Fade to black: inside grand abandoned cinemas in the US and Canada

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- Kyotographie 2026 is showcasing the exhibition “Fade to black: inside grand abandoned cinemas in the US and Canada” in Japan through 17 May.
- Yves Marchand (with Romain Meffre) photographed a collection of early‑20th‑century US and Canadian movie theatres that have been abandoned or repurposed.
- Kyotographie 2026 runs the exhibition until 17 May 2026, after which it will close.
- United States (and Canada) contain the grand 1920s music halls turned cinemas that fell into decline as media shifted to television, streaming, and smartphones.
Why it matters: Preservationists and local historians gain a visual archive of disappearing cinema architecture, while owners of vacant theatres confront ongoing decay; the exhibition highlights the cultural loss of these historic spaces.




