File:Commercial recreation (1920) (14577739410).jpg

Identifier: commercialrecrea00mole (find matches)
Title: Commercial recreation
Year: 1920 (1920s)
Authors: Moley, Raymond, 1886-1975
Subjects:
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Foundation Committee
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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picture theaters inthe down-town district. On Euclid Avenue, betweenEast 40th and East 105th Streets there are five largehouses having an aggregate seating capacity of over5,000 people. Patrons from the districts do not fillthese theaters. Their income must largely dependupon attracting patrons from the whole city. Thismeans that the regularity of their patronage is veryuncertain. Motion Picture Theaters in Cleveland In 1917 there were more than 150 motion picturetheaters in Cleveland. In August 1919 there were123. The total seating capacity of these theaters isnow 64,367. The diminishing number of theaters isone indication of a tendency to build fewer but largerand better theaters. Another tendency is in the direc-tion of more concentrated control of theaters. Thisis indicated by the recent acquisition by MarcusLoew of five of Clevelands largest houses. It is aninteresting commentary upon the prosperity of thebusiness to note that ten large theaters are now beingplanned and built. 18
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Attendance While many general statements have been madeconcerning the total number attending motion pic-ture theaters in Cleveland, the Survey found it im-possible to place reliance upon any of the estimatesmade up to this time. The most common approxima-tion is based upon a similar approximation made inNew York City, namely, that the average weekly at-tendance at all motion picture theaters is about thesame number as the total population of the city.Hence the inference is drawn that in Cleveland900,000 people attend the motion picture theatersweekly. The general credence within the industryitself, which is given to this estimate, is quite re-markable. In fact, one of the best informed men inthe industry asserts that 1,000,000 people pay admis-sions to motion picture theaters weekl3^ Obviously,this is a gross exaggeration because it would requirethat every picture house in the cit)^ be filled tocapacity more than fifteen times a week. Authenticrecords indicate clearly that the most pr

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