Neighborhood theatre

In the days before multiplexes, neighborhood theatre was the colloquial name given to smaller movie theatres located in local neighborhoods, as opposed to the large movie palaces located in downtown areas. Neighborhood theatres would typically show films at cheaper prices, and were often very conveniently located only a few miles from where one lived. However, because of their size, they would usually show reduction prints of films shot in such larger sized formats as Todd-AO, Super Panavision 70, or Ultra Panavision. They would not show Cinerama films unless the print used had been converted to a Cinemascope or Panavision format.

Often, very long films would be cut for neighborhood theatres, so that they could be shown continuously, rather than in the two-a-day performance roadshow format in which they were intended to be shown.

References

• Fernett, Gene Hollywood's Poverty Row Laura Books; June 1973