Movie Houses of Worship: Bijou Art Cinemas, Eaton Theatre, Kuhn Cinema, Northwest Film Forum, Rio Theater and Towne Cinema
“Movie Houses of Worship” is a regular feature spotlighting our favorite movie theaters around the world, those that are like temples of cinema catering to the most religious-like film geeks. This week, we highlight six businesses in need of financial assistance. If you’d like to suggest or submit a place you regularly worship at the altar of cinema, please email our weekend editor.
What do the six movie theaters listed in the headline have in common? Besides being six places I’ve never personally been to, they’re all businesses currently campaigning on Kickstarter to raise money for digital projectors. With Hollywood’s plan to completely cease film print distribution this year, many independent movie houses are trying not to become extinct as well. But most can’t afford the transition to digital and must crowd-fund for the costs (read a nice L.A. Times story on this nationwide issue here). So, here’s a little highlight of each cinema, what’s apparently so great about it and the status of its fundraising goal.
Bijou Art Cinemas
Location: 492 East 13th Avenue, Eugene, OR
Opened: October 16, 1980 (in a former church built in 1925)
No. of screens: 2
Current first-run titles: The Company You Keep and Room 237
Repertory programming: While there are no repertory screenings currently listed, the Bijou does show classic 35mm prints on occasion and hopes to continue doing so after the digital projector installation. However, it does seem most classics and midnight genre rep titles will primarily be shown on a new 35mm projector at the soon-to-open second location, the Bijou Metro.
Special Events: The 8th annual DisOrient Asian American Film Festival just wrapped a week ago, and the three-day Northwest Animation Festival is scheduled to kick off May 31. Additionally, the Bijou hosts the Gathr Preview series, which brings new foreign and indie titles to Eugene for a single advance screening. This week they’ve got the Icelandic film The Deep, and upcoming selections this month include Ain’t In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm, What Maisie Knew and 100 Bloody Acres.
Devotion to the concessions: In addition to the usual fare, they offer specialty sandwiches from local eatery Not Your Mom’s Sandwich Shop.
Kickstarter status: 17 days to go with 60% of its $38,713 goal pledged.
Fund This Movie House of Worship.
The Eaton Theatre
Location: 235 South Cochran Avenue, Charlotte, MI
Opened: 1931 (as a single screen)
No. of screens: 2
Current first-run titles: Iron Man 3 and Oblivion
Devotion to the concessions: Usual popcorn/soda fare.
Kickstarter status: 27 days to go with 20% of its $40,000 goal pledged.
Fund This Movie House of Worship.
Kuhn Cinema
Location: 668 Main Street, Lebanon, OR
Opened: 1936
No. of screens: 1
Current first-run titles: Oblivion
Repertory programming/Special events: This Friday the Kuhn is hosting Comic Book Movie Night with parts one and two of The Dark Knight Returns, an event for which proceeds will go toward the Kickstarter campaign.
Devotion to the concessions: Usual popcorn/soda fare.
Kickstarter status: 7 days to go with 79% of its $35,000 goal pledged.
Fund This Movie House of Worship.
Northwest Film Forum
Location: 1515 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA
Opened: 1995
No. of screens: 2
Current first-run titles: Simon Killer and Upstream Color
Repertory programming/Special events: Today they’re showing the documentary Perret in France and Algeria as part of their architecture-focused series “The Built World.” Starting May 17, there’s a new print of Jacques Rivette’s Le Pont du Nord. Other events include concerts, family film events, a children’s film festival, a local filmmaker festival, a series featuring local film critics and a special regular event hosted by local radio DJs. They also hold workshops and rent equipment and post-production facilities. This Friday is their annual gala dinner and party, which will also partly be a fundraiser for their digital conversion campaign.
Why you should worship here: According to Seattle film fan Chris Newell, via Twitter/a>: “that’s easy – the wide variety of funky, indie films they’ve brought to town, for years now.”
Devotion to the concessions: Usual popcorn/soda fare.
Kickstarter status: 28 days to go with 64% of its $50,000 goal pledged.
Fund This Movie House of Worship.
Rio Theater
Location: 20396 Bohemian Highway, Monte Rio, CA
Opened: 1950 (in what used to be a U.S. Navy Quonset hut during WWII)
No. of screens: 1
Current first-run titles: None – currently closed
Special events: It’s kind of a special event that the theater is allegedly haunted…
Devotion to the concessions: Usual popcorn/soda fare. Also, Don’s Dogs Cafe is located behind the theater if you want a special sausage or hot dog or other grill menu item (I’m not certain this is stuff you can bring in the theater).
Kickstarter status: 44 hours to go with 108% of its $60,000 goal pledged.
Fund This Movie House of Worship.
Towne Cinema
Location: 308 E. Main Street, Watertown, WI
Opened: 1913 (as a single screen in the former location of a general store a building built in 1848)
No. of screens: 3
Current first-run titles: Iron Man 3, Pain & Gain and 42
Special events: Stage shows, such as this weekend’s fundraising Vaudeville event presented by the Watertown Players and Penguin Productions.
Devotion to the concessions: Usual popcorn/soda fare.
Kickstarter status: 51 hours to go with 82% of its $70,000 goal pledged.
Fund This Movie House of Worship.
Related Topics: Movie Theaters
