The Art Theater

Way back when all theaters were art theaters--grand palaces that treated movie-goers as if they were royalty.

In Cleveland, Ohio as in the rest of the country the grand movie palaces, or "art" theaters as they are known today, sprung up like dandelions all across the big cities of Europe and the United States.

Today, some are closing, like the Ellen in Bozeman, Montana, while others are thriving not only as art theaters, but grand movie palaces showing the latest Hollywood features.

The grand Rex in Paris shows a variety of films from French comedies to American thrillers.

Many "art" theaters nowadays screen "art" films, offbeat indies, many of which come from other countries.

dmoz has some great links to all kinds of art theater history.