AMST 350H Spring ‘16
Moviegoing Assignment Movie going was a new phenomenon at the turn of the 20th century. Many downtowns in big cities, were some of the first places to show movies, and some of the first places to open up standalone movie theatres. These theatres, largely known from the Sanborn maps, gives the audience a glimpse of what downtown social life would have looked like for both whites and blacks during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movie going experience shows the advancement in technology and advertisements. Movie going also gives a look into the glamor of that day. In Durham movies were a major part of the social scene. The first moving picture to be shown in Durham was referenced as the Projectoscope, in …show more content…
They were mainly shown at the Lakewood Park. Lakewood Park was an outdoor amusement park that had many different attractions that included a streetcar that went throughout Durham and the Chapel Hill area. During many occasions, when they showed the moving picture at Lakewood the pictures were usually free to the public, or they would have special nights for veterans to come out and view the moving picture. In many cases it seems that they would run specials on moves, meaning that they would show them continuously throughout the week so that a lot of people would be able to come and view …show more content…
These theatres were located in predominately black areas like Pettigrew Street. One of the more well-known African American theatre was named the Rex theatre, the Rex theatre had two different buildings. One was on Fayetteville Street, and the other on Pettigrew.. The opening notice of Rex Theatre was advertised in the Durham Morning Herald. The theatre first opened in 1920 and closed four years later in 1924. They were also located in the city directory. Another movie theatre was named the Wonderland theatre which was at 422 E. Pettigrew in Durham. It was also a black owned business, and was owned by Frank K. Watkins. An interesting fact about Watson is he also owned the Wonderland and Rex Theatre’s in Durham and the Dixieland Theatre in High Point. In other words Watkins was responsible for many of the Black theatres in
Moviegoing Assignment Movie going was a new phenomenon at the turn of the 20th century. Many downtowns in big cities, were some of the first places to show movies, and some of the first places to open up standalone movie theatres. These theatres, largely known from the Sanborn maps, gives the audience a glimpse of what downtown social life would have looked like for both whites and blacks during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movie going experience shows the advancement in technology and advertisements. Movie going also gives a look into the glamor of that day. In Durham movies were a major part of the social scene. The first moving picture to be shown in Durham was referenced as the Projectoscope, in …show more content…
They were mainly shown at the Lakewood Park. Lakewood Park was an outdoor amusement park that had many different attractions that included a streetcar that went throughout Durham and the Chapel Hill area. During many occasions, when they showed the moving picture at Lakewood the pictures were usually free to the public, or they would have special nights for veterans to come out and view the moving picture. In many cases it seems that they would run specials on moves, meaning that they would show them continuously throughout the week so that a lot of people would be able to come and view …show more content…
These theatres were located in predominately black areas like Pettigrew Street. One of the more well-known African American theatre was named the Rex theatre, the Rex theatre had two different buildings. One was on Fayetteville Street, and the other on Pettigrew.. The opening notice of Rex Theatre was advertised in the Durham Morning Herald. The theatre first opened in 1920 and closed four years later in 1924. They were also located in the city directory. Another movie theatre was named the Wonderland theatre which was at 422 E. Pettigrew in Durham. It was also a black owned business, and was owned by Frank K. Watkins. An interesting fact about Watson is he also owned the Wonderland and Rex Theatre’s in Durham and the Dixieland Theatre in High Point. In other words Watkins was responsible for many of the Black theatres in