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How films--in the pre-digital age--were distributed


I have been scouring the 'net for days searching for an answer to my query but have yet to happen across one.

Said query is as follows: back when films were distributed via film reels that had to be physically shipped to each movie house, would each print of the movie play at one movie house until it simply wasn't screened anymore--except perhaps in future private viewings courtesy of a projectionist or distributor keeping it--or would each print of a movie "make the rounds," as it were and be shown in multiple movie houses, for a few weeks or months at a time before being shipped on to a new movie house?

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