SC Endures 30 Seconds Without Entertainment

[HawaiianShirts]

My wife and I went to see Coraline last night at the cheap theater just down the street. I won't bother to review it here, but I did enjoy the movie.

Now, it's the cheap theater (formerly a "dollar theater," but the price went up by 50 cents a year or so ago), so I don't expect it to be super clean. I was not surprised by the popcorn on the floor from the last showing. I also didn't expect the chairs to be particularly comfortable. It's not as though this place can afford new seats when the old ones start getting worn out. But I do expect the movie to work.

There were no previews, so Coraline started right up with its opening credits at the same time the lights dimmed. After the third or fourth credit, the screen went black and the speakers went silent. I kind of chuckled in a "just my luck" tone. Stuff happens, and I figured they'd get it up and running shortly. Some guy behind me apparently didn't have the same mindset because the moment the show stopped, he started yelling. I almost thought he was joking, but there was zero humor in his voice.

Short-Tempered Movie SC: Oh, this is just great!
(one-second pause)
Short-Tempered Movie SC: Yeah, this is what I paid six bucks for! To make my kids sit in a dark theater and imagine a movie!
(one-second pause)
Short-Tempered Movie SC: Do they really think they can get away with ripping people off like this?
(one-second pause)
Short-Tempered Movie SC: (deep, growling sigh) That's it! Time to go demand my money back!
(movie resumes exactly where it left off)
Short-Tempered Movie SC's Kid: Dad, shut up!

Total projector downtime: >30 seconds.

If I hadn't spent time in retail, I would not have believed someone could get so worked up so rapidly over something so small as a minor problem with the projector in the theater before the first scene of the movie even got started.

[Bright_Star]

It's all about patience.

[Evil Queen]

Man, I want a cheap theater like that!

[Aethian]

We have one like that, at any given time they show four movies. You can get tickets for two, yummy popcorn, and drinks for the same price as one ticket at a bigger theater. Except ours is kept as clean as is reasonable. Yes sometimes they miss some popcorn but it's never been overly dirty and their seats were all brand new about five-six years ago.

[JoitheArtist]

We have a dollar theater in my area. I LOVE it. Don't care how grubby it is (it's not bad). It's the only movie theater where I will buy stuff from the concession stand, because I can get a ticket, a drink, and a candy for less than just a ticket at the regular theater. Plus, I REALLY want them to stay in business.

I did, however, pay to see Coraline in 3D in a regular theater when it first came out. LOVED it. Beautifully done, great story, good characters.

[AriRashkae]

Man, I want a cheap theater like that!

We had one. 1 screen, showing only 1 weekend, but it was $2 F-Su, and $1 on Monday. And the ceiling lights were stars. I miss that theater. Every so often you hear about someone wanting to restore and reopen it, either for movies or live entertainment. hasn't happened yet.

[Kogarashi]

I miss the dollar theaters!

Oh, can I adopt that kid? Way to tell your dad off!

[Evil Queen]

I wonder what it costs to open one? *dreams*

[Kiwi]

theres a theatre in van that plays a double feature for $5 on tuesdays

it was the only entertainment my flatmates could afford my first stint in van apart from the pub, so we were there every single tuesday it was great.

[PepperElf]

wish i had a cheap theatre here too.

ooo and if you want, they're making a musical of Coraline too - there's prolly linkage over at neil gaiman's web page.


i do remember watching one movie tho in virginia at a cheap theatre... the film melted. O_o

[Toujin]

I love it when the SCs get pwned by their kids!

[McGoddess09]

We used to have a cheap theater about 45 minutes away from here. It was a dollar. Then it raised to a dollar fifty. Then it closed.

It was part of the hundred theaters in America to show Midnight Meat Train.

I miss it.

[derangedperson]

Midnight Meat Train.

That movie is batshit insane. Vinnie Jones is awesome in that one.

And Roger Bart is everywhere now. Hostel Part 2, The Stepford Wives remake, Young Frankenstein on Broadway...he loves the horror, apparently.

[MadMike]

We have a couple cheap theaters in my area. One of them is one of those old-style theaters, and even the snacks are reasonably priced. It's a second-run theater, but even that's good for when I wanted to see a movie but missed it at the regular theaters.

[Anakah]

I've never heard of a dollar theatre. That's awesome though! For like two people out here its like eight fifty per person. But the last showing at one of the casinos is like four dollars a person.