Dollar theaters

The greatest things ever, of course. I use this thread to praise the long-lost and lamented Mesa Theatre in Costa Mesa, since replaced by a Borders back in 1998. Good god. Rumor is that various members of the community stole bits of the marquee before it was demolished.

Describe your favorite double-bills, weirdest patron encounters, whatever, best value for money screening ever, whatever.

Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square is probably the most prominent British example of this...I saw Twelve Monkeys there, and loved it! Lovely big run-down place with one screen and a pretty good taste in screenings.

A friend of mine has a ticket from seeing Naked there. Ticket stub reads: Prince Charles Naked.

I saw a lot of these as a kid and teenager. When I was about 11 years old, my parents took me out on Halloween night to Harold and Maude and King of Hearts at the Uptown Theater in Minneapolis. And when I was 12-13, I went alone to the gigantic Orpheum Theater in downtown St. Paul to see Time After Time (PG) and Altered States (R!!!!!).

Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square is probably the most prominent British example of this...

Where I finally saw Children of Men last time I was in town. Good spot for it.

not a "dollar" theater...i think it's like $2.50, but my beloved Riverview is a classic art deco place, but with great sound and new stadium seats.

they are a classic neighborhood place, will run like Bolt at 6:30, then Valkyrie at 8:30, and then Let the Right One In on the late show...

they also are involved in some of the festivals, I saw Old Joy there

they do some midnight showings and recently did all the LOTR trilogy in order on a saturday.

BEST POPCORN AND REAL BUTTER

http://www.riverviewtheater.com/images/photo-outside7.jpg?1237430150

There was one in Poughkeepsie that I went to quite a bit in college, mighta been a two dollar admission. What did I see there? Hmm. I remember seeing "Mission To Mars" very drunk. My friend and I might've been the only ones there -- I remember him being loudly distraught when Tim Robbins died. Spoilers, sorry. I saw "Big Daddy" and later that night I asked my now-wife out on our first date. Memories.

Saw Buena Vista Social Club and Romeo + Juliet at the Riverview. I love the lobby of that place: same style as the olde Southtown and Cooper theaters.

Also in the Twin Cities: saw Friends with Money at the true $1 Roseville.

I saw "Big Daddy" and later that night I asked my now-wife out on our first date.

Very probably the correct order of events.

the guy from Unwound, he told me he watched Groundhog Day at the dollar theater in Olympia every day for a month

Before or after he started the band?

Well, you know, Ned, "Big Daddy" is all about growing up and accepting responsibility and I guess I just took the film's message to heart. Thank you, Adam Sandler. Thank you.

I used to waste away my weekends as a teenager watching whatever shitty second-run movie was playing.

Off the top of my head I saw:
-The Son-In-Law (yes, with Pauly Shore)
-North (the Rob Reiner non-classic)
-Beavis And Butthead Do America (after I already saw it)

I have one just down the street from my house, so pre-baby we ended up going to the movies there A LOT. Because there are a lot of movies that would be fun to see on the big screen that you don't necessarily want to waste real money on.

long live these places.

at the current montreal one all the confections are $1 too... they sell samosas and stuff... seems to be run by a gang of crazy teenagers

I remember being told that I couldn't wear my Chicago White Sox hat for security reasons at the dollar theater. I was there to see Home Alone with my parents.

the guy from Unwound, he told me he watched Groundhog Day at the dollar theater in Olympia every day for a month

ha, i remember reading about this in Cometbus.

i really really miss dollar theatres

Because there are a lot of movies that would be fun to see on the big screen that you don't necessarily want to waste real money on.

plus

seems to be run by a gang of crazy teenagers

equals movie going gold

there was one of these in hilo HI when i was living there--used to go just about every other afternoon w/ my roommates & a bottle of jack daniels to make jack and cokes in the theater. i saw cheaper by the dozen, love dont cost a thing, haunted mansion, and the last samurai there, plus a bunch of things im sure i dont remember. a+ classic.

The greatest things ever, of course. I use this thread to praise the long-lost and lamented Mesa Theatre in Costa Mesa, since replaced by a Borders back in 1998. Good god. Rumor is that various members of the community stole bits of the marquee before it was demolished.

This is probably not a surprise to anyone who knows me well, but I spent a LOT of time at the Mesa (along with the Balboa). Saw some of the best bizarre double-bills there. Jaws / Logan's Run, The Blues Brothers / Melvin & Howard

Much about you suddenly is explained!

Last film I saw in a second-run theater was Three Kings. Totally worth it.

The Academy in Pasadena is about the closest thing left that's nearby for me.

There was briefly a dollar theater in Redondo Beach, out by the Galleria. I saw a Jonathan Taylor Thomas (JTT, people) movie there. Something about Christmas? I seem to recall my high school friends and I having elaborate in-jokes about JTT, but I have no idea what any of them were, at this late date.

Honestly, I would pay 2 bucks just to sit in the lobby of my local second run theater for a couple hours. M@tt referenced it above. Riverview Theater, Minneapolis:

https://c5.staticflickr.com/4/3540/3432995684_4125f208e1_z.jpg