Around the corner
from my house, there's a 1920s cinema which has been turned into an ``event space.'' hosts weddings, cocktail parties, etc. However, this means they've basically gutted the place, including the screen/projection room, and seats.
another suggestion, which is closer to the cinema's initial use, is to host college lectures, or other kinds of speaking engagements (poetry readings? political meetings? professional conventions?). If you think about the layout of a cinema, it's perfect for classroom use -- seats are already there, and it's got the mother of all projection screens right at the front. and because you'd be keeping the original equipment (or some facsimile thereof) intact, you could still also use it as a cinema. here in toronto, there's a university which did something similar with a multiplex cinema. gaz me and i can send you the link, if you're interested.
(tuqueboy has been in a medically -induced coma since, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 14:01, Reply)