My Favorite Movie Theaters (What Are Yours?)

As I compiled this list of my favorite movie theaters, I realized my choices were driven largely by what I saw where and with whom. Naturally, the emphasis is on cinemas located in cities where I lived (or visited often). Perhaps, you have been to some of these theaters or ones like them. More importantly, I'd love to hear about some of your favorite cinemas!

Vogue Theatre (Louisville, KY) - The Vogue was the pride of Louisville movie-goers for decades, mixing art films with revivals and the occasional first-run film. I always looked forward to the monthly calendar that showed what would be playing. You could also request movies by writing their titles in a notebook in the lobby. I put Curse of the Demon on the list for several years--and it was eventually shown. The Vogue is also where I saw The Adventures of Robin Hood on the big screen in glorious color--plus of dozens of offbeat films like Walkabout and Brother Sun, Sister Moon.

Princess Theatre (Bloomington, IN) - The Princess was built in 1913 and eventually became the home to vaudeville shows and movies. I suspect it was the largest theater in Bloomington and located on the town square. My fondest memories of it date to the late 1970s and early 1980s when it became a "dollar movie house." For a guy (or later, young married couple) on a budget, it was a great place to see films. Plus, it had the best popcorn in town. I saw Halloween there multiple times, plus offbeat unusual selections such as David Cronenberg's Brood. A dear friend wrote about the Princess on this blog in 2011. The building is now on the National Register of Historic Places, though it has long ceased to show movies.

Club Haven Cinema (Winston-Salem, NC) - It was undoubtedly the smallest movie theater I ever visited. The boxoffice window opened directly to the concession area so that one person could sell tickets and popcorn without moving. The screen was small, too, but it made you feel like the movie was being projected just for you and your friends. It couldn't compete with the larger theaters in town, of course, so the Club Haven featured offbeat fare such as O Lucky Man! (which I saw several years later), the Italian thriller Torso, and the memorable It's Alive. The Club Haven was only open for four years and closed in 1978. I couldn't even find a photo of it.

Von Lee Cinema (Bloomington, IN) - This was the first "art house" I frequented and was where I was introduced to foreign-language classics like Bergman's The Seventh Seal. Unfortunately, by the early 1980s, the Von Lee had to show more mainstream movies to stay in business--surely the fate of many one-time art houses. Still, for many years, it epitomized what a "college town" movie theater ought to be.

Reynolda Cinema (Winston-Salem, NC) - There was nothing unique about the Reynolda Cinema, except it was the movie theater located closest to where I lived as a youth. My sister and I probably saw more movies there than anywhere else. It was one of the first suburban cinemas in Winston-Salem, located across from the Reynolda Manor Shopping Center. It was the first theater in the city to be split into a twin and eventually a triple cinema. When it closed, a branch library (located next door) took over the building.

Carolina Theatre (Winston-Salem, NC) - Built in 1929, the Carolina Theatre was the oldest and most elegant cinema in Winston-Salem. It was located downtown near the Carolina Hotel. Occasionally, live acts played there--such as Elvis Presley in 1956 (you could see him for less than a $1!). The Carolina had "kiddie shows" on Saturday mornings and, for a while, late night monster and cult movies like Reefer Madness. By the early 1970s, though, it had fallen into a state of disrepair and specialized in Blaxploitation and kung fu movies (hence, I still went there!). It has a happy ending, though, as it closed and was renovated years later as an upscale performing arts center.

Winston Theatre (Winston-Salem, NC) - The Winston was located down the street from the Carolina and was nowhere near as decorative. But hey, it did run The Sound of Music for almost a year. More importantly, my sister worked there for a couple of summers and I got to see all the movies for free! That's where I first saw favorites such as The Day of the Jackal and Fist of Fury (aka The Chinese Connection).

Triple Gold Cinema (Radcliff, KY) - The Triple Gold was so named because it was located in the city adjacent to Fort Knox--home of the U.S. Gold Depository. The interiors of the theaters were supposed to be gold as well (but looked more like a deep beige). The Triple Gold made this list because of its $2 Tuesday nights, a bargain price in mid-1980s. It's where my wife and I saw dozens of 1980s classics like The Road Warrior and The Breakfast Club.

Village 8 (Louisville, KY) - This delightful multiplex offered a wonderful mix of lesser-known movies and second runs for a very reasonable price. It's where you could watch anything from The Grey Fox to Babette's Feast to Vertigo to an unusual double-feature of The Trouble With Harry and Educating Rita. It remained open long after the Vogue closed in Louisville, but, tragically, a Louisville friend recently told us it was due to shut its doors this year.

Kon-Tiki Theatre (Dayton, OH) - The Kon-Tiki was a Polynesian-themed cinema located in a Dayton suburb from 1968 to 1999. It sported wonderfully outrageous decor and the most entertaining restroom I've ever used in a movie theater. We only went there a couple of times while visiting a childhood chum in Ohio, but I recall listening to Sly Stallone making his "why can't we be friends" speech at the end of Rocky IV.

You'll note that I didn't list any drive-in theaters because they deserve their own post. Louisville natives may wonder why The Louisville Palace was omitted. That's because I never saw a film there. By the time I lived in the area, it only showed the occasional movie and specialized mostly in live events. (I did see Johnny Mathis in concert at the Louisville Palace and it was a gorgeous facility.)