News
Entertainment
The Avalon Theatre is mixing up its downtown movie offerings.
It's long been a venue where independent film lovers can go see something different than the typical Hollywood fare.
And while those movies are not going away, the indies are making room for “second-run” films — current movies that the big movie theaters have already had a shot at.
“We're not exclusively independent anymore,” said Avalon and Two Rivers Convention Center General Manager Theron LaFountain. “We're leaning more to mainstream, second-run shows.”
Currently, “The Help,” a movie based on the Kathryn Stockett novel, is showing at the Avalon at 5 and 7:45 p.m. through Thursday, Nov. 10.
The historic downtown theater has also added kids' matinees every Saturday and Sunday.
Independent films will continue to be offered monthly, for about two weeks, LaFountain said.
The next one, “Blackthorn,” is a Western starring Sam Shepard as Butch Cassidy who has taken refuge in Bolivia during his old age and wants to come home before he dies. The movie starts Nov. 11.
Although extremely loyal, the independent film audience wasn't large enough to sustain four weeks of independent film showings, LaFountain said.
“We're just rotating the independents out more often,” with second-run movies picking up the slack, LaFountain said.
“This allows us to have more cash to vie for the independent films. We can use second-run films to offset any losses in the independent film area.”
The extra money will also allow the Avalon a larger selection of independent films from which to choose. With only a limited number of copies of independent films, the Avalon is forced to compete with larger theaters for coveted films.
Another change at the Avalon is ticket price: Tickets have gone down from $8 to $5.
“We're not out to compete with the movie theaters,” LaFountain said. “The city is a not-for-profit entity. Our goal is to provide quality entertainment for citizens at low cost.”
Movies are shown Monday through Friday at around 5 p.m. and again at 7 or 7:30 p.m. Exact start time depends on the length of the film.
Beer, wine, soda and popcorn are all for sale, with popcorn free on Fridays.
Saturday and Sunday kids' matinees will be different each week, and will also include free popcorn for the $5 ticket price. This weekend's kids' movie is “Kung Fu Panda 2.”
“A lot of parents wanted something on the weekends for kids in the historic theater,” LaFountain said.
Three generations of moviegoers have enjoyed the Avalon Theatre, he said.
During the Thanksgiving school holiday, the Avalon will host a Harry Potterpalooza, where all eight Harry Potter films will be shown — one per day. Movie-goers are invited to dress up in costume as a Harry Potter character for a chance to win DVDs from the film series. A winner will be chosen each day, with the grand prize winner at the end of the week receiving a full set of all eight DVD Harry Potter films.
Each day's runners up will win one movie DVD. The contest is open to all ages.
The Avalon's Tuesday night “dinner and a movie” special will continue. The regular movie that day will screen at 4 p.m. while the dinner and movie special, usually a classic film, shows at 7:15 p.m. “The Great Dictator,” starring Charlie Chaplin, is playing Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday movies are free with a receipt that day from a downtown restaurant.
For a schedule of upcoming movies visit www.tworiversconvention.com.
It's long been a venue where independent film lovers can go see something different than the typical Hollywood fare.
And while those movies are not going away, the indies are making room for “second-run” films — current movies that the big movie theaters have already had a shot at.
“We're not exclusively independent anymore,” said Avalon and Two Rivers Convention Center General Manager Theron LaFountain. “We're leaning more to mainstream, second-run shows.”
Currently, “The Help,” a movie based on the Kathryn Stockett novel, is showing at the Avalon at 5 and 7:45 p.m. through Thursday, Nov. 10.
The historic downtown theater has also added kids' matinees every Saturday and Sunday.
Independent films will continue to be offered monthly, for about two weeks, LaFountain said.
The next one, “Blackthorn,” is a Western starring Sam Shepard as Butch Cassidy who has taken refuge in Bolivia during his old age and wants to come home before he dies. The movie starts Nov. 11.
Although extremely loyal, the independent film audience wasn't large enough to sustain four weeks of independent film showings, LaFountain said.
“We're just rotating the independents out more often,” with second-run movies picking up the slack, LaFountain said.
“This allows us to have more cash to vie for the independent films. We can use second-run films to offset any losses in the independent film area.”
The extra money will also allow the Avalon a larger selection of independent films from which to choose. With only a limited number of copies of independent films, the Avalon is forced to compete with larger theaters for coveted films.
Another change at the Avalon is ticket price: Tickets have gone down from $8 to $5.
“We're not out to compete with the movie theaters,” LaFountain said. “The city is a not-for-profit entity. Our goal is to provide quality entertainment for citizens at low cost.”
Movies are shown Monday through Friday at around 5 p.m. and again at 7 or 7:30 p.m. Exact start time depends on the length of the film.
Beer, wine, soda and popcorn are all for sale, with popcorn free on Fridays.
Saturday and Sunday kids' matinees will be different each week, and will also include free popcorn for the $5 ticket price. This weekend's kids' movie is “Kung Fu Panda 2.”
“A lot of parents wanted something on the weekends for kids in the historic theater,” LaFountain said.
Three generations of moviegoers have enjoyed the Avalon Theatre, he said.
During the Thanksgiving school holiday, the Avalon will host a Harry Potterpalooza, where all eight Harry Potter films will be shown — one per day. Movie-goers are invited to dress up in costume as a Harry Potter character for a chance to win DVDs from the film series. A winner will be chosen each day, with the grand prize winner at the end of the week receiving a full set of all eight DVD Harry Potter films.
Each day's runners up will win one movie DVD. The contest is open to all ages.
The Avalon's Tuesday night “dinner and a movie” special will continue. The regular movie that day will screen at 4 p.m. while the dinner and movie special, usually a classic film, shows at 7:15 p.m. “The Great Dictator,” starring Charlie Chaplin, is playing Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday movies are free with a receipt that day from a downtown restaurant.
For a schedule of upcoming movies visit www.tworiversconvention.com.
