Advent of cinema in a full fledged manner introduced movie theatres to the viewers across the world. These were basically venues, generally a building, where movies are projected in front of audiences. Films are projected with the aid of a movie projector on an enormous projection screen. To be a part of the audience one has to purchase a ticket. Previously a movie theatre was similar to that of a stage theatre, where there used to be a single screen with a number of rows of seats. The rows are further segregated into two or three columns for the audiences to move across the movie theatre freely. These movie theatres also comprise a balcony, snacks stalls, counters for buying tickets, washrooms and projection room. With the film industry becoming one of the most profitable sectors across all the countries, these movie theatres have drastically altered.
Multiplexes and megaplexes have replaced almost all the movie theatres based in different countries. During the emergence of these multi-screen movie theatres the single-screened movie theatres were almost bankrupt. However, the theatrical halls were not much affected as they dealt with a different medium of art. The Elgin Theatre of Ontario, constructed in the year 1957 was the first two-screen theatre. Nat Taylor, the creator of Elgin Theatre, was the inventor of the first multiplex. Toronto Eaton Centre Cineplex, comprising 18 screens in total was the name of the multiplex. Multiplexes are basically movie theatres which encompasses three or more screens. A megaplex is a larger version of multiplex, featuring more than 20 screens in one complex.
Almost all the Multiplexes and megaplexes serve the same purpose, projecting varied types of movies, belonging to different language, genre and category. However, quite a number of amenities of megaplexes are not catered to the viewers of multiplexes. Seating arrangement, interior decorations, sound systems, facilities and so forth in multiplexes and megaplexes are quite extensive than mere movie theatres. Presently, almost every major city of the different countries comprises several numbers of multiplexes, if not megaplexes. Emergence of these multiplexes and megaplexes has been of great convenience for the regular movie goers. They can not only enjoy the latest movie of the week but also pick and chose from the wide array of movies, under the same room and within the same complex. Families to acquaintances, everyone can come together at these enormous multiplexes and megaplexes.
Studio 28 and AMC theatre of United States of America kicked off the genre of multiplexes and megaplexes. AMC is known for its huge number of multiplexes and megaplexes, some with even 30 screens and more, located in different parts of the country. In the entire Southern Hemisphere Adelaide’s Megaplex Marion is the largest megaplex. It is located in Westfield Mansion and is noted for encompassing 26 screens in all. In countries like India the multiplex business hit the market only in the mid-90s, changing the entire perspective of Indian Film Industry. Chain multiplexes like Inox, PVR, CineMax, Fame and so forth are the most popular ones in India.
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