When was the first commercial movie theater opened?

It seems like the movie theater industry is either about to completely disappear or setting new records on a daily basis. Sure, things have changed over the years, but I think people will always enjoy going to see a movie. So let’s all just calm down a little bit.

Movie theaters themselves are like museums of how the industry has changed to meet consumer tastes. In the 1950s, you had the proliferation of movie palaces, where the more extravagant and luxurious, the better. Then you had the multiplexes of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Today, we don’t just want popcorn, we want a full recliner made of Italian leather and a waitress to come take our damn orders and bring us whatever the hell we ask for! In the future, who knows what movie theaters will look like, but all I’m saying is that in-seat toilets would be nice.

Despite our love affair with movies, they’re a relatively new medium that took a long time to take hold. When did the first real movie theater open?