The State Theater in downtown Washington has been showing moving pictures since the late 1800’s and will show films from that time period this weekend. Photo by Sally Y. Hart
Some of the world’s oldest films will be shown at the world’s longest running movie theater in downtown Washington Sunday and Monday. Local historian Michael Zahs will be showing some of the Brinton films on one of the projectors used by Frank Brinton at the turn of the 19th century. Zahs shares he wants local people to take note and have it be a celebration, because the theater is part of their own personal story.
Zahs adds they’re showing the films at Washington’s State Theater because Frank and Indiana Brinton showed some of the films there in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Quite a bit of work went into finding documents to prove that moving pictures have been shown at the theater on Washington Street since 1896. Zahs adds there are people coming from around the world for the event.
Tickets can be purchased at the State Theater box office or online at BrintonFilm.com for Sunday’s 2 p.m. show or Monday’s 6:30 p.m. show.