I’m too young to have remembered that. It really must have been an “evening” to go to the movies, just like if you went to the opera or the theater. Nowadays, hardly sit still through the previews, because they just want to see the feature and dash out.
To get some of the flavor of the old time movie theater experience try one of the “TCM Greatest Classic Film Collections”. These each have 4 movies of that era usually accompanied by “Warner Night at the Movies” extras.
Selecting “Warner Night at the Movies” basically plays all the extras and the feature film in the same fashion seen in theaters during the earlier portions of the last century. Quite enjoyable with popcorn a must.
Television and Uncle Milton came along and wrestling....