In 1930 (the earliest year from which accurate and credible data exists), weekly cinema attendance was 80 million people, approximately 65% of the resident U.S. population (Koszarski 25, Finler 288, U.S. Statistical Abstract).

How often did people go to the movies in the 1930s?

Even at the Depression's depths 60 to 80 million Americans attended the movies each week, and, in the face of doubt and despair, films helped sustain national morale. Although the movie industry considered itself Depression- proof, Hollywood was no more immune from the Depression's effects than any other industry.

How many people did go to the movies a week in 1940?

The association made sure the good guys always won, sexuality was suggested rather than mentioned openly, and social issues were not debated. The strict censorship in Hollywood was meant to protect the nearly eighty million Americans who went to the movies each week.

How many people a week went to the movies in the 1920s?

Cinema in the 1920s

People of all ages attended the movies with far more regularity than today, often going more than once per week. By the end of the decade, weekly movie attendance swelled to 90 million people.

How many people in America were going to the cinema each week by 1929?

The arrival of sound produced a sharp upsurge in movie attendance, which jumped from 50 million a week in the mid-20s to 110 million in 1929.

History Brief: Movies in the 1930s

How often did people go to the movies in the 1940s?

During the 1930s and 1940s, cinema was the principal form of popular entertainment, with people often attending cinemas twice a week.

How many Americans attended movies in 1930?

In fact, the years of the 1930s are considered the golden era of Hollywood cinema. Eighty-five million people a week crowded movie theaters across America to escape their sometimes desperate financial situations.

When did the most people go to the movies per week in the US?

Try 1946, believed to be the all-time biggest movie year, when more than 80 million people-57 percent of Americans -went to theaters every week.

How many people went to the cinema in 1920?

Cinema became the main form of popular entertainment. Ticket sales went from 40 million per week in 1920 to 100 million in 1930. People went several times a week, and long queues outside were normal.

Why did many people go to the movies in the late 1920s into the 1930s?

Movies had become a cultural institution as well as a cultural necessity. No other form of entertainment had come to play as important a role in American's everyday life, not even radio. Sixty million to 75 million people still faithfully attended even if the price of a seat was too much for them to pay.

What was the weekly attendance at movies in 1950?

The most widely quoted source, the U.S. Census Bureau, shows that weekly attendance dropped from 80 million in 1940 and 90 million in 1946 to 60 million in 1950 and 40 million in 1960.

When did movie attendance peak?

The golden age of the Hollywood studio era peaked in 1947 with 4.7 billion of yearly admissions. With the advent of TV, the yearly attendance for theatrical screenings dropped by 78% in only 17 years (reaching 1.02 billion in 1964).

How much did it cost to go to a movie in 1960?

Adjusted for inflation, that $0.70 movie ticket in 1960 would be about $6.17 today — not too far off from the modern-day average of $9.17. As The Hustle has previously explained, it's the concessions stand where the theaters really get you. In 1960, movie treats were pretty modestly priced.

How long were movies in 1920?

In the 1900s, movies were typically around 15 minutes long — that was the length of one reel (depending on playback speed and a few other variables).

How many people went to the movies during the Depression?

60-90 million people went to the movies every week during the Depression, making in one of America's greatest past times. The average movie ticket price during this period was 25 cents, but Americans were willing to spend the money.

How much did movie tickets cost in the 1930s?

During the Great Depression, the financially bruised and battered everyman could temporarily escape his woes by paying 25 cents to go to the movies. Ironically, some of the most popular movies depicted the superrich, clothed in satin gowns, and top hats and tails.

Why was cinema so popular in the 1930s?

While the country was consumed in a sullen attempt to rebuild society, films offered an accessible escape for restless minds in tough times. During the 1930s, the entire film industry transformed and “Hollywood” became synonymous with big studio pictures and became the standard for movies around the world.

How long were movies in the 1930s?

It's true that in the first decades of cinema movies were shorter, they were on average 90 minutes long in early 1930s and reached 100–110 minutes in mid-'50s.

How much were movie tickets in the 1920s?

Movie Ticket

A ticket to catch a movie on the big screen cost 15 cents–which is about $2.26 today.

What is the longest movie in US history?

How often does the average person go to the cinema?

The cinema is thus an important form of recreation for one-third of the adult civilian population, who go once a week or more often. A further 12% go to the cinema about once a month or once a fortnight, and 26% go less frequently. 30% do not go to the cinema during the summer months.

What age group sees the most movies?

Moviegoers age 18-24 and 25-39 made up the bulk of frequent moviegoers in 2016, 38% percent, compared to 21% for frequent moviegoers aged 2-17, according to the chart titled “Most Frequent Moviegoers by Age Group.” However, youths aged 12-17 make up 13% of that 21%, or 62%.

Did people go to the movies in the 1930s?

The American people in the 1930s and 1940s were no exception. They enjoyed many forms of entertainment, particularly if they could do so inexpensively. With the addition of sound, movies became increasingly popular. Comedies, gangster movies, and musicals helped people forget their troubles.

What is the biggest movie of the 1930s?

What was the cinema like in the 1930s?

Advances in color film included Technicolor and Kodachrome. 1930 marks the start of what is considered to be the 'golden age' of Hollywood, a period which lasted through at least the 1940s. The studio system was at its highest in the 30s, with studios having great control over a film's creative decision.