How about a little love for Discount Movie Theaters?

Cafe Society
1

I hear it all the time, and read it here in Cafe Society almost every time I open a movie Thread:

“I’ll wait for Netflix” / “It’s a renter” / “It’s o.k., but don’t waste $10- wait for video”

I happen to have three discount theaters within reasonable driving distance of my home- and I love it. I still use the term “Dollar Theater” even though they’re $2 now- but the first screening of the day is $1 and Tuesdays are $1.

I like going “to the movies”. When I watch a DVD, it’s a DVD that I’ve bought because it is a movie that I love enough to want to watch it over and over and over. For a first time new viewing experience, I much prefer being in a movie theater.

Of course the problem is that tickets are so expensive . . . so it’s Discount Theater to the Rescue! I get to have the movie theater atmosphere and experience, but without the high priced ticket!

The tech specs of the screening rooms aren’t as good as fancy first-run theaters, but still the three near me are actually fairly good. It used to be that dollar theaters just sucked: rips in the screen, broken chairs, a projector that seemed to be lit with a 60 bulb. Not the case anymore- at least not the case at any of my local discount theaters. The picture is good, the sound is good, the seats are comfy.

With three to choose from, I can pretty well expect that I will have an opportunity to see any popular movie that I’m interested in. The art house films won’t make it, but all Hollywood fare will eventually show up at the discount theater.

I’m going to see Wanderlust tonight. This is one that I actually wanted to see during the first run (I’m a big fan of The State, so I want to see anything any of those guys are involved in). Making an extremely lackluster impact when first released, this movie was gone from first-run theaters before I had a chance to see it. I was disappointed, but decided I’d keep an eye on the discount theaters to make sure I’d catch it.

So, don’t expect to ever hear from me about a particular movie that “Eh, it’s a renter”. Nope. I’ll be there in the sweet spot between wide-release and DVD: The Discount Theater!

2

As far as I know, we don’t have any in our area any more. :frowning:

3

Aww, that’s sad, Rhiannon. There might be some that are just off the radar. The three that I know don’t have any online presence, so I don’t know whether or not I’d find them if I tried Googling “discount theaters”.

I wish there was a filter on Moviefone to only search discount theaters. Sadly, there is not.

I found the three that I know by doing title searches on Moviefone for titles that I knew had already disappeared from first-run theaters but that were not yet on DVD.

4

I’ve never even heard of a discount movie theater. Needless to say there aren’t any near where I live. Seems like a great idea though. Judging from your description, I’d definitely go to one.

5

You’re in Sacramento? Anywhere close to Citrus Heights? I searched Moviefone for a few recently outdated titles and I found UA Sunrise at the Sunrise Mall. The listing doesn’t advertise prices, but based on the titles I would assume it is a discount theater.

6

There’s a discount movie theater right here on campus. Especially interesting are the Thursday night shows, when they open the new movies: Those shows are half-price, sponsored by a local erotic shop, and they always have audience-participation games before the show with the merchandise as prizes.

7

We have one in orlando, They even have Dollar Tuesdays, with special popcorn and soda discounts. But sometimes I still feel the movie was too much.

8

There used to be a dollar theater within walking distance of my home. :slight_smile:

Then that theater closed, and the theater in the mall became the dollar (well, maybe by then $2) theater.

Then that theater closed too, and now there is no more cheap movie theater. :frowning:

9

We have one on the other side of town - movies are always $1.50. Concessions suck and still cost an arm and a leg.

Going to see a movie during the weekday is one of the more depressing things in life, and made me realize what a fucking snob I am. I do enjoy the movies though! Usually late runs - right now they are showing Red Tails, The Vow, Man on a Ledge, Chipwrecked (the movie that made me question my sanity for going there), Ghost Rider II and a few others.

I am usually pretty adamant that we follow the rules, don’t sneak in food, everyone be honest, etc… but they staff there is so bad that I just want to sit down and set up a table with homemade dinner.

We have a drive-in on the other side of town that I really like. It’s loud and people yell and it’s generally pretty laid back but it’s fun and kinda expected there. It’s $5/adult, $2/kid and cheap snacks. It’s pretty awesome.

Finally, in my very small town of origin there is an old theater that is absolutely beautiful that gets movies by about the second or third week (sometimes a little later) and admission is always $4, concessions are $1 per piece no matter what it is. It’s staffed by local volunteers every night, and you pay at the old wooden and glass cage. It’s just lovely.

10

There’s one about 10 miles away. They don’t advertise, don’t have a website, don’t do any kind of promotion at all. You have to drive by the theater to know what’s playing that week. How they stay in business, I don’t know.

11

I pretty much always go to my local discount theatre.

Currently playing at the Cinemark 10 in Rochester:

Silent House
Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance
The Secret World of Arrietty
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D
Safe House
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D
The Vow
Big Miracle
Chronicle
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Hugo 3D

Ticket prices:

Evening $2.00
Fri/Sat Evening after 6pm (*Price also applies to Special Advance Showings) $2.50
Bargain Matinee before 6pm $2.00
Seniors Day – All Day Monday – any movie, any showtime $1.00
All Day Tuesday (holidays excluded) $1.00
Special Engagement Adult $8.00
Special Engagement Child (0-11) $6.00
3D Attraction - Normal Ticket Price Plus Premium $2.00

12

Y’know, I don’t even miss going to the movies anymore. I went and saw Hunger Games a few days ago, and the seats weren’t particularly comfortable, I couldn’t pause the movie, I had to choose whether I wanted to miss the movie or go get water when I got really thirsty, it cost a bunch of money, and I couldn’t have a beer or a glass of wine with it. Yeah, the screen is big, but that’s about the only plus in my mind.

13

I went a drive-in two summers ago- my first time in probably 25 years.
I was very excited about the drive-in movie experience. We were going to see Piranha which seemed like the perfect drive-in movie. It was double featured with The Expendables- the same drive-in had Machete on a different screen double featured with something else (I wished Machete and Piranha had been double featured together).

I was excited about the new fangled technology of there being a radio frequency to tune the car radio to for the audio- I had never experienced that before. It seemed like a good idea, but it really didn’t work. We really couldn’t understand any of the dialog (which was probably fine given the movies we were watching). The other problem was that it wasn’t dark enough. There was just too much “city” surrounding the theater. All the city lights reflected off the clouds, so it really never got dark. Without proper darkness, the picture on the screen wasn’t very well defined.

Still, there was a certain nostalgia value and I’m glad I went. I’ve got it out of my system now though.

14

There are two great theaters near where I live that I’ve been to several times since moving to my currentl locality.

Patio Theater – I haven’t been here in a few months but this is a great, classic theater run by people who love movies and movie theaters.

Portage Theater – This place is awesome and they usually have festivals and other events here. Still, the people like running this place and there’s a great local community that wants to go here. Plus you can get beer here. That’s aces in my book.

15

There are no discount movie theaters where I live (NYC.) The cheapest here is AMC Theatres before noon for $6. Regular prices are $12-13.50.

16

There are a few of them left where I live. They are definately “low rent” operations-old, decrepit, and usually in disrepair. When you think of the cost of heating such a building, the economics of it are clear. The Wollaston (MA) theatre was recently sold (for $600,000)-it was vacant for years. I wonder if it will be torn down-I don’t see how yo can run a single screen theatre today.

17

There are discount movie theatres in Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Poughkeepsie, Syracuse…

Maybe you should move to a city that offers the amenities of life.

18

Cinemark has 3D? I didn’t know that, that’s how long its been since I was over there (I think it was Van Helsing I last saw there). I better get over there before they stop showing Phantom Menace! (shut up, I’m a Star Wars whore but never managed to make it to the real theater when it was running recently)

19

Yes, they started showing 3D movies about a year ago. Toy Story 3 was their first one. They originally only had one 3D projector but they apparently now have several.

20

You wimps with your screens without tears, “seats” that “unfold”, and your “popcorn” that hasn’t expired.

We had serious discounts back in the day. The Ruby Isle Theater was less than a dollar (79c, and that might have been a double feature), and the Middleton Theater was… a quonset hut. Yes, a metal half-pipe that you could see your breath in during the winter. Oh, and there was a seam down the not-quite-middle of the screen.

Wow, Ruby Isle has its own Facebook page. And a band named after it!