Movie theaters and air conditioning have a long history together. Willis Carrier himself installed the first unit at a movie theater in 1925, at the Rivoli Theater in Times Square. The opportunity to cool off and enjoy a show quickly became a major appeal to consumers. Today, movie theaters once again look to HVAC as a way to draw customers. This time, the issue is safety rather than comfort.
Movie theaters across the world shuttered last spring over concerns they would create coronavirus hot spots. Most in the U.S. stayed closed until the fall, and then many states shut them down again a couple of months after reopening. Theater operators spent the last year seeking solutions to ease the concerns of both governments and consumers.