silver screen

Noun

silver screen (plural silver screens)

1. (historical) An early type of cinema screen which had a coating of silver or another shiny metal.
   • The smooth silver screen is well suited to color reproduction for its metallic particles emphasize colors and increase brightness above the level of the matte white screen.1967, Herbert Scuorzo, The practical audio-visual handbook for teachers, West Nyack, NY: Parker, page 29
   • The Leonard H. Goldenson Theater at the Academy of Television Arts and Science (ATAS) was converted to a contemporary 8/70 venue, utilizing a projection system from MegaSystems and a silver screen from Harkness Hall.1999 March/April, Lawrence Kaufman, “Large Format Cinema Association Embraces 3-D at ‘99 Conference and Film Festival”, in Stereo World, volume 26, page 13

   Synonyms:

   big screen, silver sheet

2. Any cinema screen onto which films are projected.
3. (broadly, idiomatic) Movies, or that which is related to movies or cinema.
   • Stars of the stage and the silver screen gathered for the awards ceremony.
   • Andy Warhol, silver screen / Can't tell them apart at all1971, David Bowie, “Andy Warhol”, in Hunky Dory