Vintage Photos Show How to Behave in a Movie Theater in 1912
Back in 1912, movie goers had a whole different set of issues to deal with when going to the theater. These days the big thing is cell phones. It still drives me nuts when someone busts out their phone to text or check their Facebook and Twitter feeds. It's not ok, people!
We have a set of amusing vintage photos for you to check out from 1912 that illustrate some of the movie theater etiquette of the time. It seems like women's hats were a big issue back in the day. The series of slides were projected onto screens during the era, and these were created by the New York firm of John D. Scott and Edward Van Altena.
The photos come from Backstory (via The Film Stage), and they've also included a 1916 New York Times excerpt from a letter to an editor that discusses the movie going experience for audiences.
“It’s really a shame… so much time, thought, and money on these splendid productions of our New York theaters to have the whole effect spoiled by the untutored ‘enemies’ of their own house staff. The average usher from the movie house to the most exclusive temple of the drama seems to feel that the theatre is his private palace and we of the audience his ladies-in-waiting and his humble retainers and pensioners.”
I think a lot of us feel the exact same way today.