Independent cinemas: Silver screens | The Economist

VISITING the Rex cinema in Berkhamsted, a pretty town 30 miles (48km) from London, can feel like going back in time. The art deco building, which reopened in 2004 after being closed for 16 years, is adorned with pictures of James Dean, Charlie Chaplin and Brigitte Bardot. No popcorn is served; audiences buy posh snacks and alcohol inside the auditorium. Newly released films arrive several weeks late and are always 2-D. And with just one screen, the 300-seat cinema can sell out quickly. Its quaint popularity hints at a striking trend.

via Independent cinemas: Silver screens | The Economist.