Thought on Movie Houses

[dewline]

Second-run movie houses are an under-appreciated resource in any city or town.

Comments

[mary-mayhem.livejournal.com]

I agree completely.

This is mine: http://www.grahamcinema.net/

If the cost of calling from Canada wasn't internationally high, I say call the info line just to hear the joke of the week that Tim Bob puts on there. He also reviews the movies and expresses his opinion of people who bring children to films that aren't appropriate to the age.

[tartysuz.livejournal.com]

Very true. We haven't had one since the Princess theatre was taken over by Magic Lantern. They show mainstream arthouse releases, but that's not the same as second-run. (There are also film societies for vintage and indie films).

But The Princess also used to program series like Woody allen films or film noir or Iranian films as a kind of public education service. It was really valuable, but we've lost that now :(

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a niche someone with some $$$ and a love of odd movies could try to fill.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Definitely agreed. However, I seldom go to see movies at all these days ... though I am willing to go with a group (which is how I saw the movie "Iron Man", come to think of it :-).

I have become soooo disenchanted with the common Hollywood fare these days that it seems that only a few indie movies might appeal to me. [There are a few exceptions, such as the blockbusters _Lord of the Rings_ and _Harry Potter_. But they are rare and I often go with friends to them.]

[thebitterguy]

I don't know if they're underappreciated. I think they're just a very niche thing.

I mean, a decent sized city can support a few. Does Ottawa stil have the Bytowne & the Mayfair? Toronto has at least a few in the downtown core.

But we have so many options for accesing entertainment that they need to really sell us as much sizzle as steak, because we can get the steak through Netflix.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

We do still have the Bytowne and Mayfair. It was a very near thing with the Mayfair last year, though, worthy of a cliffhanger/documentary in its own right.

I do know I'd like to see at least one such theatre on my side of the Greenbelt, preferably right in the neighbourhood. If Empire decides to pull out of Orleans Town Centre after building their 24-screen Innes Road megaplex, there might be an opportunity in that.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Had a look at the website. Absolutely drooled over what I am tempted to call predatory pricing.

[mary-mayhem.livejournal.com]

There are some films that are dubbed "See at the Graham" when spotted in previews. :-)