Movies at the Historic State Theater

 


Sometimes sitting in a dark theater not caring about hair, makeup, clothes, or even conversation is just what the doctor ordered. The last movie Mr. C and I saw at the State Theater was Eo.  Mr. C promised it was about a donkey, was Polish, and had subtitles.  That was enough for me. We went to the 5 p.m., Saturday evening show, and the theater was not crowded.  It rarely is.  

Occasionally, the movie doesn’t quite live up to expectations, as in the case of Eo, (for me, not Mr. C) but the obscenely comfortable seats and yummy treats keep me going back.  Truly, the seats are beyond anything a household recliner can offer.  Not only do they fully recline, but they also lower.  Feet up, you sink into a puffy cloud of leather and completely relax.  Mr. C has fallen asleep in them on a couple of occasions.  The seats have trays for all of your treats as well as multiple cup holders for the bev of choice: pop, beer, wine, coffee, hot cocoa, and more.  Did I mention I love the seats? 

My other favorite part of this theater is the bathrooms.  They are simply gorgeous and, again, never crowded.  Marble, brass, and vintage mosaic tile – an oasis within a beautifully restored historic theater. 

I love the vibe at the State.  Laid-back, friendly, not rushed.  Because we live within walking distance, during nice weather it’s a great destination to walk to, and we feel like we have earned our popcorn and drinks. The types of movies shown include: arthouse, indie, blockbuster, classics, and kids’ flicks. 

We paid $9.50 each for tickets; $5.50 for a medium popcorn, $4 for a small popcorn, $3.50 for a medium root beer (paper straws!), $7 for a (local) WoodGrain Noticeably Absent Pilsner, and $2.50 for a hot cocoa.  I’m a popcorn fanatic and the medium was plenty for the 90-minute film. I paired the corn with a root beer -- sweet and salty bliss.  It was cold that night so the cocoa was tempting.  I tasted Mr. C’s and it was a tad watery for my liking, but he enjoyed it.  Our total expenditure for the night at the movies was $44. 

Another very cool thing to do is buy a membership.  A couple’s yearly membership is $130.  It supports the theater and takes $1 off of the regular ticket price, 2$ off of a large popcorn, and $1 off of a large fountain drink.  The membership includes invites to member’s only screenings.

The best place to park is the parking ramp on W. 10th Street, (200 - 238 S. Mall Garage) unless, of course, you luck out and find parking along Phillips Avenue.  Garage and street parking are free after 5 p.m.

*We’ve since seen Holy Spider.  Phillips Ave looked magical that evening with lights in the trees and mountains of white snow on the ground.  Holy Spider left me with a renewed gratefulness that I live in the free world and reminded me to never take our civil rights for granted.    


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