Why do Americans call cinemas theatres?

[kilésengati]

Most of the world calls those houses that display films cinemas or kinos, but the U.S. calls them theatres. Meanwhile, most of Europe, calls places that present plays theatres.

What the heck, 'Murica! Why?

[Lois Griffin]

because we are idiots at most things

[Jonathan Sensei]

Shorter and easier to say than "movie theater".

[Defective Dopamine Pez Dispenser]

They were originally called "movie theaters" colloquially, and then that was further shortened to just theaters. Many more people in the States watch films than live theater, so the distinction isn't as odd feeling. Usually in the States when people mean live theater, they call it theater or Broadway, and when they mean cinema they call them theaters or say they are "going to the theater."

E.g. "I love theater" = theater. "I love going to the theater" usually = cinema. Just one of those regional dialectical things.

[Schindler's Lifts]

I wasn't aware that saying cinema or theatre was another American/British thing. I always used the two words interchangeably.

[❤ Sly Succubus ❤]

Originally posted by kilésengati:

Most of the world calls those houses that display films cinemas or kinos, but the U.S. calls them theatres. Meanwhile, most of Europe, calls places that present plays theatres.

What the heck, 'Murica! Why?

Theater was originally a place for stages and dances, over time the term was never changed simply because there's still several types of theaters, there's live-action theaters, which are for groups that are dedicated to a certain show or act, there's dance and play studios, you know what those are I'm sure, then there's actually the more less spoken of, but largely know Comedy Club theaters then there's movie theaters, their more or less named after places that are for people to go and watch whatever is going on.

As a matter of fact, I hear in New York there is a theater that the ORIGINAL Cats act is still going on, no I dont speak of the movie, I speak of the actual original live act which the movie is based off of, that theater cast hates the film so much that they regard it as an outright bootleg or even at worse, a parody insult of their act.

[Angel]

Originally posted by The Revenge of Suicide Jockey:

Originally posted by kilésengati:

Most of the world calls those houses that display films cinemas or kinos, but the U.S. calls them theatres. Meanwhile, most of Europe, calls places that present plays theatres.

What the heck, 'Murica! Why?

Theater was originally a place for stages and dances, over time the term was never changed simply because there's still several types of theaters, there's live-action theaters, which are for groups that are dedicated to a certain show or act, there's dance and play studios, you know what those are I'm sure, then there's actually the more less spoken of, but largely know Comedy Club theaters then there's movie theaters, their more or less named after places that are for people to go and watch whatever is going on.

As a matter of fact, I hear in New York there is a theater that the ORIGINAL Cats act is still going on, no I dont speak of the movie, I speak of the actual original live act which the movie is based off of, that theater cast hates the film so much that they regard it as an outright bootleg or even at worse, a parody insult of their act.

Yep, this is how I see theatres; live shows and performances.
Whereas cinema is screen based replays.

So what do Americans/American English call live shows? Still theatres?

[videomike_Ultimate_Plushie]

you do realize they were originally called thatres right? Pretty sure we came first with motion picture theatre. Why even give them a separate name when the only difference is the medium shown?

[kilésengati]

Originally posted by videomike_Ultimate_Plushie:

you do realize they were originally called thatres right? Pretty sure we came first with motion picture theatre. Why even give them a separate name when the only difference is the medium shown?

For the same reason an opera isn't a theatre.
A live play is vastly different from a screen play and unless these are multipurpose stages (usually smaller theatres are also used as cinemas), the houses are purpose-built for one specific type of medium. :/

[davidb11]

A movie theater makes more sense than a cinema theater.

[Grendalcat]

Because we can.

[DarkCrystalMethod]

*theater
I don't use cinema though, unless its in the name of the venue.
And your country likes to drive on the wrong side of the road.

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

You have a good point, theaters should be for plays and cinemas for movies.

[Vince ✟]

We're deprived of proper entertainment

[kilésengati]

Originally posted by Aikido:

They were originally called "movie theaters" colloquially, and then that was further shortened to just theaters. Many more people in the States watch films than live theater, so the distinction isn't as odd feeling. Usually in the States when people mean live theater, they call it theater or Broadway, and when they mean cinema they call them theaters or say they are "going to the theater."

E.g. "I love theater" = theater. "I love going to the theater" usually = cinema. Just one of those regional dialectical things.

I see, thanks for explaining what Americans mean by "theatre" depending on the context.

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:

*theater
I don't use cinema though, unless its in the name of the venue.
And your country likes to drive on the wrong side of the road.

*theatre
My country actually drives on the right side of the road and uses proper measurements. Thanks you!

[davidb11]

I should point out that I meant something different above, and not cinema theater.
Whoops.