Do you go to the dollar theater? I do and love it.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you go to the dollar theater? I do and love it.
Myself? Well I frequent the dollar theater every tuesday at least. Its a goldmine...sort of.
Every tuesday movies cost only a dollar to see at the local second run movie theater. Every other day of the week its $2.00. LOL Expensive!
Despite the traditional style seating (ie no stadium seating), lack of the latest sound exquipment, and some of the weirdest movie goers you have ever seen (some might say this includes me)....I have grown to love the dollar theater.
I have seen so many movies over the past year...that I wouldnt have otherwise seen because I am, like most people, on a budget. The dollar theater lets me see almost all movies I want...while at the same time, leaving me enough money to see the really good movies I want to see in the first run theaters. It also helps me review them to see if they warrant a DVD purchase in the near future. I say "near" because once they hit the dollar theater the DVD is only 2 months away.
For instance, during the past few months I have seen:
The Bourne Identity
Blood Work
Signs
Barbershop
The Tuxedo
White Oleander
XXX
Banger Sisters
Spiderman
Stuart Little 2
Road to Perdition....
and probably some more that I cant remember....point is this. For those movies listed is only cost me, $11.00.
The dollar theater is a great thing, I highly recommend them. Any one else here frequent the second run theater.
Every tuesday movies cost only a dollar to see at the local second run movie theater. Every other day of the week its $2.00. LOL Expensive!
Despite the traditional style seating (ie no stadium seating), lack of the latest sound exquipment, and some of the weirdest movie goers you have ever seen (some might say this includes me)....I have grown to love the dollar theater.
I have seen so many movies over the past year...that I wouldnt have otherwise seen because I am, like most people, on a budget. The dollar theater lets me see almost all movies I want...while at the same time, leaving me enough money to see the really good movies I want to see in the first run theaters. It also helps me review them to see if they warrant a DVD purchase in the near future. I say "near" because once they hit the dollar theater the DVD is only 2 months away.
For instance, during the past few months I have seen:
The Bourne Identity
Blood Work
Signs
Barbershop
The Tuxedo
White Oleander
XXX
Banger Sisters
Spiderman
Stuart Little 2
Road to Perdition....
and probably some more that I cant remember....point is this. For those movies listed is only cost me, $11.00.
The dollar theater is a great thing, I highly recommend them. Any one else here frequent the second run theater.
#2
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 4,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do the have digital sound? Is the projector light bulb set to maximum brightness? These things are obviously not the most important element of a dollar theater, but I'm just curious. We don't have these kind of movie houses in Finland, which is a shame.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The dollar theater I go to does have digital sound....I cant tell you about the brightness of the projection bulb though....
The film prints arent the best in these theaters....because the reels they buy are second run. Lots of nicks and scratches...but hey what do you expect for a dollar.
All in all its great for saving some cash and seeing a lot of movies!!
The film prints arent the best in these theaters....because the reels they buy are second run. Lots of nicks and scratches...but hey what do you expect for a dollar.
All in all its great for saving some cash and seeing a lot of movies!!
#4
Moderator
I go to "second-run" theaters quite often. Any film that's showing at the multiplex will end up there in a couple of months. Movies that I have a small interest in seeing, but I don't care about much (the Star Wars flicks, LOTR, etc.) I wait. My wife and I have caught some excellent stuff, such as Altman's Gosford Park there, too. We go to Subway first and make an "under $10 date" out of it...
ETA: The matinees are fifty cents. One time I paid for a movie with the change I found under my car seat. Is that cool, or what?
ETA: The matinees are fifty cents. One time I paid for a movie with the change I found under my car seat. Is that cool, or what?
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The matinees are fifty cents. One time I paid for a movie with the change I found under my car seat. Is that cool, or what?
#6
Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Orange Park, FL
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We used to have 2 dollar theaters here in Bham, AL. It was here that I saw Blade for the first time thinking it was going to suck. I also was able to take my family to see Episode I, and many other movies that I didn't feel like paying 8 bucks for. I love them.
Unfortunately, both our dollar theaters closed.
Unfortunately, both our dollar theaters closed.
#7
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New Jersey, where the state motto should be Leave No Tree Standing
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I used to go to the dollar theater to catch films I missed in first run. But they have both since closed, one demolished and replaced by a Target store and the other sitting vacant. The last movie I saw in a dollar theater was Best in Show, nearly 2 years ago.
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
murpm3: Are you talking about the dollar theater in Buffalo Grove?
And they've already played "Road to Perdition?"
Damn - I only work about a mile from that theater and was hoping to catch that film when it hit there.
And they've already played "Road to Perdition?"
Damn - I only work about a mile from that theater and was hoping to catch that film when it hit there.
#11
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by grunter
murpm3: Are you talking about the dollar theater in Buffalo Grove?
murpm3: Are you talking about the dollar theater in Buffalo Grove?
Anyway, I go to that one on occasion for several of the reasons listed above
- missed it in the theater
- gf doens't want to see Movie X
- don't want to waste precious weekend time in a theater
Another reason I go to the BG one is they often have movies during the week at 5:00pm or so, meaning I can go right after work and still get home by 7:30pm.
#12
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I prefer the older style theaters without the glitz and glam.
Normally, they are dollar theaters, so it's cheap and works well.
And yes, they are WEIRD people there...
Normally, they are dollar theaters, so it's cheap and works well.
And yes, they are WEIRD people there...
#13
DVD Talk Hero
I like dollar theaters.
I enjoy the cheap seating and the bad prints. It gives the place character and provides a lot of atmosphere. Sort of reminds me of the old single-screen theater I went to as a kid.
And I also like the clientelle better. I'll take freaks and weirdos over yuppies and dumb, loudmouth jocks any day.
I enjoy the cheap seating and the bad prints. It gives the place character and provides a lot of atmosphere. Sort of reminds me of the old single-screen theater I went to as a kid.
And I also like the clientelle better. I'll take freaks and weirdos over yuppies and dumb, loudmouth jocks any day.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm going to have to be the lone dissenting voice. The dollar theater (two actually) that used to be near me was so godawful it wasn't worth two bucks.
For those of you in Canada, it was one of those tiny mall Ciniplexes that used to be everywhere and were a little bigger than your living room. Incredibly ghetto. Ugh.
For those of you in Canada, it was one of those tiny mall Ciniplexes that used to be everywhere and were a little bigger than your living room. Incredibly ghetto. Ugh.
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Philly, PA
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The dollar theater near me was closed down by the board of health 12 years ago, cuz moviegoers were sick of sharing the theater with big rats and cockroaches
Nowadays all we have here are the multiplexes and stuff
Nowadays all we have here are the multiplexes and stuff
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Flava-Country!
Posts: 3,964
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I used to all the time (And the buck fifty was about Batman and Robin was worth) - but since then all the nearby ones have closed down. There's still a couple, but with the driving time and gas costs, I might as well rent when it hits DVD.
Pity.
Pity.
#18
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Our local base theater runs stuff that's only about a month or two old. Cost is .99, and the snack bar is about 1/3 of the price of what we pay on the outside.
These base theaters get very clean prints, provided directly from the studios the Navy Motion Picture Service. The Army and Air Force has similar set ups.
Our theater isn't digital, but it does have a very dynamic surround sound system. I don't ever remember any sound problems, although a bulb popped once.
They're showing The Ring on Thursday, so I'll probably go.
These base theaters get very clean prints, provided directly from the studios the Navy Motion Picture Service. The Army and Air Force has similar set ups.
Our theater isn't digital, but it does have a very dynamic surround sound system. I don't ever remember any sound problems, although a bulb popped once.
They're showing The Ring on Thursday, so I'll probably go.
#20
DVD Talk Hero
One of the greatest places to watch a movie in the world is in my area, and it's only $2! It's a classic, 1920's theater called the Tivoli, with a HUGE screen and Dolby Digital. It holds around 1000 people, so there is never a bad seat (just move). Also, they have the organ which rises out of the floor, and have a live organist playing on weekend nights. I think it is a historical landmark, so it'll probably be around for a while. Always fun going to shows there.
Link
Link
#21
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Harlem Corners represent!! (Same chain as Buffalo Grove)
I've started going more often in the past year....for those movies that just passed me by or those that I just don't want to spend 5 buck on (matinee always baby!)
It's not digital, but for $2, 1.50 before 6PM, you can't have the world! The prints I've seen all have been in really good condition. I saw Spy Kids 2 a couple weeks ago and the print was in great shape, better than a lot of first run prints I've seen.
I've started going more often in the past year....for those movies that just passed me by or those that I just don't want to spend 5 buck on (matinee always baby!)
It's not digital, but for $2, 1.50 before 6PM, you can't have the world! The prints I've seen all have been in really good condition. I saw Spy Kids 2 a couple weeks ago and the print was in great shape, better than a lot of first run prints I've seen.
#22
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
i used to go a lot more than i do now, since movies now come out to DVD so quickly. Sometimes they even overlap and there are movies that are already out on DVD that they are still showing. The theatre here is 2$ and it is pretty cool because they serve you at bar type seating. that and the cheap popcorn reels me in.
#23
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: In my secret underground lair, plotting to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!! Bwuaaahahahaha!!
Posts: 4,590
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I have been going for a while, ours is .50 cents on tuesdays, and $1 before 5pm or $1.50 after 5pm on other days.
Right now, they have XXX, Spy Kids 2, The Master of Disguise, Halloween, Barber Shop, Abandon, Signs, Tuxedo, and Stuart Little 2.
I saw The Master of Disguise last week, and I am probably going to see XXX, Spy Kids 2, The Tuxedo, and Stuart Little 2 sometime this week or next. I may see Halloween, but I have only seen up to 5.
Right now, they have XXX, Spy Kids 2, The Master of Disguise, Halloween, Barber Shop, Abandon, Signs, Tuxedo, and Stuart Little 2.
I saw The Master of Disguise last week, and I am probably going to see XXX, Spy Kids 2, The Tuxedo, and Stuart Little 2 sometime this week or next. I may see Halloween, but I have only seen up to 5.
#24
Moderator
I always used to, but haven't in a while. I have some great memories of movies I've seen over the years at a local dollar theatre. Off the top of my head...
The Shawshank Redemption
Terminal Velocity
Screamers
Office Space
Star Trek: Generations
Braveheart
Anyway, always fun to recall.
The Shawshank Redemption
Terminal Velocity
Screamers
Office Space
Star Trek: Generations
Braveheart
Anyway, always fun to recall.