one were illiterate and had to listen to someone reading the title cards. The earliest movies didn't even have title cards, so you either had to figure it out yourself, have a discussion with your fellow viewers, or the producers had provided you with a good old-fashioned programme to consult. Very often all the information you needed was provided on the movie's poster in the lobby or stapled to the front of the theater.

Musical accompaniment could be found in some places. A local musician would bring his accordion or jews harp. In the swankier places, there would be a piano or a record player.

Many of the sophisticated movie producers and stars would provide sheet music to accompany their films or just provide a list of recommended pieces to be played. Charlie Chaplin actually composed music to be played by a small orchestra.

As I mentioned in the previous entry, in the smaller places you could even hear the projector clicking away.