From Foyer to Flicker: How Cinemas Enchanted Audiences Before the Lights Went Down

Guest Post on Memory Palaces

I’m delighted to share my latest guest post, this time on Memory Palaces, the blog of writer and cultural historian Nigel Smith, which explores how spaces shape stories, memory and meaning.

In my essay – “From Foyer to Flicker: How Cinemas Enchanted Audiences Before the Lights Went Down” – I explore the spellbinding atmosphere of early 20th-century picture houses, where the experience of cinema began long before the film itself. From ornate foyers and usherettes to the hush before the reel rolled, these spaces offered a kind of magic that shaped how audiences connected with stories – and with each other.

You can read the full post here:

From Foyer to Flicker – by RJ Verity on Memory Palaces

Thanks again to Nigel Smith for the invitation and for hosting such a rich and thoughtful platform.