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What’s your favorite place to see a movie?
Normally today would be the day I review a new movie, but I already did that on Wednesday when 9 came out. I didn’t want to have to pull the capsules out again, so I’m going to ask for a review of sorts from you - a review of movie theaters.
What’s your favorite place to see a movie?
There are a lot of ways I can answer that question. My favorite place of all is probably the Victoria Theatre in Dayton, when they show their Cool Films series - not only for the movies, but for the nostalgia factor. As I have mentioned a number of times, that’s the first place I can clearly remember seeing a movie - Yellow Submarine.
But then, Victoria isn’t in the business of showing movies year-round. When it comes to mainstream Hollywood fare, my favorite place to see a movie is probably the Cinema de Lux at the Greene. The screens are large, projection and sound are high quality, and the seats are quite comfortable. However, I have no emotional attachment to the place - like most megaplexes, it lacks the personality and charm of older theaters.
The Neon Movies in downtown Dayton is probably my favorite theater overall by default. The films are high quality and the audiences are well behaved - a quality that’s increasingly rare these days. However, I miss the days when it was a single screen theater and the programming had more variety.
Speaking of things I miss, my favorite place to see a movie of all time is really one that no longer operates - and that’s the Page Manor theater in Riverside. When that theater was open in the mid-1990s as a second-run house, it had just about everything I could want - a huge 50-foot curved screen, digital sound, 70-millimeter capability and a wide range of movies.
Not only did it play films that most second-run theaters would bypass, like Peter Weir’s Fearless, but it had a midnight movie series that was second to none. Thanks to that series, I saw everything from A Clockwork Orange to the first three Indiana Jones movies back to back to back - on that HUGE screen. When another group reopened Page a few years ago, they paled in comparison. I very much miss the place.
So, if you can I’d like you to consider my question two ways: What’s your favorite place to see a movie now, and what’s your favorite place that no longer operates? If you want to shake things up and say your favorite place to see a movie is your house, do so - that would be telling.
So do tell.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Ask the Audience
Comments
By Karie
September 13, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this
Well home for us is the best place. Since we’ve bought a 42in Philips tv with surround sound and a brand new couch and love seat. It dosen’t get any better for us and the kid. But if we do get a chance to have a date night we like going to the Greene with both my husband and I in college we get student discounts. Which isn’t too bad price wise.By Proto J
September 13, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
Don’t go to see many movies now. My favorite place was the former Centerville Cinemas on 725. It had those great high back seats and the rising curtains.By Sir Critic
September 13, 2009 9:33 AM | Link to this
Eve: Neon does still have variety, but what I miss is how they used to play older films more often. Perhaps that was subsumed by Victoria’s series, but I miss events like the one they had when Janet Leigh came to town to introduce “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Touch of Evil” and “Psycho.”By Eve
September 13, 2009 12:02 AM | Link to this
By far, The Neon is my favorite theater. I’d be interested in knowing what you mean when you say the the programming there used to have “more variety.” Personally, I find the current selections diverse; and the film offerings, if anything, suffer from too rapid of a turnover. If I’m seeing a film targeted for a multiplex audience, I usually patronize the Regal. Partly for location, partly for price, and partly because the staff seems genuinely invested in catering to an audience beyond the usual 15-25 demographic.By Sue
September 12, 2009 11:09 PM | Link to this
I love the Little Art Theater in Yellow Springs. They show an amazing variety of movies in a comfortable setting with great herbal tea and lemon bars.By Scott
September 12, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this
My current favorite is Showcase South by the Dayton Mall, however I miss both the Dabel and all the Drive-Ins (especially Belmont drive in).By SRCputt
September 11, 2009 7:43 PM | Link to this
The best place I ever saw a movie was the Uptown in Washington DC. HUGE screen, huge theatre, and that’s where I saw The Last Emperor. For a multi screen with some character, I have to go to Columbus, where both Arena Grand and The Gateway are fun, although both were more fun under the Drexel management. Lost and lamented: Neon when it was one theater, especially when it was set up for Cinerama. Page, great for second run and a fantastic midnight series. As a Springfield resident, I loved going to the old downtown theaters, and I especially loved the balcony theater at the Regent.By Butler Tim
September 11, 2009 3:31 PM | Link to this
The Fabulous Fox Theater (660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia). Wikipedia describes it as “…one of the grand movie palaces built in the United States in the 1920s. It is located at the corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue in Midtown Atlanta. The theatre’s unique origin and Moorish design sets it apart from others of the era including those bearing the Fox Theatre name in other cities. It currently hosts a variety of cultural and artistic events including the Atlanta Ballet, a summer film series, and performances by national touring companies of Broadway shows.” It was once described as having “…a picturesque and almost disturbing grandeur beyond imagination�. It appropriately hosted the world premiere of Disney’s 1946 classic “Song of the South”, but not “Gone With the Wind” (as the stars were staying at a hotel closer to the venue that film was screened at). As mentioned above, movies are usually shown in the summer, and are typically preceded by a classic Warner Brothers or Disney short film (the way God intended) as well as a singalong with music played on the theatre’s massive 3,622 pipe organ, “The Mighty Mo”. For those of us without DeLorean Time Machines, this is the closest way to seeing movies the way they used to be shown.By Noemon
September 11, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this
I like the neon quite a bit, but in terms of local art houses I think that I probably prefer the Little Art Theater in Yellow Springs. The large, old theater space is fun, as is the artwork that decorates the place, and the concessions are a cut above what you typically find. If I’m going to a mainstream movie, I generally go to the theater at The Greene, but like you I don’t have any particular fondness for the place; it may have comfy seats, but it lacks character. I’ve only been in the Miami Valley since 2002, so there aren’t any now-closed places here that I have fond memories of.By derwood
September 11, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
Haven’t been to a theater since the last movie in the Matrix trilogy came out. Got my 52” HDTV, Altec Lansing THX speakers, and my media center with 600+ DVDs at my disposal. Cheaper and quieter for me and my family. I can buy the DVD or BluRay for less than what it costs me to get the family in the front door, not to mention costs of the concessions.By Alethea Schetter
September 11, 2009 2:28 PM | Link to this
I guess I’m telling my age, but I loved the old Day-Bel and Kon Tiki. Now, Neon Movies has it hands down. Of course, not living in Montgomery County, I see films at any local theater.By Kim
September 11, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this
Wow - way cool, Chaz! I would LOVE a set-up like that! SO - movie night at your place??? Ha! :)By Kim
September 11, 2009 11:33 AM | Link to this
I do love watching movies at home - though nothing beats the big screen. I guess my current favorite is the new Cinemark 6 in Piqua. It’s close to home, the rocking/semi-reclining seats are large and comfy, the screens are huge and the sound is great. No great atmosphere per se - but hey - the lights are out during the important parts - right? :) I also still the love going to the Melody 49 drive-in. It isn’t the best for pure quality movie viewing, but it invokes such a fun sense of nostalgia and can be a blast with a couple good friends. Load up with some snacks & it turns into a bonafide party. I have fond childhood memories of going to the Mayflower in downtown Troy when it was one screen you could still see the old time theater elements. But alas - it was split up into multiple screens and has run down. At least now it’s a cheap theatre - so I still go there sometimes to catch a movie that I want to see.By Tony
September 11, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this
Currently, my favorite is Showcase Huber mainly because it is the closest to where I live. It is updated enough for me and the seats are comfortable. This was where I spent many Friday nights in my high school and early college years. Prior to that, nothing will ever compete with the Kontiki on Salem Avenue. It is where I saw my first movie as a kid, and until it closed was still my choice no matter how many new places came about. Anymore, it is my living room as I have become very cheap the last few years. I don’t know if anything short of a new Star Wars would get me back, and I even have a gift card staring at me on my refrigerator for Showcase.By Chaz
September 11, 2009 11:01 AM | Link to this
Home - we remodeled a portion of the basement into a 45x60ft entertainment room - had a local company install the sound system with a 52” Bravia HDTV. With 2 small kids 10 & 7 we are able to monitor the type of movies and the environment. Basement has wet bar and old fashion popcorn machine. We prefer spending qulity time at home with family and friends.By ME
September 11, 2009 10:56 AM | Link to this
My favorite place is gone now. It was in Centerville on 725 behind where is now a Saturn Dealership. When I first moved to Ohio this was the greatest place … it was never overcrowded and had VERY comfortable red rocking-tilting chairs and it still had the gigantic curtain that went up prior to showing the movie. Price was right and it was a great atmosphere. In Michigan where I grew up an old theatre was turned into a movie house (now closed - trying to reopen) it had cheap movies and special 2 for one nights, bring your own bag for popcorn night and other fun specials. It was so cool the old balcony was the best to see a movie. I wish there was more of these kind of places here. Now we love seeing the old movies at the Ohio in Columbus with Sircritic that we enjoy the most. Although we do like the seating in the new Greene Movie Theatre its plush - but minus that great old atmosphere.