Here in town, there is a theater that was built in the 30s. WHen you go in, it has 3 screens, and the one that shows the most popular movie, is like the ones I knew as a kid. Very level, not really steep. 3 Sections of seats, one HUGE center section, and two smaller side sections. The screen is raised up slightly and there is a 10-12 foot deep stage. There is a big red velvet looking curtain that they raise to show the movie. They still play the national anthem before the movie. There is also a balcony above, which I have not sat in before. I love going there, the feeling inside is sorta magical, not so sterile like most multiplexes.

Anybody else have a theater like that in thier hometown?

Yeah, we HAD one. Geez, these kinds of cinemas are becoming rare! This place was called 'Cine 6', but closed recently due to the moviegoers preferring the larger 20 screen cinema megaplexes. 'Cine 6' has 6 screens, 3 sectioned seating, hardly any sloping and large curtain-sided screens. This cinema was the best, nobody hardly went there, so it was easy to see a new release without the crowds. Too bad, cinema's like this are an American institution that is rapidly fading into extinction. :(

We had one like that but it closed down about 5 years ago, whne the Multiplex's opened. It wasn't built in the 30's , probably the 50's.. the seats even had ashtrays on them, that were removed. the screen was alot smaller than nowaday's but it was more of an old model threatre than these new ones. When they closed it down they put in a bar which kept the screen and shows video's etc over top of the dance floor.

We have one in Paintsville it is called the
Historical Sip Theatre. The only bad thing is that it only has one screen. But hey for $1.50 a person you can't beat it.

There was one in Portsmouth Va where I used to live, called the COMMODORE. they took all the seats out and built different levels, where they had tables. You could sit at your table, and there were little phones, you could call the kitchen and order dinner, and they would bring it out to you. About 20 minutes before the end the waiter or waitress would come by and collect your bill. It was cool.

Growing up, I often went to the Criterion Theatre (http://www.criteriontheatre.com/) in Bar Harbor, Maine. It's a gorgeous 1932 Art Deco theater with a lot of family history for me... my grandmother lived just down the street when she was a little girl, and she went there whenever she could. I also went to the Grand (http://www.grandonline.org/index.html) a lot, in Ellsworth. The Grand has had a more checkered history than the Criterion, (in the 60s and 70s it was a boxing ring!) but it's still going strong. In high school & college, they were inexpensive dates, while being way more romantic than the gigaplex. And romance is very important, LOL.

If you're ever in the Ellsworth/Bar Harbor area on vacation, definitely see a movie while you're there!

The only bad thing about vintage theaters, in my mind, is the cramped seating; I've gotten really spoiled by reclining chairs with cup holders. I remember seeing Bugsy & Malcolm X at the Grand, and having both my legs be so asleep I couldn't walk after the movie :D