Many of the early movie theaters were much more elaborate than the ones we’re accustomed to today. The theaters had several amenities and features that are hard to find in modern cineplexes.
One such feature was the “cry room,” which was an soundproofed, elevated room in the back of the theater. The rooms were used by mothers that brought crying babies to the theater so that they wouldn’t disturb the other audience members.
The rooms typically featured a large glass window and a public address system so that mothers could still watch and hear the movie while they attempted to calm their children down. Many of the rooms also came equipped with bottles of formula and nurses in order to help calm the babies.
Cry rooms are making a resurgence in modern times, with a handful of theaters around the country reinstituting the practice, including the Landmark chain.
