The History of Motion Pictures...1940

pictureshowman ^ | 2004-2015 | The Picture Show Man

[WhiskeyX]

Year 1940 In the United States there are 17,500 movie theaters in operation, one for every 8,000 people. Out of a total U.S. population of 130 million, it is estimated that 55–60 million Americans go to the movies every week.

[WhiskeyX]

Going to the Movie Theater in 1940, see:

(Don't forget your popcorn, food, and beverage during the intermissions)

[Newsreel] Movietone News - 1940s First pictures of the Battle of the Norway (May 1940)

[Cartoon] "The Milky Way" - 1940 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2P4GF2f0-M

[Short film Documentary] The Miracle of Sound (1940) - Classic MGM Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fiEfsBtlWU

[A Feature Film] OUR TOWN (1940) William Holden - Martha Scott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2BVMDr1ses

[B Feature Film] Light of Western Stars (1940) ZANE GREY WESTERN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN-mnXNrS38

[Boogieman]

I’m too young to have remembered that. It really must have been an “evening” to go to the movies, just like if you went to the opera or the theater. Nowadays, hardly sit still through the previews, because they just want to see the feature and dash out.

[Kirkwood]

Great movie poster.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I remember those old movie shows!
First, the cartoon to keep the kids happy!
Then Previews of coming attractions,
Then the news reel as no one had TV yet.
Then the cliffhanger serial!
Then the movie!
And finally “selected short subjects!”
often the Three Stooges, Our Gang or some other comedy short.
And if it was a double feature, the second movie!
When done,it would all start again with the cartoon!
Continuous showings, starting at 1:00 PM through two showings of each movie.

[DakotaGator]

To get some of the flavor of the old time movie theater experience try one of the “TCM Greatest Classic Film Collections”. These each have 4 movies of that era usually accompanied by “Warner Night at the Movies” extras.

Selecting “Warner Night at the Movies” basically plays all the extras and the feature film in the same fashion seen in theaters during the earlier portions of the last century. Quite enjoyable with popcorn a must.

[minnesota_bound]

Television and Uncle Milton came along and wrestling....

[Boogieman]

Cool, I’ll have to check that out.

[Fiji Hill]

In late 1940 or early '41, my father hitchhiked from his home in Loma Linda, Calif. to the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Anteles, about 60 miles away, to see Fantasia. He said it was well worth the effort.

[liberalism is suicide]

Even in the 50s and early 60’s theaters showed double features,newsreels and cartoons. You got more for your money at the movies then. Movies today are over priced garbage.

[DakotaGator]

TCM has quite a variety of these offerings. Not all of the movies have “Warner Night at the Movies” special features. And sometimes the features do but the online product description doesn't mention it.

Best to read both the product description and reviews to puzzle this out. The collections are generally a great deal with fascinating extras.

Enjoy!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Our local small town theater was open late on Friday and Saturday nights as this is when everyone came to town.
Even the cafes, barber shops, and other stores stayed open, and people went “window shopping” to escape the heat of the day.
That all came to an end in the mid 1950s when people started staying home Saturday nights to help Matt Dillon patrol the streets of Dodge City.
The theater was the first business to close down.

[laplata]

That all came to an end in the mid 1950s when people started staying home Saturday nights to help Matt Dillon patrol the streets of Dodge City.
The theater was the first business to close down.

---

LOL You are right. I remember asking my Dad what movie we were going to and he said something like ‘We’ll see a movie another night. Gunsmoke is on tonight”.

[Java4Jay]

Nice site with classic stars photos

http://www.doctormacro.com/SubGalleries/GalleriesD.htm

[who_would_fardels_bear]

...and televised bowling!

I recently discovered a "wealth" of videos on YouTube showing bowling-oriented programming from the early days. One was a game show hosted by Uncle Milty himself.

Famous stars bowling. Up and coming professionals bowling. Average Joe's bowling.

The excitement was palpable.

[a fool in paradise]

Out of a total U.S. population of 130 million, it is estimated that 55–60 million Americans go to the movies every week.

It's where you went to see the weekly newsreels.

[Big Red Badger]

I’ve been watching
old John Wayne movies,Fascinating!

The Big Trail,
1930,
Outstanding!

[MisterArtery]

Remember it well. I spent all day Saturday at the theater. The quarter Mom gave me got all that entertainment for 14 cents. One nickel for a coke, one nickel for a box of popcorn, and the leftover penny got me a jawbreaker as big ass a golf ball.