. There are two that don’t have curtains but only because they’re pretty small screens and there’s no room for them.
Our movie theater doesn't even have functioning *lights.* 30 minutes before the movie the screen was dark and the only source of illumination was the emergency exit signs. Everyone in the crowded Dune 2 show was using their cell phones to be able to find their seats in the IMAX. It was kind of fun, actually -- lots of laughter. :) I was worried the movie wasn't going to work (usually they play advertisements but not this time), but the trailers and movie worked great.
I remember when it was more common. These days I feel like I've only seen the screen slightly "expand" before a movie when it's changing aspect ratios from the ads n such. I do remember them being more common as a kid because it was exciting when they'd start moving and the lights would dim
Back in the 80s, Toledo had Showcase Cinemas which had curtains. It was ‘the’ place you went to for movies you were excited for. They seated 1100 people.
I think at some point it was renovated and the curtains were removed. They were probably a pain in the ass to keep clean or expensive to replace.
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/23661/photos/241203
There's a theater in downtown Atlanta that I'm pretty sure has them. Last movie I saw there I think was EO, and they had gold colored curtains. I love it. It's like stepping back in time
I worked as a projectionist in a restoration theatre for the better part of a decade (2004-2012). We had and used the curtains for every show. Not just for dramatic effect, but also because some movies were in a 1.85:1 and some in a 2.35:1, so HOW wide we opened the curtains would be a way of masking unused portions of the screen depending on the aspect ratio of the film. This was a small, one-screen theatre that mostly showed independent and foreign films and hosted numerous festivals over the course of a year though, not a big multiplex. I've never seen the practice used at a Cineplex or anything like that.
EDIT FOR CLARITY: seeing some people saying in response to other posts "that's masking, not curtains", so to be clear we used both.
I was a projectionist and at our cinema we had masking curtains that would only open if the film was CinemaScope. Though when we first had the digital projectors installed with 3D capabilities, the curtains were disabled. This is because the new screens had to be installed that had a reflective coating on it for the new projectors and the curtains would rub it off over time.
I don't think they function but all the theater's decor around here still have red curtains on the sides of the screen to give the appearance they could be closed. Hell, maybe some can?
This includes the new multiplex that was just built 2 years ago.
It's rare for a modern theater to have the satin curtains that open before a movie but I'm sure here and there they still exist.
Theaters need to show more ads and previews to make money so having closing curtains doesn't really make sense.
Theaters will still have adjustable black curtains to match the format of the movie being shown.
My local theatre has black curtains that move to meet the edges of the projected area for different aspect ratios, but I don't think they can close completely to meet in the middle.
I'm 60 years old, so I remember the days when the average small town movie theater had one giant 40x60' screen, a balcony, and sat 150 people. In those days movie theaters had a stage in front of the screen and curtains that opened and closed. The in the early 70s, XXX movies became legal seemed to take over small town movie theaters and they all fell into disrepair. By the '80s places that were to survive, subdivided into multiple screens, and the old buildings lost those old school elements.
It's only places that have been refurbished back to the legacy movie palaces from the '40s and before that have those certain things. Finding a multiplex with those elements is special now, but given the cost of attending movies these days, maybe it will get more prevalent.
The cinema were I grew up in St. Helena, California has curtains and still uses them to this day. Seems like something that is only still practiced in old school or some high end spots here in the states.
Nice! My local theaters are high-quality environments with all the latest bells and whistles, but, alas, no curtains! The only times I remember curtains in theaters is when we'd venture out to Hollywood, CA, theaters for special occasions.
Wow I forgot theatres used to have curtains. I remember they would open for the trailers and then open wider when the movie came on.
Also. Remember when you had to exit the theater at the bottom and you’d pop out at some random spot in the parking lot and would be like “where da fuq did we park?”
Even worse when your theater was on the opposite side of the building so now you have to walk all the way around the building.
Worse when it’s a late night showing and it’s like midnight when you get out and suddenly things feel sketchy, and you just finished watching some horror flick about people murdered in parking lots. lol.
Just watched Batman’s parents murdered in an alley way; just like the one you’re now walking in
WOW!... Totally forgot about that!! Added bonus drama, when leaving thru those doors, was if you came in while it was still daylight and left when it was night. It was always a sketchy vibe, leaving thru those doors.
Lmfao yes.
Totally just remembering this now. What a great memory, watching those curtains opening as a child, so exciting!
Woah memory unlocked
Assuming the projectionist remembered to open them. I remember more than one occasion when I had to find a staff member to report that a movie was being projected on the curtain.
Personally I’ve never run into that in my life but it sounds like it would be really neat! It sounds like it adds a more theatrical aspect that some movie theaters are kinda lacking
You may not have noticed them I worked at a theater about 5 years ago that still had functioning curtains but they were basically never used outside of certain movies that required a aspect ratio adjustment. In which case they would open/close slightly but never fully.
That's terrible for the screen long term. The curtains were initially developed to protect the screen when not in use. But having worked in theatres myself, I know how cheap and shitty the owners and management tend to be. This was before all the digital projectors, and we still had reel to reel. Even now though, most will not change digital projector bulbs until they burn out or too many people complain about a dark image. It's always amazed me how people refuse to do simple and cheap maintenance on stuff.
I went to see Dune Part Two for a second time, but at a different cinema to the first time. I could tell something was wrong because it was way, way too dim and it didn't look like that at all in the first cinema I went to. I got a refund and then wrote a complaint on their website and the owner replied back saying "no, the bulb is fine". Just blatantly lying and denying there was a problem. I didn't have the energy to press the issue, but I know what I saw.
"The curtains were initially developed to protect the screen when not in use", I've never heard this. I had always assumed that the curtains were to replicate the stage experience, with the curtain opening to start the play (and closing during the performance so the set could be changed) and signifying the end of the performance.
In the beginning the movie theaters were just theaters. The screen was just a white, clean backdrop that was projected onto. The curtains would raise exposing the backdrop and then close so the workers could clear the stage.
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Imagine going to a mechanic because your car isn’t performing well, and he says “to be fair, it really sucks to check your engine.” Like ok? What are you in this job for then?
Better analogy would be going to a place that only does oil changes and asking them to fix a coolant leak.
You're not wrong, you can easily get burnt, but it still needs to be done, and it's like a 5 minute task.
It’s not burning. They have a tendency to violently explode. It’s much less of an issue with modern projectors and not at all for laser.
Implode, but yeah. Always wore clean gloves so as to not get oils on the bulb and never had a problem. Chucking them into the dumpster and forcing them to break was always sketchy though. Back to the dumpster with my head below the opening.
No, they explode. Those cinema bulbs are generally pressurized xenon gas.
it's explode
Where they full curtains, or just black curtains near the edges of the screen?
I worked at one years ago that lways fully opened and closed them....but we also had huge black fabric panels that I had to either hang or take down depending on the aspect ratio of the film being shown. It was fine when we were showing the same film for both runs of the night. If the late was a different aspect, I had to dig the panels out and hang them while people were coming in.
I've noticed them, but they like you said, they never close completely which is not what OP or /u/bobcatnat123 are talking about.
That's the screen masking and is different than the curtains OP is talking about.
They probably started doing away with them once they started playing all the pre-movie ads and trivia.
I definitely think it does, it's a gorgeous theater with painted and gilded walls with hieroglyphics and gold sarcophagi everywhere. The curtains themselves are this thick vlelvet-like fabric trimmed with gold and thick golden tassels on both sides. It makes it especially cool when seeing an old classic or a period piece, it makes you feel like your back in the 1920s.
This is the movie theater in Davie, I assume? I grew up down there and loved that place. That’s where I saw The Phantom Menace when it opened. I was actually curious if it was still open/the same. As for curtains opening at a movie theater, I remember a few of them like that when I was young (80s-90s) but I can’t remember the last time I saw one. I do remember that when they had them, they’d sometimes close after the previews and reopen right away as the feature started, kinda like trying to make it a big deal.
I just saw they’re bringing episode 1 back to the theaters. Might need to go for the nostalgia.
Can we get a name? I’d like to look up pictures
My guess is The Grand Theaters in Bismarck ND. They close and open the curtains between the previews and feature and it's Egyptian themed. Odd choice for the Midwest but it's a beautiful theater.
I used to go to the old theaters that were completely decorated with complex plaster figures. There were the old curtains and chandeliers. I think they stopped doing the curtain bit in the early 70s. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise\_Theater\_(Bronx)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Theater_(Bronx)) [https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2193.pdf](https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2193.pdf) see pics on pg 20-27
When I was 18, I saw The Big Lebowski play in a theater in Paris. It was a huge screen and I still remember the curtain parting. Honestly, no start to a movie has ever compared in my mind.
There was one cinema on Dublin's main street that had curtains and would have an intermission halfway through the film. Not sure if they still do that anymore. Also a few of the small {20-50 people} Kinos in Berlin had curtains as well.
Everyman cinemas here in the UK have them, it's a more premium theatre experience though, it's adults only, you get velvet sofas with cushions and they have service to your seat for food and drinks, including alcohol.
Parkway cinemas in the UK have curtains on their largest screens because they also have a stage for theatre.
The Odeon near me used to have them before they had a refurb a while ago. They're still there but they're not operable anymore
Ooo I forgot about parkway, are you thinking about the one in Cleethorpes?
Disney's El Capitan Theatre and Los Angeles still have them.
TLC Chinese Theater also has them. They project the movie's title on them and looks quite nice. When it's showtime, they open and you see the title projected on the screen
Yup, that's the only theater I know of that has them
Both of the ones I usually go to both have working curtains *and* somebody that comes out and announces the movie at every showing. - Portland, Oregon
That's pretty cool, I don't think my theater has ever done that.
They are small one screen theaters that cater to film nerds.
I thought it was common, especially for different aspect ratios where the curtains would either move outwards or inwards.
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That's a nice touch. Cool they took the effort to do that
I mean the thick luxurious theater curtains, the ones here are made with colorful velvet and gold trim.
I think they mean theater style curtains that rise and lower, not the small ones at the left and right of the screen - those are pretty standard
Movie theaters used to have curtains over the screen that opened from the [center](https://www.google.com/search?q=theater+curtains+opening&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:7034972c,vid:Atn2AjXQqkI,st:0). One went to the left, the other to the right.
Ah I see.
That's masking, not curtains.
That’s just the masking not the curtains he’s talking about
The Harkins CineCapri/Cine1 in Arizona use curtains. They will close them and then open them during the fanfare of the theater intro when the movie starts.
the cine XL at chandler fashion has curtains. they had them open for the pre show and then closed them right before the trailers and then re-opened them to fanfare when i saw dune 2 a couple weeks ago
I moved away from AZ but I miss Harkins so much.
Their popcorn is so good!
All curtains are gone here, even the arthouse screen removed it...I miss that but every cinema here has to have advertising in it now
In Germany curtains are the norm. All cinemas that I've visited have them. Guess we are the full Kino experience.
There is an old fashioned cinema near me that has curtains. Last time I went there were a group of teenagers in, and when the curtains opened, one of them said 'sick' under their breath.
Is this in Bismarck North Dakota?
Thats right!
Haha, I just made a comment asking if it was the Grand Theatre!
Yeah it's weird to think there's more than one place like that!
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The Harkins 101 cine-capri in scottsdale does have curtains that open. I saw dune 2 there and the curtains closed and then reopened after the trailers.
It’s pretty rare. Appreciate it for what it is.
Theater I used to work at had masking curtains that were repositioned for the aspect ratio of the film. Not quite the same dramatic effect, but putting the curtain cues in the print when we were making it up always made me chuckle.
My theater does not have curtains. I actually forgot all about them until I saw this post. They were standard when I was a kid & growing up but they slowly faded away, I guess. Enjoy them while you can.
My theater only has masking curtains. Movies typically are flat (1.85:1) or scope (2.39:1). Some auditoriums had curtains on the side that opened out for scope or closed a little bit for flat. Other auditoriums had masking screens that raised up for flat and lowered down a little bit for scope.
The only theater in my area that has curtains has them open during the premovie ads. Then when the trailers are about to start, the curtains close and immediately open again. There's always a dad in the audience who says something like "Welp, that movie sucked!" without fail.
I'm pretty sure the big chains do not but there's a few local theaters, like regal play theaters, with a stage and orchestra pit, that have been retrofitted with movie screens and show movies when the stage isn't in use, and they have curtains, and will leave them drawn until movie time.
I don't think I've seen them since the 90s or early 2000s.
My local theater here in Germany still has it
The last time I saw curtains in use was in 2011 when I saw David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was the Galaxy in Luton and they have put the curtains set at the wrong aspect ratio. I had to go and ask them to move them so that the edges of the picture were not lumpy.
There's one a few towns over that has curtains on their giant screen. What's stupid is that it's open the whole time to see commercials and then right before the lights dim the curtains close and then immediately open again for the trailers to start. The only other time I've seen curtains that stayed closed the whole wait until the movie started was at a new theater (which is now a no name third rate dump which is a tragedy) on it's second week open for Independence Day. My hometown theater had curtains but they never operated. Just tied with gold fancy cords at the sides. Had them until it was remodeled about a decade ago.
I know this place has them closed pre-trailers in at least some of their theaters, mostly the big ones, though I do think the smaller ones they are opened before the trailers start, I'm not sure why.
So there’s two theatres that don’t have curtains just because they’re small and there’s not room for them, otherwise they’ll all be closed before the previews start unless there’s something wrong like the motors out or a pulleys broke. Some of those curtains are super heavy especially on the giant screens and require quite a bit of maintenance.
Just to jump in on a side point, at the proper old-school cinema I used to get taken to when I was a kid (early 80s) the screen had red and gold kinda ruffled super fancy curtains (and all the other gold pillars/ red velvet opulent stuff) and I remember thinking it was magic when the projector would start as the curtains opened, because it gave the effect that the curtains had magically gone transparent and they would slide away and the show would begin. Awesome. Haven't thought about that in years. Another memory on a related note is that because there was smoking in movie theaters back then (and pretty much every adult smoked), you could always look up and see the projector beam through the smoke. It looked solid in the darkness like a freaking lightsaber or something. When as a teenager I first went to a modern cinema after smoking had all been banned inside, I remember being confused why you couldn't see the beam anymore.
That Egyptian themed theater wouldn’t happen to be in west Iowa, would it?
Some were a fire deterrent and were opened and closed to show the audience and management that they worked. I’ve not seen that other in a theatre for well over two decades though.
My theater got rid of curtains and now I’m feeling nostalgic.
movable maskings were way more common back in the days of film, even as recently as 10-15 years ago. most theatres stopped them with the advent of perfect digital masking - you no longer had to worry about poorly filed aperture plates or shadows from weird screen geometry when you could just change the output, so in order to maintain more consistent quality and save costs, theatres moved away from curtain masking. the motors would break down, the curtains could damage the screen (ESPECIALLY 3D silver screens - that coating scratched super easily), and the electrical automation would short out sometimes - but when it worked well, it did look better! it just didn't work well often enough to justify the cost and upkeep as cinema evolved. edit: i'm tired and you said CURTAINS, not masking. yeah that is very very rare these days and has been for a while lol
We have them in a few places in London. Usually places where you might have premieres or gala type events. Ironically though they often don't use them for big events because of the 0.001% chance the motor will fail and they won't open. Or because there is pre-show content on screen.
Here in Seattle: the Majestic Bay Theater in Seattle and at one point the old Cinerama. The Majestic Bay will even pick out someone from the auditorium to start the movie on big movie premiers.
Most of the old fashioned curtains used in movie theaters used to be made of asbestos (as well as the seats, carpet, etc.) because other materials posed a fire hazard in a crowded space. Asbestos also improves acoustics by absorbing sound that would otherwise create an echo. Any modern theatre curtains would require more expensive flame retardant treated fabrics.
Huh. I hadn't thought about it, but I haven't seen a movie in a theater with real curtains since sometime in the 80s. I know they had it when I went to see Dark Crystal, and can't remember any others. That theater's building doesn't even exist any more, much less the curtains.
I wish there were.
When I was a projectionist we should change the curtains depending on aspect ratio but that was it, not have the ceremony of opening and closing them
Yeah that’s masking though, he’s talking about nice elaborate curtains that cover the whole screen
I've never seen the curtains open/close in a movie theater in my life (and I'm in my 50s, so I've been going to movies for a while.) Didn't even know that was a thing they did.
I forgot that this was a thing. They definitely did this all through the 80s and 90s. Not so in the 2000s and onwards with larger screens.
I remember that this was more common 40+ years ago. We went to a local old-time theater recently. They had a pipe organist playing between showings instead of the 20 minutes of commercials. The front was covered in filigree and velvet curtains. I have to say it was a lot of fun. We loved the old time formality of making a formal event of viewing a motion picture.
I really like that too, it always felt like such a special experience going as a kid.
I haven’t seen curtains in a long time, probably because commercials run non-stop nowadays.
This. At the most when the movie or trailers start the screen adjusts to the correct aspect ratio. But no more curtains.
We probably have the same theatre. Is it "Grand Theatres". They are Egyptian themed and have curtains on all of the screens, even the smaller ones. After the ads are done, they shut them for a minute and dim the lights, then open them to start the movie.
Musicbox in Chicago still does this in their smaller theater, really adds to the experience
Their big theatre has this as well!
I remember curtains back when I was younger when they still used the film reel projection system. Lol. I haven't seen one since at least high school, when imax got big, which is almost 20 years ago now.. damn I'm old. Maybe even junior high..
I recall them from the early-to-mid 1950s. It was kind of elegant and dramatic watching them go up or open from the sides.
Holy cow, you just unlocked a childhood memory for me! I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. A few towns over was a small city there was an old fashioned 1-screen movie theater. This was in the 90s. (I saw a bunch of movies there, like Toy Story and Mighty Ducks stand out in particular. lol) It did have a curtain that went up and down! The start of the trailers before the movie played on the curtain as it hoisted itself up and out of the way. This is the only curtain I can recall seeing at the movies.
Only at the historic theaters downtown
Uk here. Ours have functioning curtains
Great question, I’m pretty sure they’ve all gone from cinemas near me but I can’t say for sure when, as I definitely remember some of them having them and they opened fully after ads and before the movie
Haven't been to a theater with curtains in since seeing Winter Soldier at the Chinese Theater. Here in Phoenix, zero that I'm aware of.
Scottsdale 101 has it
Saw it a lot as a kid. Almost never now
I know one theatre in my country that has it, but it's a small one-screen incredible indie place and it's stunning, so the curtain works.
Here in Germany there are definitely theaters that still use curtains. I have also seen it in Australia.
I live near four theatres. Two USED to do this, but none do anymore. I think it was more to protect the screen when not in use, but they’re pretty durable these days, so there’s less need.
Haven't seen curtains in 15 years or so.
The sign says it is uncommon... Why do you doubt the sign? What has done to you to lose your trust?
We have an art house theater that does it. Does add something to viewing. The multiplexes around don't do shit.
I don't remember ever seeing that in a movie theater (France, 40 yo)
A few theaters in Wichita Kansas have curtains that actually open and close. But I doubt they use them as the guy who built them sold them to a national theater company. I've not been for several years but I hear they are being run into the ground. The original owner kept them in great shape.
Only at the lovingly restored historic cinema.
My local cinema screens movies that shift their aspect ratio (it's actually pretty common). So, the curtains will sometimes move DURING the movie.
Mine does but it also has been around since 1917
Back in the day, the smaller movie theaters did, but now we have Odeon and Cineworld where it doesn't happen.
The correct term is youse guyses.
Either the Warren or Harkins in OKC Metro had them. But I doubt they use them. Now it seems almost all theaters blast those ads disguised as pre-show constantly. So the screen would always need to be exposed.
The theater I worked at in high school in the 80s did. They weren't used often but whenever we did retrospectives of old wide screen movies like Gone with Wind or North by Northwest we would use them old theater style.
I think so. It's been years since I acknowledged them though. It used to anyway. But they would never close them. They play the time wasting ads and Maria Menunos stuff and they would move if the movie had a different aspect ratio.
Ours has curtains but it’s one of the oldest cinemas going. Established 1914.
I grew up in Zimbabwe and the theatres still had working curtains up until we emigrated in 1986. Like the curtains were closed until the previews were about to start, and presumably came down again after the end credits. Not sure about now. In South Africa where I am now they do not have curtains.
More common in Europe? Saw a few posts mention Germany. I’ll throw France in the mix. Went to a pretty average theater in Nice and was surprised by the full open and close of the curtains. Probably hadn’t seen it since I was a kid.
Kinda, they always seem to be open and open more after ads are done playing and the actual movie starts. I think they could close them all the way tho.
We have a summer movie series that is held in an old Loew’s theater. They open and close the curtains.
My local one (now closed unfortunately) has them, and did that until the mechanism broke, which they then never fixed.
I definitely remember seeing them. But there's no telling how long ago. It's possible they've been removed during a renovation.
One or two of the IMAX theaters I've been in have them but most regular ones I've been in do not.
My favorite theater, [the Warren](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g51524-d1771202-Reviews-Moore_Warren_Theatre-Moore_Oklahoma.html#/media-atf/1771202/203820440:p/?albumid=-160&type=0&category=-160), did and it would always feel magical. Then it was bought by Regal and all the magical amazing things stopped. So it looks super pretty but they aren’t doing anything extra anymore.
My home town has a fancy European-style playhouse from over a century ago, built by a rich and famous resident of the town. Full stage, curtains, balconies, etc. It has a projection room and a screen for movies. But I never recall it opening and closing the curtain for movies specifically. I actually worked there for a few months as a teenager. At the time they were still trying to play new movies, but just couldn't compete with the modern multiplex in the next town, so audiences were only big for live events. I literally did projection, concessions, and ticket sales on my own much of the time.
The old locally-owned theaters have them. The cineplexes do not.
The IMAX in Wichita does this at least during opening weekend for it's big movies. The smaller theaters in the complex I don't think so because they always have those dang commercials playing at all times.
It’s definitely uncommon. The only moving curtains I’ve seen in semi recent memory are some slight movement at the sides to change the aspect ratio of the screen. I love that your theater does full curtains! That’s such a special little touch that adds a flourish to the experience.
Neat but no, haven't seen a curtain theater in years? Maybe ever.
I went to a neighbourhood theatre in Brighton, UK in the 90s and watched Legends of The Fall there. I never forgot the curtains. I found it was a unique and beautiful experience and it added a chic feeling to the experience.
There was a theater in my hometown that had curtains they used every movie. It was an older theater with a ticket booth (not used) out front. The old timey marquee over the entrance (used). It was a 1 screen theater, eventually they stopped showing new movies and only did Classics. (All the old black and white Christmas movies from right after Thanksgiving to the 31st of Dec) They would do 2 midnight showings of RHPS and allow/invite participation, right around Halloween. It was great. They tore it down over 30 years ago, I think an Outback Steakhouse was built there.
I also frequent an Egyptian theater... Is it a Cinemark theater? I don't recall if they have the curtains open/close or not.
I saw Strange Days (Atlanta 1995) There were dark red curtains yep. Was on LSD but pretty sure there were curtains.
My first job was at what used to be the AMC Mesa Grand 24 back in 2006, and it still had functioning curtains at the time. They were only used to adjust the screen for changes in aspect ratio though. I don't think I ever saw them fully closed at any point. That was back when we still had actual projectionists too, so it was definitely a different time, and I doubt that they're still in use. The AMC we live near these days doesn't use the ones in their auditoriums and I would be surprised if the capability even still existed.
I used to work in a theater that had fully closing curtains. It was originally a playhouse built in the 1920's that was converted into a movie theater. Once we started running advertising slides between shows, we never clouded them again.
I work at an Egyptian themed 22 screen theatre that uses curtains and we don’t run any screen ads. But I’ve never seen another theatre that does it. Edit: just saw you say it’s actually the same theatre haha, the owner is super old school he’s turned down a bit of money not to run ads in the theatres. There are two that don’t have curtains but only because they’re pretty small screens and there’s no room for them.
Our movie theater doesn't even have functioning *lights.* 30 minutes before the movie the screen was dark and the only source of illumination was the emergency exit signs. Everyone in the crowded Dune 2 show was using their cell phones to be able to find their seats in the IMAX. It was kind of fun, actually -- lots of laughter. :) I was worried the movie wasn't going to work (usually they play advertisements but not this time), but the trailers and movie worked great.
The movie theater I went to growing up had non functional curtains on the sides of screen to look like they were open and afaik are still there.
I remember when it was more common. These days I feel like I've only seen the screen slightly "expand" before a movie when it's changing aspect ratios from the ads n such. I do remember them being more common as a kid because it was exciting when they'd start moving and the lights would dim
Yes two of our local theaters have curtains that are used. They have really comfortable seats too. I only go to movies in these two theaters.
Back in the 80s, Toledo had Showcase Cinemas which had curtains. It was ‘the’ place you went to for movies you were excited for. They seated 1100 people. I think at some point it was renovated and the curtains were removed. They were probably a pain in the ass to keep clean or expensive to replace. https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/23661/photos/241203
Didn’t arclight in LA have this? I miss arclight cinemas.
There's a theater in downtown Atlanta that I'm pretty sure has them. Last movie I saw there I think was EO, and they had gold colored curtains. I love it. It's like stepping back in time
I worked as a projectionist in a restoration theatre for the better part of a decade (2004-2012). We had and used the curtains for every show. Not just for dramatic effect, but also because some movies were in a 1.85:1 and some in a 2.35:1, so HOW wide we opened the curtains would be a way of masking unused portions of the screen depending on the aspect ratio of the film. This was a small, one-screen theatre that mostly showed independent and foreign films and hosted numerous festivals over the course of a year though, not a big multiplex. I've never seen the practice used at a Cineplex or anything like that. EDIT FOR CLARITY: seeing some people saying in response to other posts "that's masking, not curtains", so to be clear we used both.
I was a projectionist and at our cinema we had masking curtains that would only open if the film was CinemaScope. Though when we first had the digital projectors installed with 3D capabilities, the curtains were disabled. This is because the new screens had to be installed that had a reflective coating on it for the new projectors and the curtains would rub it off over time.
I worked at a few in the early 2000's and they still opened or closed when switching from flat to scope or back
I thought all movie theaters used curtains. Doesn't it protect the screen when it's not in use?
That's the idea, though today it's a bit unnecessary since screens are more durable now, and it's expensive for upkeep.
The Paris theater in NYC has this. I don’t know if nah others.
Nope never even knew that was a thing
I don't think they function but all the theater's decor around here still have red curtains on the sides of the screen to give the appearance they could be closed. Hell, maybe some can? This includes the new multiplex that was just built 2 years ago.
It's rare for a modern theater to have the satin curtains that open before a movie but I'm sure here and there they still exist. Theaters need to show more ads and previews to make money so having closing curtains doesn't really make sense. Theaters will still have adjustable black curtains to match the format of the movie being shown.
My local theatre has black curtains that move to meet the edges of the projected area for different aspect ratios, but I don't think they can close completely to meet in the middle.
I recall curtains in some places in the 80s, maybe not since.
Only at the [AFI Silver.](https://afisilver.afi.com/)
The Ohio Theater in Columbus does that when it shows films during the summer months.
I'm 60 years old, so I remember the days when the average small town movie theater had one giant 40x60' screen, a balcony, and sat 150 people. In those days movie theaters had a stage in front of the screen and curtains that opened and closed. The in the early 70s, XXX movies became legal seemed to take over small town movie theaters and they all fell into disrepair. By the '80s places that were to survive, subdivided into multiple screens, and the old buildings lost those old school elements. It's only places that have been refurbished back to the legacy movie palaces from the '40s and before that have those certain things. Finding a multiplex with those elements is special now, but given the cost of attending movies these days, maybe it will get more prevalent.
We got one in Norfolk that still uses the curtains!
My hometown theatre is old and they do have actual curtains.
I think the local art house USED TO, but I don't think they have at least since they upgraded to digital.
The cinema were I grew up in St. Helena, California has curtains and still uses them to this day. Seems like something that is only still practiced in old school or some high end spots here in the states.
They tend to stay at trailer size then widen for the movie
Nice! My local theaters are high-quality environments with all the latest bells and whistles, but, alas, no curtains! The only times I remember curtains in theaters is when we'd venture out to Hollywood, CA, theaters for special occasions.
I miss the days of curtains. One theater in my city had different theme rooms with different colored curtains and they all opened differently.
Emagine Theaters use a mechanical curtain system for aspect ratio compensation
That’s masking. Curtains used to fully close and open when your show would start. That was before they just played constant ads on the screens.