It’s that time of year again — the days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and The Uptown is having financial troubles.
This is most likely due to the fact that in the past few years, Calgarians have sadly been turning their backs on independent cinemas like The Uptown, Globe, and The Plaza like they were a political endorsement from Al Noor.
The troubles at The Uptown have gotten so bad that on a recent visit, my friends and I were greeted with blankets because the building’s owners had turned off the heat.
Quite frankly, the idea of The Uptown dimming its marquee has brought on a different form of seasonal depression.
These three small theatres are all that’s left for film buffs who could care less about who Bella chooses, Nicolas Cage’s hair or whatever the hell a Miley Cyrus is. Without these movie houses, where will we go to see all those movies that win Oscars or documentaries about countries we’ve never heard of?
More importantly, where will we watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show and get popcorn for less than $5?
Recently, I’ve heard of people driving out to Cross Iron Mills just because you can reserve your seat at its new theatre! Here’s a tip for you gas guzzlers. On an average night at The Uptown, Globe, or Plaza you can have your own seat, row and sometimes you might even have the entire theatre to yourself, too. How can you beat that?
I already know what you’re thinking — why would I go to smaller theatres when I can stand in line at Chinook, which was just named the busiest movie theatre in Canada. What would you rather do after a busy day of work — stand in line to buy your ticket, then another line to get your food, then one last line to get your ticket checked, or head down to The Uptown where they do it all at once. Have we all become so accustomed to parking on the Deerfoot that we forgot that waiting for things actually sucks?
Saving theatres like The Uptown should be the utmost of importance for Calgarians.
Especially for the ones who complain about cellphones, tweens and loud talkers who have seemingly invaded the bigger chains.
Instead of complaining about a lack of alternatives, we need to realize they already exist — we just have to start going.
