Three Dollar Theaters

You remember them.  They used to be called dollar theaters.  Cheap, slightly substandard movie venues with second and third run copies of films about to leave theaters completely.  With movie prices what they are these days, if you can find a good three dollar theater, patronize it and keep it in business.

We have a great spot near us.  The Beltway Six theater always has decent flicks, with at least one that we wanted to see on the big screen but missed.  The seats aren't stadium and they aren't quite as comfortable.  The floors are slightly stickier than usual and the likelihood that some schmuck tries to talk through the film is higher.  But not proportionally higher when compared with the ticket price savings.  We went and saw Coraline in 3D at a regular theater this weekend.  Twelve bucks each!  There's a live concert coming up at a good venue that's only a dollar more.  So a few concessions are worth paying a quarter the normal ticket price.

The money aside, there's something quaint about seeing a movie second run.  It's like seeing an old vaudeville entertainer live.  One who's time has passed but is enjoying a brief revival.  You sort of feel like you're short-circuiting the system, milking enjoyment out of a pump assumed dry.  Grabbing one last shot of autumnal beauty before winter goes and blows it for you.

But mostly I  just like saving the cash.