Let's All Go To The Movies Issue #41

By Erica Phillips
Published: September 1st, 2009 | 10:46am

For some of us, movie dates have become the quintessential fallback social outing — when you’ve got a free night but just aren’t feeling the bar or that house party uptown. But what if the movie theater could be a destination by itself, something to take you back to a time when your grandparents dropped a nickel on a Saturday afternoon triple feature, or to when your parents and their high school friends hit the drive-in? Venus Zine got the scoop on six awesome theaters that are not only worth seeing all on their own, but prove that the old silver screen is far from lackluster.

The Movie Palace: The Castro Theatre in San Francisco is one of many remaining movie palaces from the earliest days of the modern theater (1913 to the early ’30s). The façade was built to resemble a Mexican cathedral, while the enormous chandelier, luxurious curtains, Wurlitzer organ, and Spanish and Asian detailing inside will seriously take your breath away. The theater is classy in the truest sense of the word. (castrotheatre.com)

Mid-Century Touches: Not one corner is left unadorned at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis, where mid-century lighting, wallpaper, marble, and colored tile grace the lobby and bathroom areas. You’ll feel like you stepped back in time, particularly when the concessions kid asks whether you’d like some real butter on your popcorn — no fake flavored topping here! (riverviewtheater.com)

The Dome: A Buckminster Fuller original, the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood — part of the ArcLight Cinema 14 — is a requisite destination in the Entertainment Capital of the World. The Dome features an 86-foot-wide curved screen, and ArcLight often snags costumes or props from the biggest flicks, which they display in the lobby. One thing to keep in mind: Geeky local industry patrons take their movies very seriously, so keep your whispering to a minimum! (arclightcinemas.com)

The Odd Boutique: Converted from its past life as a dentist’s office, the Grand Illusion Cinema in Seattle is nothing you would ever expect from a movie theater. The teeny-tiny screening room seats only 70, and the film selection varies from independent to classic and rare films. If you don’t have time to catch a full movie, check out the indie bookstore downstairs and snap a photo in front of the colorfully eclectic entryway. (grandillusioncinema.org)

Bungalow Eatery: The Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida is far more than just a tasty American bistro with a charming courtyard. Surrounded by weeping willows, this little country bungalow houses an independent not-for-profit movie theater that screens old and new films, hosts festivals, and even clears the stage for live acts every once in a while. Wine, dinner, and a movie on the big screen? Perfection. (enzian.org)

Retro Revisited: What’s better than a drive-in theater? A drive-in with six screens and a weekend flea market. Located within the city limits of Atlanta, the Starlight Six pretty much has it all. The location also hosts some rad weekend-long events during the year featuring live music, themed movie marathons, and camping on site. (starlightdrivein.com)