Re: "Converting" 4:3 to 16:9 (Aspect Ratios)
The variable or movable masking in cinemas are normally black curtains, one each side of the screen and sometimes another at the top. The back masking was to give the image a defined and steady edge as film images could judder or wave slight from side to side. It only became movable when CinemaScope was introduced in 1953
Unfortunately a lot of new cinemas have unmasked screens now as less to go wrong and as the image from a digital projector is rock steady regarded as unnecessary They have also done away with screen tabs (curtains) in many new cinemas, also less to maintain.
Of course the organ went long ago although a few still exist and until the lockdown the Regent Street, London cinema had a live Compton organ performance before film every Wednesday matinee.
John
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