The best theater in town?
In a recent post, I offhandedly labeled a local movie house “the best theater in town.” Naturally, fans of some other theaters wrote to ask me my criteria. But rather than defend my imprecise use of the term “best,” I’ll toss a few bouquets to theaters with features I like.
The fabulous Moolah has a giant screen, comfy couches, a balcony, a full bar, a downstairs bowling alley, hometown ownership and two RFT awards as (yes) “the best theater in town.”
The Chesterfield Galaxy 14 a screen that’s so big, there’s an elevator to the upper-level seats.
Ronnie’s has an IMAX screen and a faux drive-in (with sawed-off hot rods) that shows coming attractions and Cardinal games.
The Chase has good beer, good movies and a classy hotel where you can crash instead of driving home.
The single-screen Hi-Pointe has a historic marquee, “Jetsons”-era lobby decor and fabled powder rooms.
The Esquire has that cut-out mural of the St. Louis skyline in the main auditorium and that spooky old upstairs area from which I’ve never seen anyone come down.
The AMC Chesterfield has that long escalator up from the mall level to make you feel like you are going to movie heaven.
The genteel theater at Plaza Frontenac has a scrapbook containing my positive reviews, so people who are prone to sending me hate mail can turn around and go shopping instead.
And the time-capsule Tivoli has my preferred sorts of movies, a secret door and a particular seat where I’ve sat at least once a week for the past ten years.
Yet none of these are my favorite theater. With apologies to my friends in the film-exhibition business who are constantly enhancing their venues, my favorite theater in the world remains the Skyview Drive-In on Old Route 66 in Litchfield, Ill., where $2 gets you a family-friendly double feature, the classic dancing hot dog intermission trailer and the satisfaction of knowing that you are voting with your dollars for the kind of movie experience that you value.
now if only one could attend a film at ANY theater without the parade of rude, obnoxious movie-goers who have RUINED the entie experience of going to see movies with their obnnoxious chit-chat, cell phone shenanigans, and other assorted bad behavior.
I think that anyone who talks or disrupts other patrons should be IMMEDIATELY ejected from the theater-period. Let’s face it-the inmates have taken over the asylum at most cineplex theaters and it is disgraceful what they allowed to get away with.
The surroundings can be as nice and “comfy” as can be but until the CUSTOMERS learn to behave as if they are not in their own living rooms, the experience SUCKS.