POLL: What Do You Think of Old Movie Theaters?
Filed under: Fandom, Exhibition, Polls
Yesterday, Lou Lumenick posted a piece for the NY Post on a new book called Our Movie Houses: A History of Film and Cinematic Innovation in Central New York. This got me thinking about oldie movie houses and movie theaters before the huge, crisp megaplex experience. I grew up in upstate New York. I remember watching Interview with the Vampire at Proctors Theater, and better yet, I remember hitting the Northway Mall's Cine 10 for $3 screenings in chairs so old they reclined into perfection, as long as you didn't move around and make them squeak a lot. They weren't old movie houses, but they weren't today's cinematic incarnations either.
Even today in Toronto, I flock to the Bloor and ignore sound problems and flaws for a grittier moviegoing experience. Sure, I love seeing some blockbusters in IMAX, or on other sweet, high-tech screens, but the experiences I remember are the less-than-slick ones. The charm of the simple indie theater has never died for me, no matter how crisp the pictures get in new theaters. No matter how much the sound envelopes me.
Is it the same for you? Is there an old movie house you love, or mediocre, ill-kept theater that you can't live without? Or, do you praise the end of that flicker of dust on a lens?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-19-2008 @ 10:46PM
Billy said...
I was just having this conversation a couple weeks ago when I saw The Incredible Hulk'. I saw it in one of those older 'boxy' theaters and I really enjoyed it. Dark, intimate, didn't have to look down into a sea of lit cell phones, etc, etc... Then I went to see Wanted in a similar theater and was reminded of what I hated most about them... When they run the aisle right down the middle of the theater and seat off to the sides... The best seat in the house is standing in the middle of the aisle. I can see why they were replaced.
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7-07-2008 @ 6:59PM
Beanie said...
I miss balconies! The Tropic Theater in Leesburg, FL (back when it was a real theater) had a balcony. Now, it seems only the big Megaplexes (huge ones at that, not the same) have them as the old theaters have all gone out of business.
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7-07-2008 @ 10:13PM
Marten said...
My biggest qualm with old movie theaters is having all seats at an even ground level. You can get there half an hour early, pick the best seat in the house and still have a miserable experience if a tall/large person or someone with a big hairdo sits in front of you. Happened to me countless number of times. And it double-sucks for me because I watch a lot of subtitled movies. And naturally, subtitles are at the bottom of the screen which is the part that's always obstructed.
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7-07-2008 @ 10:34PM
carg0 said...
i certainly miss the prices, that's for sure...
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7-08-2008 @ 6:00AM
Joel M. said...
I only miss the prices of the old theatres. It was nice to be able to see a movie on a whim, or two or three over a couple of days. Today the same experience costs over $10 just for each ticket, which really makes you gauge what you're going to see on the big screen and which ones are only worth a rental. All other parts of the experience have been improved, in my opinion. Stadium seating means you always get a good seat (and a comfy chair to sit in). A giant curved screen is better than the falling apart ones that the old theatres would often have. The sound systems are far and away superior in newer theatres than in old.
Oh, but the ads are terrible. It's bad enough paying so much for a ticket, but to then be peddled products to is just ridiculous. The ads really bring down the experience of going out to the movies.
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7-08-2008 @ 9:46AM
Crushallcakes said...
That picture of the old Cine 10 is pretty depressing. I used to go there a few times a week during summer vacations to see various terrible movies. Sometimes we'd have to pay with change. Good times, though.
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7-08-2008 @ 11:58AM
totoro said...
Definitely love the trend towards line of sight seating in the new theatres.
But old theatre or new, one thing never changes-people TALKING during films. Jesus.
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9-18-2008 @ 12:39AM
Chase said...
I recently saw a old movie and stage theatre in Lyons,N.Y. It was built in 1915. I was amazed at the condition of the theatre.
It was simply the nicest theatre I have been in. The theatre was was very clean and up to date with the original decorations and it featured a large screen a lot of seats - balconey - special lighting and large stage. The sign out front was the original marque with lighting from the 1915's. The theatres name was the OHMANN THEATRE. Interesting enough it still shows movies and occasionally stage plays. Check its web site out. Ohmanntheatre.com You will not believe it exists! WOW
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