Record #00363Culture & Entertainment archive
The State Theatre in Washington, Iowa, first screened films on 14 May 1897 and is the oldest still-operating cinema by documented screening history, notwithstanding a temporary fire-related closure.
Achievement date
1897
1897-05-14
The venue began as the Graham Opera House, a stage theatre that later began screening motion pictures. Its first documented film showing took place on 14 May 1897.
The City of Washington records a temporary closure after a fire in November 2010 and a reopening on 30 April 2011. The Guinness recognition concerns the cinema's historical continuity, not daily uninterrupted screenings.
The record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Basis: direct confirmation by an authority
Guinness directly certifies the record and holder, with independent organizational corroboration.
Current Entry identifies the current entry in this archive; it does not establish that the record is still held today.
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