Whether they spell it "theater" or "theatre," these Web sites are all passionate about the picture palaces and drive-ins where most of us saw our first classic films.

Palace of Memories
Remember the great old movie theaters, before the multiplexes? The folks who post on our Classic Movies Forum do. Here are their stories.

Save the Historic RKO Keith's Theater
Sign a petition to help save and restore the former RKO Keith's Theater in Flushing, Queens, New York.

The American Drive-In Movie Theatre
Although this site was designed primarily to promote a pair of books on the subject of drive-ins, there is also a great deal of information here -- in particular, a visual tour of drive-ins all over the United States.

Bijou
Described as "a collection of links to cinema sites worldwide," Bijou is much more than that. It's a haven for the "theatre enthusiast," who "becomes depressed and withdrawn when not near a theater." If you're one of those, this should cheer you up.

Cinema Theatre Association
Started in 1967 by UK journalist Eric George, the Association is dedicated to cinema buildings, particularly movie palaces of the 20s and 30s, as well as live theatres, music halls and other buildings. You can join the association and support its work, or just read the news and peruse the archives.

Cinema Treasures
Devoted to movie theater preservation and awareness, and dedicated to saving the last remaining movie palaces across the country. You'll love the individual profiles of classic theaters across the country, searchable by location, seating, ratings, and a half-dozen other factors.

Cinematour.com
This site's stated goal is to "research and document the locations and histories of cinemas throughout the world." It includes an extensive database of theaters, both new and old.

The Coolidge Corner Theatre
Great-looking Web site for the fully-restored Art Deco movie palace in Brookline, Massachusetts, which has been showing films since 1933, with a program which today includes indies, classics, and world cinema. Check out the schedule, order tickets, become a member, etc.

DriveinMovie.com
This well-designed site "dedicated to the culture, history, preservation and promotion of Drive-in theatres" includes a state-by-state listing of existing drive-in movie theatres in the U.S. (Canada is still to come). Most of them don't show classics, of course, but the venues themselves are classic.

The Drive-In Theater
Photos of every operating drive-in theater in the United States, plus a list of those that are no longer with us, makes for an extensive database, to be sure, but that's just the beginning of this fascinating site, which also includes lots of historical info, animated intermission clips, dancing popcorn and hot dogs, old movie ads, screen saver, etc.

Drive-In Theater Home Pages
From the Drive-In Theater site listed above, here's an illustrated listing of home pages for drive-ins all over the country.

Enright's Theatres of Canada
This non-commercial Web site focuses on the history of the movie theatre business in Canada (recently expanded from Toronto-only coverage). It includes an alphabetical listing of theatres in 1940, some with photos, plus a slide show and links to other sites.

The Fox Tucson Theatre
The Fox Tucson Theatre is a movie palace popular from 1920 to 1945, showing films and offering occasional live entertainment. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the theater recently showed The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca, the first time films had been played there in 31 years.

The League of Historic American Theatres
Home page for the international non-profit association for people who work to "rehabilitate and operate their theatres in communities throughout North America." With resources for both members and non-members.

Loews Theatre
Web page for Friends of The Loews, a group working to restore the landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre as a not-for-profit arts and entertainment center. Take the Virtual Tour to learn the history of this cathedral-like classic movie venue, and learn about the latest film showings sponsored by Friends of the Loews.

Michigan Drive-ins.com
Presenting information on every Michigan drive-in theater, including a few that are still in existence. There's an extensive listing, many with photos of the theaters as they were or, sadly, as they are today. There should be one of these for every state (and these site has a list of a few, including Texas, Kansas, Wisconsin, Ohio, and more).

Paramount Theatre of the Arts
Classy Web site for the equally classy Oakland, California Art Deco movie palace, home of the Oakland Ballet and Oakland Symphony, that presents classic films on Fridays, complete with organ recitals, newsreels, and cartoons, just like the good old days.

Seattle Cinerama Theatre
Re-opened in 1999, the 808-seat Seattle Cinerama Theatre is the only place in the United States (and one of only two places in the world) still capable of showing three-panel Cinerama films. The theatre also shows non-Cinerama films, including classics (click on "Special Events" for more information).

Silents in the Court
If you've ever wondered how to could find out where the old movies can be seen on the big screen, this is the answer to your question. Billed as "An online resource for public exhibitions of silent and early sound films," Michael Neno's listing of venues from all over the United States is obviously a labor of love from somebody who not only cares about the classic stuff, but also knows what he's talking about.

Silver Screens
A labor of love by a French fan of great movie palaces, this site focuses on present and past threatres in Paris as well as Toulouse, Luxembourg, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, with photos and histories, plus articles, news, and links. Apparently not updated recently, but still fascinating.

Some Enchanted Evenings: American Picture Palaces
From the University of Virginia American Studies program comes a fascinating history of the movie theatre in America from the earliest times up through the 1940s.

Tampa Theatre.com
Built in 1926, the ornate theatre is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and features a Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. And they show movies, too, including a winter classic film series.

Theatre Historical Society of America
Home page for the non-profit organization founded in 1969 for the purpose of recording and preserving "the architectural, cultural and social history of American theatres." The site includes information about its activities and publications, as well as photo galleries, news, etc.

Theatre Talks and Walking Tours
A resource center for those interested in theatre history, and an introduction to theatre historian Cezar Del Valle, who offers slide talks and walking tours of everything from Victorian opera houses to movie palaces. You'll also enjoy Theatre Scrapbook, by the same folks, a monthly ezine devoted to the same subject.