In The Hood: April
From April 2006
Community Comments
Spark a community dialogue. Be the first to contribute by adding your comments.
Old State Theater
Bright Lights, Little City
By Deanne BroxtonIf you’re in a hurry, you might just overlook the Old State Theater’s red-and-white marquee. Nestled between a graphic design studio and a radio station in Auburn, the revitalized theater is in a historic 1930s building with a former heyday as a large movie and performing arts theater.
Just 30 miles from Sacramento in the Sierra Nevada foothills, this little theater that lay vacant for two years is quickly creating a niche for itself. Twice owned by large media chains, it had already undergone quite a few transformations before owner Theresa Cote and two co-partners reopened the venue in July 2004. They dreamed of showing high-quality films in a historic yet comfortable environment.
“We wanted a Tower Theatre in Auburn, where we could show art films and documentaries, limited releases, foreign and crossover films. You won’t find any run-of-the-mill films here,” explains Cote.
The eclectic mix of films such as “Pride & Prejudice,” “Walk the Line,” “Rent,” “Capote” and “Hoodwinked” draws people from Lincoln, Roseville and even Sacramento. Cote increases the theater’s visibility by offering low admission fees and often shows films at no cost to schools, senior groups and the Auburn Boys and Girls Club.
With the average price of an adult movie ticket at $9.50, Cote says movie patrons are being gouged, paying as much as $50 and up for a family of four. But at the Old State Theater, there’s a special nearly every day, so admission is usually only $4. And on Fun Film weekends — a huge draw — movies are a mere 50 cents. Kelly Darling, an employee of the theater, says at those prices you can still buy dinner and pay the rent. And you’d be hard-pressed to find another movie theater where you can get all-you-can-eat popcorn for $2.50 and 20-ounce sodas for $2.
Continued...
The Magazine
Site Links
Prosper Plus +
- Get Prosper Plus to receive e-mail alerts, special event invites, and content that interests you.
Community
- Join the Community and start participating. It's fast. It's easy. It's free.
Advertise on this site! Show your support for the Prosper Network and reach influential thought leaders and web users like yourself. Contact us to find out how.
© 2004-2007 Prosper Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
The materials on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Prosper Media, LLC.
Community Comments