The title of the World’s Oldest Operating Purpose Built Cinema is in the possession of the Plaza Cinema in Ottawa, Kan. The Guinness World Records recognized the theater’s age and historical value in 2017.
The theater began showing movies in 1905 but had to temporarily shut down. When the cinema began showing movies, silent films ruled the world as well as black and white films. They’ve successfully been in operation for the longest time out of any theater in the world because they didn’t burn down like other old theaters due to the overheating of older film systems. The old film set-up at Plaza Cinema was in a concrete room which helped keep the motors from overheating.
Source: https://www.ksnt.com/news/top-stories/worlds-oldest-cinema-staying-open-through-pandemic/