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Right idea, wrong reasoning

Posted by: EdwardHavens on Jan 03, 07:07 in response to goodvibe61's post You simply cannot compare ticket sales then and now....

We can't accurately compare then and now because there are no accurate records of then still in existence. We don't know how much Gone With the Wind actually made before the current box office obsession started in the mid 1980s. We don't how many tickets were sold at which prices at which theatres in 1939 or 1945 or 1967. All we have is anecdotal evidence, such as a statement in Bosley Crowther's 1957 book about MGM, "The Lions Share: The Story of an Entertainment Empire," that GWTW had grossed $50m in its first ten years of release.

You simply cannot compare ticket sales then and now. American culture is not the same. It's not as solid a comparison as you'd think. {nm} goodvibe61 Jan 02, 21:11

Consider this: In 1930, more than 65% of the population went to the movies weekly. 3 of every 5 Americans went to the movies EVERY WEEK. goodvibe61 Jan 02, 21:13

The population has increased 2.5 times since then. {nm} socby19 Jan 02, 22:26

And there are so many other options for entertainment...radio and television were new technology in the 30's. {nm} Catzan Jan 02, 22:46

There were no televisions in the 1930s. There were a few test broadcasts but no residential TV until after WWII {nm} mrbeankc Jan 02, 22:52

Yup, that was my point...being new technology in the 30's when people went to the movies still. As those technologies and others advanced, Catzan Jan 03, 22:54

A film lover today can see almost any movie they want and NEVER have to go to a movie theater to do it. {nm} goodvibe61 Jan 02, 22:50

The value of any comp is, I think, always up for debate. Fwiw, the release date of the original "Star Wars" (1977) is as close to. . . second gary Jan 02, 22:51

Entertainment is always changing. Before film it was live theater. mrbeankc Jan 02, 23:04

Considering today's fragmented market, I'm astonished STAR7 might end up grossing >2/3 of A New Hope's inflation-adjusted amount ($1.49b). {nm} Qix Jan 02, 23:17

Also you could spend all day at the theater on a quarter! My Dad and his brothers and sisters used to be able to buy concessions and movie Baron_Darcon Jan 02, 23:22

Exactly! Also there was no 'home video'...you didn't have the option to wait to see it later. All repeat viewing had to be at the theater! RoBoGuru Jan 03, 05:39