America's First Movie Theater/Vitascope Hall - New Orleans, LA
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 29° 57.187 W 090° 04.119
15R E 782917 N 3317205
Located at 623 Canal Street, New Orleans
Waymark Code: WM13FBZ
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 11/29/2020
Views: 4
America's First Movie Theater
Vitascope Hall, 623 Canal Street
On July 26, 1896, William T. "Pop" Rock & Walter J. Wainwright, shown with 2 patrons, and projectionist William Reed (r to l) opened the first indoor seated movie theater in the United States.
Vitascope Hall
In Vitascope Hall, 400 seated patrons watched 10-12 short films for 10 cents on white fabric stretched across a frame. Black canvas covered the windows. For 10 cents more, patrons viewed the Vitascope projector in the projection booth, and for another 10 cents, patrons took home a scrap piece of film. So many wanted to see the projector that soon the price increased to 50 cents. In 1896, of the 40 Edison Vitascope territories in the U.S., only Louisiana was financially successful.
Link to more information:: [Web Link]
Marker Name: America's First Movie Theater/Vitascope Hall
Marker Type: Roadside
What does marker relate to?: Building
Year Erected or Date Dedicated: 10/14/2019
Parish: Orleans
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