
Movie theatre magic
The rise and fall of cinemas.
From the picture palaces of the 1920s to the multiplexes and intimate art-house cinemas of today, the evolving design of movie theatres reflects the changes in our film-viewing habits. And even though television has long since become the dominant family entertainment technology, cinema audiences in the West have increased since the low point in the 1970s and 80s. Some of that is down to innovation: you might be able to find baby- or dementia-friendly screenings near you or a cinema that relays cricket matches or opera performances. Iszi Lawrence explores the 120-year development of movie theatres with film historian Professor Ross Melnick from the University of California, Daniela Treveri Gennari, Professor of Cinema Studies at Oxford Brookes University and World Service listeners.
On radio
Broadcasts
- Sat 26 Jul 2025 11:06GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sun 27 Jul 2025 02:06GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service
- Sun 27 Jul 2025 13:06GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 27 Jul 2025 16:06GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service News Internet
- Wed 30 Jul 2025 09:06GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service
- Wed 30 Jul 2025 23:06GMTÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ World Service
Podcast
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The Forum
The programme that explains the present by exploring the past