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.

Ellen Theater Closes in Bozeman, Montana

In my mad dash across Montana, snapping every mid-century modern sign that I can find (I've literally found some in the bushes); I find that the Ellen Theater has closed. This 1919 constructed grand movie palace hit hard times and its future is questionable.

If I'm wrong about the questionable future, please comment and inform as to what's going on.

At any rate, believe it or not, I caught the moving-day scene.