There's Almost No Need To Go To The Movies When You're Streaming

[Marquest]

@Aunt Bea,we have some beautiful old theaters here in Oakland and Berkeley, CA. This one is gorgeous!

That's one reason to go to a theater. The others are big screen, change of scenery from my armchair, and viewing with other people. But I'm getting lazy and more likely to sit in the armchair and stream. I saw Sinners in a theater, the Grand Lake in Oakland, another palatial one.

 

[JustDave]

I followed your link AB and Lamb also designed the fancy theater in my hometown. I remember it had sweeping white marble staircases 1 on each side of the lobby. It was beautiful ;a few years ago it was completely cleaned and restored and now it's a popular venue for not just movies but for live performances and theater. Weddings too.

I was told one time that those grand theaters were originally for life performances, but were later made into movie theaters as the talkies became more popular. I don't know when they were constructed, maybe before Hollywood. I don't know. But I can't imagine building one of those for a silent film featuring Charlie Chaplin with a live piano player providing the background like they did in the nickelodeons.

When I was young, my father would take me to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. They had at least one large hall filled with old classic cars, which only had to be at least 30 years old to be considered classic back then, but seemed like relics to a 7 year old in 1950. But one hall fed into a wonderland of a night lit brick paved street with an assortment of Model T Fords and other cars outside closed shops of the early 1900s. At the end of the street was an old time nickelodeon, where they actually charged everyone 5 cents to watch a silent film of the past. It was like time travel.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

Aunt Bea's post reminded me of when I was around 8 years old...my grandmother worked in Dallas so I got to spend a few days with her and on one of those days we took a streetcar ride to the 'magnificent' Majestic theater in down town Dallas and saw the movie Grapes of Wrath....the theater, movie and streetcar ride have always stayed with this country bumpkin too.

I loved the Majestic Theater and the other downtown theaters that were grand and beautiful. Most of the others are long gone. The Majestic was rennovated in the 1980s by an architectural firm I was working for at that time. I think it's still in business, but last I knew it's now used for performing arts, not movies anymore.

 

[RadishRose]

those grand theaters were originally for life performances, but were later made into movie theaters as the talkies became more popular.

That makes sense.

 

[Jules]

$3.99 so about the same as DVD from a video store.

I’m pretty sure we don’t have any video stores any more.

 

[feywon]

I’m pretty sure we don’t have any video stores any more.

There was one in my tiny town up until the pandemic. Imagine it was a nightmare to clean. Never re-opened.

 

[KSav]

I have always enjoyed seeing movies in the theater: the big screen, surround sound, and popcorn that always seems to taste the best there. However, with the decline of public courtesy and manners I almost never go these days. I get too frustrated by people who use their phones and/or talk during the film. So I stay home and stream movies in the comfort of my home.

On occasion I will venture out to see an old classic when they play. Of course, in those instances the audience is older and has better manners.

 

[Wombat]

I haven't been to a cinema since my children were old enough to go by themselves, can't remember the last thing I saw, it was decades ago.

For me the local drive-in closing was the last straw.

If you want the big screen experience just sit closer to the TV, it is all about field of view, just turn up the surround sound.

 

[feywon]

I haven't been to a cinema since my children were old enough to go by themselves, can't remember the last thing I saw, it was decades ago.

For me the local drive-in closing was the last straw.

If you want the big screen experience just sit closer to the TV, it is all about field of view, just turn up the surround sound.

You know, earlier i was thinking that "if the story and cinematography is good who needs big screen?". I get So sucked in when they're good, it doesn't matter. Much the same way i can visualize scenes i read when the writing is good.

 

[seadoug]

IMO there is nothing like seeing a movie on the big screen at a theater. It just doesn't have the same impact for me as watching it on TV. Also, it has my total focus. I'm not distracted by anything that might be going on around the house. It is also an "afternoon out" for my hubby and me and since the theater is inside a mall we walk the mall a couple of times before going to the movie.

Rather than paying high concession prices, we "smuggle" candy in and just pay for a drink. We put the candy in a small Aveda bag (Aveda is located in the mall) so no one ever questions it. We recently saw the new Fantastic Four movie, which is filmed like it was in the 50's/60's, in IMAX, and the visuals and sound alone were worth it! Wicked is another movie that must be seen in a theater. We are seeing the new Naked Gun movie next Wednesday and I received AMC's 50% Tuesday/Wednesday discount. We will have dinner out afterward.

This is one "treat" I won't give up until there are no longer movie theaters in existence.

 

[KSav]

IMO there is nothing like seeing a movie on the big screen at a theater. It just doesn't have the same impact for me as watching it on TV. Also, it has my total focus. I'm not distracted by anything that might be going on around the house. It is also an "afternoon out" for my hubby and me and since the theater is inside a mall we walk the mall a couple of times before going to the movie.

Rather than paying high concession prices, we "smuggle" candy in and just pay for a drink. We put the candy in a small Aveda bag (Aveda is located in the mall) so no one ever questions it. We recently saw the new Fantastic Four movie, which is filmed like it was in the 50's/60's, in IMAX, and the visuals and sound alone were worth it! Wicked is another movie that must be seen in a theater. We are seeing the new Naked Gun movie next Wednesday and I received AMC's 50% Tuesday/Wednesday discount. We will have dinner out afterward.

This is one "treat" I won't give up until there are no longer movie theaters in existence.

That sounds just about perfect, @seadoug.

 

[seadoug]

I loved the Majestic Theater and the other downtown theaters that were grand and beautiful. Most of the others are long gone. The Majestic was rennovated in the 1980s by an architectural firm I was working for at that time. I think it's still in business, but last I knew it's now used for performing arts, not movies anymore.

Yes, we saw Diana Ross perform at the Majestic Theater a few years ago. It was a great, somewhat intimate setting.

 

[Sunny]

I never go to the movies any more. I like everything about streaming better, including the fact that I can interrupt a movie or a series episode and continue it later or the next day or whenever, and I can fast forward or back up to wherever I want and watch part of it again, or even go back to the beginning and watch the whole thing again. And I don't have the trouble and expense of driving to the theatre, parking, and so on. And I'm not exposing myself to every virus that afflicts us. And sometimes I even get a choice of languages to watch a movie in, if it's a foreign movie.

I'm kind of amazed that theaters are even still in business. Maybe they're still a good place for young people to go on a date.

 

[MarciKS]

I don't go to the movies anymore. It's cheaper to stay home and stream it plus it's more peaceful.

 

[Disgustedman]

Yeah last time I went to a movie theater paid $17 to watch Godzilla 3D and that was the last time I ever stepped foot in a theater.

The sad truth was the beginning intro of the film where it had the stars come flying out at you, was the best part of that movie. None of the monsters were in 3D, but all the crowds were which made it worthless.

I do remember one person told me about going to see the remake of war of the worlds, and he said the best reason to go was because of the sound effects in the theater where better than what you would get at a home theater.

But frankly when I get hooked up in another apartment I probably am going to do the streaming service, because frankly the price of going out to a theater now is getting ridiculous.

 

[Tish]

I still go, I love the experience.

 

[MountainRa]

I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie in the theater. It’s hard to justify the expense. I can’t drive at night anymore and can’t seem to find the time to attend a matinee.
When I did go to the theater I preferred to go alone. I can be alone in my own living room to watch a movie.
I will say watching a movie on a small screen lacks something that watching it on the big screen provides.

 

[ChiroDoc]

I grew up going to ornate movies theaters, as I'm sure many of you did. Even the smaller neighborhood theaters would do their best to add regal touches, like plush carpeting, and nice paneling. I still enjoy movies at the theater-- even though some of their screens are much smaller than they used to be.

There were several beautiful cinema houses in downtown Pittsburgh when I was young. There are only two left, but are now music performance venues. Another great theater we used to attend was the old Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Blvd. before it closed (It's now reopened with a much smaller theater and for other purposes). The ornate decorations and craftsmanship were eye popping.

But here's the problem for me: 90% of the movies produced today are crapola-- real Limburger. And of the remaining 10% there are only 1 or 2 each year that are good enough to go through the hassle of traveling to the theater, and all the rest. Some years there are none at all.

I can see why folks would want to see a huge splashy film at a big screen theater, especially with a state of the art sound system. But for the vast majority of contemporary films I wouldn't waste my money.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Due to health issues, I'm unable to go to a movie theater most of the time, so thank goodness for streaming. And @OneEyedDiva, I think you'll like The Amateur; it's a little on the long side but very good.

That's exactly what I do. It takes over a year for one of those services to get enough new things to interest me for a month.

YouTube is simply wonderful to me. I've discovered music I didn't know I liked, travel videos, and hundreds of movies. I prefer movies made before 1950 and YouTube seems to have them all. I watch one pre-1950 movie every Sunday along with members of an online forum. We've watched 135 movies together and found them all on YouTube.

The last movie I watched at a theatre was in 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy with my family. I do miss the fun of watching a comedy and laughing along with a big group or everyone jumping and screaming together at a horror movie like Jaws.

I know what you mean about YouTube. There's so much to partake of ! Another thing I love about it is because of the song(s) cover art and live performances, I've gotten to see many artists whose music is in my collection that I'd never even seen pictures of before. I streamed Guardians and like it. I read an article years ago that said when a person experiences comedy with a group of people, it seems funnier and we tend to laugh more readily and harder. I've found that to be true.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I loved the Majestic Theater and the other downtown theaters that were grand and beautiful. Most of the others are long gone. The Majestic was rennovated in the 1980s by an architectural firm I was working for at that time. I think it's still in business, but last I knew it's now used for performing arts, not movies anymore.

There was a Majestic theater in our area too.

IMO there is nothing like seeing a movie on the big screen at a theater. It just doesn't have the same impact for me as watching it on TV. Also, it has my total focus. I'm not distracted by anything that might be going on around the house. It is also an "afternoon out" for my hubby and me and since the theater is inside a mall we walk the mall a couple of times before going to the movie.

Rather than paying high concession prices, we "smuggle" candy in and just pay for a drink. We put the candy in a small Aveda bag (Aveda is located in the mall) so no one ever questions it. We recently saw the new Fantastic Four movie, which is filmed like it was in the 50's/60's, in IMAX, and the visuals and sound alone were worth it! Wicked is another movie that must be seen in a theater. We are seeing the new Naked Gun movie next Wednesday and I received AMC's 50% Tuesday/Wednesday discount. We will have dinner out afterward.

This is one "treat" I won't give up until there are no longer movie theaters in existence.

On the rare occasions I go to the theaters, I smuggle in my snacks too. I also bring my own drink in a small bottle. The only time I eat popcorn is when it's the ingredient in Crunch n Munch I don't drink sodas except for when we eat at restaurants and I refuse to pay the ridiculous prices for movie theater snacks, even though the last two times I went, loved ones paid for my tickets.

I grew up going to ornate movies theaters, as I'm sure many of you did. Even the smaller neighborhood theaters would do their best to add regal touches, like plush carpeting, and nice paneling. I still enjoy movies at the theater-- even though some of their screens are much smaller than they used to be.

There were several beautiful cinema houses in downtown Pittsburgh when I was young. There are only two left, but are now music performance venues. Another great theater we used to attend was the old Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Blvd. before it closed (It's now reopened with a much smaller theater and for other purposes). The ornate decorations and craftsmanship were eye popping.

But here's the problem for me: 90% of the movies produced today are crapola-- real Limburger. And of the remaining 10% there are only 1 or 2 each year that are good enough to go through the hassle of traveling to the theater, and all the rest. Some years there are none at all.

I can see why folks would want to see a huge splashy film at a big screen theater, especially with a state of the art sound system. But for the vast majority of contemporary films I wouldn't waste my money.

I agree with what I bolded (except not sure about the percentage). And even if the movie has the potential to be really good, the new trend to say F**k in every other sentence (or worse) really turns me off. I'm certainly not going to pay for a movie ticket to see that crap.

I never go to the movies any more. I like everything about streaming better, including the fact that I can interrupt a movie or a series episode and continue it later or the next day or whenever, and I can fast forward or back up to wherever I want and watch part of it again, or even go back to the beginning and watch the whole thing again. And I don't have the trouble and expense of driving to the theatre, parking, and so on. And I'm not exposing myself to every virus that afflicts us. And sometimes I even get a choice of languages to watch a movie in, if it's a foreign movie.

I'm kind of amazed that theaters are even still in business. Maybe they're still a good place for young people to go on a date.

Every reason you mentioned for preferring streaming over going to the theater is a good one Sunny. Movie theaters can be nasty places full of germs. As a somewhat germophobe, I feel ya on that one. I say somewhat because after getting our kitten, I kind of had to let go of some phobic things.

I don't go to the movies anymore. It's cheaper to stay home and stream it plus it's more peaceful.

Definitely.