RISE OF CLIMATE CONTROL
Climate Control. Back in the year 1902, the very first modern air conditioning system was developed by Willis Carrier and was used in a publishing house located in Brooklyn, New York. The Carrier Engineering Corporation would later form in 1915 and to this day has remained an industry leader in both the manufacturing and distribution of HVAC systems.
During the 1910s, motion pictures started to become popular despite the fact that theaters were experiencing a sharp decrease in ticket sales during the summer season thanks in large to sweltering temperatures. This led to many moviegoers using folding or paper fans as a way to help cool off.
In 1925, Carrier Engineering Corp. would go on to install an air conditioning system into the first movie theater, Paramount Pictures’ most popular movie house – Rivoli Theater in Time Square. While many audience members still brought their own fans, the trial run of the air conditioner proved to be a huge success. The installation of climate control turned the tables for the movie industry, transforming summer into their most profitable season. Over the next five years, Carrier would go on to install climate controlled systems in approximately 300 theaters throughout the United States. For years after, summer blockbusters became the only way people would have the opportunity to escape the sweltering heat.
EXPANSION OF CLIMATE CONTROLLED MOVIE THEATERS
The Irvin Theater, which opened in the year 1915 and was Bloomington’s premier movie theater, ended up becoming the first local theater to install air conditioning. Despite the fact that the theater itself predated any kind of air conditioning system, the building’s promoters placed a heavy amount of emphasis on its “double fan ventilating system” that was able to exchange air every two minutes. In the summer of 1934, however, what was described as a “mammoth refrigerating cooling plant” was placed in the theater. Then on Sunday, July 1, 1934, moviegoers were able to remain both cool and comfortable for the first time while they enjoyed the main feature of “Murder at the Vanities.”
The Normal Theater, located in the Twin Cities, was the first movie theater that was constructed for sound, and it also has the distinction of being a movie theater constructed with air conditioning as well. Their system was both manufactured and installed by P.H. MaGirl Foundry and Furnace Works, which was declared by the Normalite newspaper as being “among the most modern and best equipped in Illinois with air as perfect as modern science can make it.”
Another Twin Cities movie theater to offer air conditioning was the Castle, which opened back in January of 1916 and, these days, operates as a music venue. Their air conditioning system was installed in the spring of 1938. In addition to this, the theater also underwent an extensive amount of remodeling, which included relocating the box office to the center of the lobby. Furthermore, there were new restrooms constructed and upholstered seats. After their last show on April 10, 1938, the Castle closed its doors, but would later reopen later the following month. The contract to install the building’s air conditioning system was received by Kroeschell Engineering Company of Chicago, which is now located these days in Arlington Heights. On June 28, 1938, a grand reopening for the Castle was staged, with the words “air conditioned” in snow-covered lettering featured on advertisements.
Climate Control. Thank you for visiting The Coolest Service blog, an Austin based company that provides modern services such as air conditioning repair, cooling & heating installations, HVAC maintenance, and many more. If you are looking to further discuss how to prepare your air conditioner for summer, please contact us today for a consultation.