Back garden cinemas – how did we get here?

Hey film fanatics and throwback seekers! Ready to dive into the epic saga of cinema that’s way cooler than your latest TikTok scroll? Let’s hit the rewind button and drop some knowledge about the movie experiences that paved the way for your Netflix and chill sessions. 

Kick it off in 1832, and nope, that’s not a typo. A toy called a phenakistoscope, which is basically a vintage GIF maker was invented. This quirky gadget was like a vintage animation studio on a disc, spinning its way into the hearts of Victorian folks with its moving images.  

When this bad boy was spun in front of a mirror, you had yourself a mini movie.  

Fast forward a couple of years, and Zoetrope takes the stage, the images appeared inside a spinning drum, making those still pics look like they were throwing a dance party. 

Jump to 1889, and George Eastman is the man of the hour with his celluloid roll film. This game-changer meant you could actually record stuff without hauling around a mountain of equipment. By 1895, the first cinema flung open its doors, and the rest is history. 

The next three decades were like a Hollywood blockbuster of advancements. From the kinetoscope to the cinematograph, to films that actually told a story, and then—bam!—sound and color hit the scene, and we were off to the races. 

Cue the 1930s, the era of big dreams and even bigger screens. Richard Hollingshead didn’t just think outside the box—he blew it up. He whipped up the world’s first drive-in cinema right in his mum’s driveway in 1933. Talk about a home makeover! 

Fast forward again, and post-WWII America is all about drive-ins. They’re popping up faster than you can say “extra butter,” offering a mix of top-tier flicks and cheesy B-movies under the stars. 

(The UK was fashionably late to the drive-in party, waiting about 15 years to jump on the bandwagon!) 

Now, let’s talk home cinemas. From the '70s to the '90s, the Brits were decking out their pads with VHS players, Laserdiscs, and later, DVD players and surround sound to get that movie theater vibe without leaving the couch. 

Roll on a few years and the next big craze became big-screen TVs and projectors. Suddenly, your living room turned into the hottest ticket in town.  

But the real scene-stealer these days? Backyard cinema. With some nifty projectors and Wi-Fi, Brits have been transforming their gardens into personal theaters, complete with popcorn and fairy lights. This trend’s been gaining fans and Resonate Events are bang on it with a wide choice of back garden cinema options that can be tailored for you. 

So, if you’re thinking about hosting your own open-air film fest, go for it. It’s the perfect mix of old-school charm and new-school tech, proving that the classics never fade. 

Jump over to our website and check out the delights we have on offer. We’ll help you to keep the movie magic alive, and remember, the best stories are the ones we share under the open sky. 🎬✨