Has the popcorn gone stale? (Photo by annca on Pixabay.)

The Decline and Fall of the American Cinematic Dream

The disenchantment of the movie-watching experience

Recall, for a minute, a night out at the movies in the late 20th century, maybe the early 21st. After you’d arrive at a cinema, you’d stand in a maze-like queue, where you’d be able to analyze the available films and times. When you finally reached the box office, you’d order a ticket from…