Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace

Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace – (dir. April Wright)
Belbas Theatre, Washington Pavilion – Lobby Bar 5:30pm – Doors Open 6:00pm – Film Begins 6:30pm
TRT: 84 min plus post-film Q&A with director April Wright
Rating: PG13
Genre: Documentary, Film History
This film included in Fast Pass admission.

Awards and Festivals: 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, AFI Docs
Starring: Film Critic and Author Leonard Maltin

Film Summary: Other countries built palaces for royalty; in the United States we built them to watch movies. GOING ATTRACTIONS: The Definitive Story of Movie Palaces celebrates the grandeur of the great cinemas of the United States. Built in the 1910 ‘s to 1930s when movies were the acme of entertainment and their stories were larger than life, larger than life movie palace venues were designed and built to show them. These movie palaces housed thousands of seats, giant screens, exotic and ornate interiors with balconies and lounges, in-house organs and orchestras, spectacular marquees, and offered air conditioning back when homes had none. This documentary revels in their glory, then tracks these theaters’ eventual decline, highlighting how some are undergoing current-day preservation efforts – and exploring their critical models for success. Join us for a tribute to America’s great art form and the great monuments created for audiences to enjoy them.

What the critics are saying:

These theatres were built during an era before radio, before TV, before cable, before the internet, before cell phones, and even before drive-ins, when people went to the movies multiple times every week, and enjoyed an unsurpassed visual experience just by walking through the doors, before the lights even dimmed for the start of the show. From the bright neon marquees, to the ornate craftsmanship, the intricate artwork, the mighty Wurlitzer organs, the elaborate decorations, and art-deco designs, these buildings were literal cathedrals for the movie going experience. This riveting documentary directed by April Wright has screened at two prominent film festivals so far, and won both times for Best Documentary Feature. ‘Going Attractions’ perfectly captures the mystique of these classic movie houses, while at the same time enlightening the audience on the evolution of the movie theatre business from the early 1900s through the modern era of multiplex cinemas, home entertainment, and streaming.

Rick Cohen – Transit Drive-In

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