SO: Do you live near a great movie theater?

[Happyinwonerland]

yes, but we live in a decent sized city. There are a few nice theaters around here, as well as a movie tavern

 

[bcla]

plus you have a theater capable of showing real 70mm real Imax.

Where's that? The only place I know of that still has 70mm IMAX is the Tech Museum in San Jose. And that's on a domed screen. I thought that most of the traditional 70mm IMAX screens have been converted. The Metreon in San Francisco had an 8 story tall screen and was using 70mm film until they converted to IMAX 4K. I grew up watching IMAX shorts at Great America in Santa Clara.

I remember seeing that my local AMC had IMAX and paid extra for it. Then I noticed that the screen was only a bit bigger than a typical 225 seat auditorium and it was some digital format.

 

[FINFAN]

I was thinking of the Metreon and San Jose one's...when Star War's The Force Awaken's was coming out, only a few theaters were capable of showing it in 70mm and I remember my DD saying she had 2 to choose from (she's in San Mateo)..so maybe not exactly close to you, but we would have had to travel to Indianapolis or Iowa from Chicagoland, lol...and seriously thought about it.

 

[bcla]

I was thinking of the Metreon and San Jose one's...when Star War's The Force Awaken's was coming out, only a few theaters were capable of showing it in 70mm and I remember my DD saying she had 2 to choose from (she's in San Mateo)..so maybe not exactly close to you, but we would have had to travel to Indianapolis or Iowa from Chicagoland, lol...and seriously thought about it.

That's the Hackworth IMAX Dome at the Tech Museum of Innovation. I was a member there. It was kind of a bargain at a $25 annual membership, with individual admission at $15. I worked in San Jose at the time and went for a half hour during lunch a few times. I think there was a movie discount, but I never saw a movie there. I don't know if I could get used to watching a movie projected to a dome like it's a planetarium show, although it's kind of like Soarin' on a bigger scale.

Metreon had the last big "flat" IMAX screen in the Bay Area after Great America closed The Pictorium. That used to be advertised as the largest movie screen in the world when it opened. I know Marriott built another one in Illinois. The Metreon screen had this big production where the auditorium goes dim and they used lights from behind the screen to illuminate the speakers.

The Force Awakens wasn't in 70mm IMAX at the Metreon. They have the newer IMAX 3D Laser projection.

 

[superme80]

Where's that? The only place I know of that still has 70mm IMAX is the Tech Museum in San Jose. And that's on a domed screen. I thought that most of the traditional 70mm IMAX screens have been converted. The Metreon in San Francisco had an 8 story tall screen and was using 70mm film until they converted to IMAX 4K. I grew up watching IMAX shorts at Great America in Santa Clara.

I remember seeing that my local AMC had IMAX and paid extra for it. Then I noticed that the screen was only a bit bigger than a typical 225 seat auditorium and it was some digital format.

I was so bummed when they put in Days of Thunder at that theater. I was just at the age where I could appreciate the films.

 

[Bren's Mom]

We have a new luxury lounger seating Cinemark, that has a few floor to ceiling XD theatres in it, and it's awesome. It's NOT any more expensive than the closer, 'regular' movie theatre. But the advantage of choosing seats ahead of time, having tickets purchased, not waiting in line, and walking into a sold out movie right when the previews are starting is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesome.

 

[prprincess]

I don't think so. The newly renovated theaters are smaller, so while they have those fancy recliner seats, if you don't reserve seats far back, you'll lose your hearing for days--they're so loud! I prefer an older theater nearby because it's bigger and your seating choice is better, but of course, not comfy at all.

 

[bcla]

I was so bummed when they put in Days of Thunder at that theater. I was just at the age where I could appreciate the films.

Not clear which one you're talking about. I don't think the generic IMAX Digital was around when Days of Thunder came out. I thought that was a time when IMAX screens mostly showed shorts produced by IMAX and not full-length films. I was reading something at the time that they tended to be profitable (even with all the expensive equipment) because tickets cost as much as feature films, but they could show one every hour. I wasn't quite sure how that worked out since new movies came out slowly. I probably saw more IMAX movies where it was part of something like a theme park. I mentioned Great America, but I remember seeing an IMAX movie on coral reefs at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. I saw the first 3D IMAX at Expo 86 in Vancouver. It was part of the Canada Pavilion at Canada Place, and wasn't at the main False Creek site. It was included with admission to Expo 86, but we didn't get reserved tickets and waited in the standby line. That meant watching a 3D IMAX movie from a lower corner. My neck hurt from looking up, and I had a bit of a headache when it was over.

I went to see Days of Thunder at Century Cinema Theater in Corte Madera. It wasn't a classic movie house from the 30's, but it was a large single room (600+ seats) with a huge screen and LOUD. It wasn't much to look at from the outside (looked like a 60s era bank building), but it worked well for watching a movie. I've heard George Lucas liked to watch some of his movies there to get a feel for how the public saw them. The building got sold, but apparently Cinemark still operates it as a tenant until the new property owner (a furniture chain) gets permits to demolish it.

http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20160116/NEWS/160119823

 

[bcla]

I don't think so. The newly renovated theaters are smaller, so while they have those fancy recliner seats, if you don't reserve seats far back, you'll lose your hearing for days--they're so loud! I prefer an older theater nearby because it's bigger and your seating choice is better, but of course, not comfy at all.

It's kind of a continuation of what the previous operator did, but one local theater had baby nights. Not sure if they still do. They say babies under 1 are free, although they typically don't ask to see ID. The lights aren't quite as dim, and the audio is dialed down. And one rule is that you know what you signed up for, so no complaints about crying babies. This place also serves alcohol, so it's not unusual for a parent to be there with a beer in one hand while carrying a baby.

I don't know if one theater does it, but another one in Oakland, CA that's carrying on the tradition has it.

http://www.thenewparkway.com/?page_id=136

While the New Parkway Theater is an all ages theater, and you are welcome to bring your baby at any time, Baby Brigade is specifically set aside for parents with infants. Instead of having to get a babysitter for your baby in order to do adult things, why not just bring your baby to the movies? We’ll show one of our regular features each week, stroller parking and a dimly lit pacing area is available. The best part…an audience that understands if there are a few screams or whimpers along the way.

We have two Baby Brigade offerings on most weeks that should appear listed further down the page:

1) Saturdays (mid-day or early evening)

2) Thursdays (early evening)

Although we do lower the volume of the previews and movies please note that some of the movies are loud–or at least loud for baby ears–and we recommend bringing ear plugs if your baby is sensitive to loud sounds.​

 

[prprincess]

It's kind of a continuation of what the previous operator did, but one local theater had baby nights. Not sure if they still do. They say babies under 1 are free, although they typically don't ask to see ID. The lights aren't quite as dim, and the audio is dialed down. And one rule is that you know what you signed up for, so no complaints about crying babies. This place also serves alcohol, so it's not unusual for a parent to be there with a beer in one hand while carrying a baby.

I don't know if one theater does it, but another one in Oakland, CA that's carrying on the tradition has it.

http://www.thenewparkway.com/?page_id=136

While the New Parkway Theater is an all ages theater, and you are welcome to bring your baby at any time, Baby Brigade is specifically set aside for parents with infants. Instead of having to get a babysitter for your baby in order to do adult things, why not just bring your baby to the movies? We’ll show one of our regular features each week, stroller parking and a dimly lit pacing area is available. The best part…an audience that understands if there are a few screams or whimpers along the way.

We have two Baby Brigade offerings on most weeks that should appear listed further down the page:

1) Saturdays (mid-day or early evening)

2) Thursdays (early evening)

Although we do lower the volume of the previews and movies please note that some of the movies are loud–or at least loud for baby ears–and we recommend bringing ear plugs if your baby is sensitive to loud sounds.​

That's a great idea. While my youngest is not a baby, he is the main reason we avoid these theaters...it's painful on his poor, 9 year old ears!

 

[bcla]

That's a great idea. While my youngest is not a baby, he is the main reason we avoid these theaters...it's painful on his poor, 9 year old ears!

Back at one of the older places I went my wife and baby. The older couple in front of us were specifically told about it. They thought about it for a while and went in. However, if they got annoyed at a crying baby, the implied contract is that you don't stare down the parents.