The Show Must Go On
Syracuse, N.Y., May 30, 2002 -- During the hot days of summer, many people cool down by heading inside to an air-conditioned movie theater. But in the early days of the movie business, this wasn't possible. Movie theaters actually shut down during the hot summer months because patrons didn't want to endure stifling conditions inside the theaters.
But all that changed just over 75 years ago. In 1925, the Rivoli Theater in New York's Times Square opened for the summer season with a brand new cooling system designed by Willis Carrier. It was the first theater in New York City to feature "mechanical" air conditioning. This unprecedented event ushered in an era of air conditioned summer entertainment and started a trend in the movie theater business of attracting people to come inside and get cool. An early newspaper advertisement for the Rivoli read, "We have invested over $100,000 in a refrigeration plant to keep you cool and comfortable when the world is sweltering."
Dr. Carrier knew that success in New York City would lead to instant recognition and reward. But the opposite was also true. On Memorial Day, 1925, Carrier found out his fate.
On that day, New Yorkers finally got the chance to experience the freshly cooled Rivoli Theater. Due to last-minute adjustments by Dr. Carrier, the machine was late in starting, and the theater was hot when the crowd filled in. Among the viewers was Adolph Zukor, the head of Paramount Pictures. Engineers were worried as they watched patrons¿ cardboard fans flutter. Mr. Zukor was watching the people waving their fans instead of the picture. But the temperature gradually dropped, and the patrons put their fans away. In the lobby after the film ended, Zukor was said to have told Carrier, "Yes, the people are going to like it."
He was right, because by 1930, more than 300 theaters hung banners from their marquees advertising "Cooled by Refrigeration."
Today, we can enjoy summer blockbusters such as "Spiderman" and "Men In Black II" thanks to the innovation of Willis Carrier. Now, when summer moviegoers sit down to enjoy the show, their popcorn is the only thing in the theater that's warm.
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