How Silver Gave Cinema Its Shine And A Name That Still Lives On | Lifestyle News
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Ever wondered why we still call it the silver screen when modern multiplexes use high-tech projectors and fabric screens with no trace of actual silver? (Getty image)
Ever wondered why we still call it the silver screen when modern multiplexes use high-tech projectors and fabric screens with no trace of actual silver? (Getty image)
Ever wondered why we still call it the silver screen when modern multiplexes use high-tech projectors and fabric screens with no trace of actual silver? (Getty image)
The term, though outdated in material, still holds a magical place in cinema’s legacy.
Back in the early days of cinema, especially during the silent film era, projection screens were literally coated with silver.
This silver layer enhanced brightness and contrast, making it easier for audiences to view black-and-white films under low-light projectors. Made from silk-like materials, these screens reflected light beautifully — and gave rise to the iconic term silver screen.
Over time, the silver coating faded out, replaced by modern materials offering better clarity, wider viewing angles, and vibrant colours. But the term silver screen stuck around — and gradually came to represent not just the screen, but the entire world of cinema.
By the 1920s, silver screen became shorthand for the film industry itself. Even today, we call actors silver screen stars — a nod to the golden age of cinema when black-and-white films shone on silver-coated screens.
While India’s love for the silver screen remains strong, single-screen theatres are vanishing. They’ve made way for plush multiplexes like PVR, INOX, and AMB Cinemas with reclining seats and surround sound. The whistles and cheers of packed single screens are fading, but the magic? Still alive. Even without silver, the screen continues to bring stories to life.
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