Early Theaters

Around the turn of the 20th century, America was a society experiencing big changes, unlike any that had been experienced before, and it was because of these changes that the birth of cinema was possible. Without certain conditions present it is unlikely that theaters would have grown in popularity so quickly or had as great an impact on the daily lives of so many people. The rise of big business changed life in America forever, …

…work. People chose to find other ways to find meaning in their lives, and the cinema of attractions was a prime example of working class people finding outlets to entertain themselves. This was very indicative of the society as similar types of escapes were becoming popular, such as the Coney Island amusement park. The advent of free time and an influx of discretionary income were key contributors leading to the widespread popularity of the cinema.