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Friday, February 10, 2012
Is Tower and Crest Closing Still a Threat?
by Devin Ritchie, published on January 19, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Storyline: Theaters
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It has been a topic of discussion in the area for years, could the Tower and Crest Theaters have to close? With new giant movie chains in the area and the economy how it is, it’s a very real possibility. They have always seemed to be on the brink of closing, the Crest has closed before in the 80s, and the marquee on the Tower reads "savethetowertheater.org". So this threat must be pretty real.
A large banner on the Tower reads "SAVE THE ALHAMBRA", that is; the huge gorgeous theater that the city was unable to buy and save in 1973, it was soon demolished and made way for the Safeway that resides on Alhambra blvd today. The only thing that remains of the Alhambra is a fountain on the south side. Could this be a foreseeable future for our other theaters? Well perhaps if we don't do anything about it.
I admit, I don’t make it out to either as much as I should. Usually only go to Crest for the Trash Film Orgy or Sacramento Film Festival, and Tower even less. But sadly, the last few times I have been have left me feeling disappointed. The Tower has seen better days; it has become rundown and has poor quality projection, seats, and structure in general. I have to believe that if their attendance were up they would have the money to fix it up.
With the news of the Sacramento Ballet being in peril, the arts In Sac could quickly disappear if we aren't careful. If you’re in the mood for something artsy, indie, or foreign, or just don’t feel like supporting big movie chains and you want to help out local buissneses. Come downtown and make sure we keep theaters like this in Sacramento.
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Bigger more powerful orgs will always mow down the weaker ones. History has shown this time and again. The theatres must step up and promote like there''s no tomorrow.
Native Americans were not organized to withstand the euro invasion and so it goes.
If Sacramentians want their historical landmarks to stay intact, they will have to kick down more frequently.
Its that simple.
I love the Tower Theater. I don't think it's rundown, and I love it just the way it is. As long as I can, I will fight to keep it open. They have a monday (I think) night special for students where you get free popcorn and a drink with your movie. It comes in handy for high school or college students, and I've been to a number of those. I also like the way their seats are set up at a large angle on steep stairs, because I'm a somewhat short guy, and that way no giant person will ever block my view. Also, it's right next to Tower Cafe! That place has some awesome food, and I wouldn't pass it up next time you visit the Theater, or even the area. In addition, it's right next to R5 Record Store, which besides The Beat, has the best selection of vinyl records in Sacramento, in my opinion.
The Crest, which has been open for probably even longer, I don't think is in too much trouble. Are they? They have probably one of the best selections of indie and foreign films, wicked food (especially the Italian sodas), and they also have live entertainment (many big names have performed there in the past). Yeah, parking there sucks compared to Tower, but if you park in the public parking garage on 10th and K (on the corner by the K st./L st. alley), you can go to the Pyramid Brewing Company and get some good beer and dinner, and get your parking validated 5 hours free! Also, if you really want to impress your date, after you have eaten and have accumulated some leftovers, give them to one of the starving bums on K street.
I hope that neither the Tower nor Crest are seriously close to threat, because without them I would I'd be lost. Since I really have no dating skills, personality, or money, they've saved me from being a terrible date SO many times. I'd have to find a new dinner/date plan, or perhaps I'd just be forced to relocate to a different city entirely.
I would love to save the Tower. However, the current campaign is not as cut and dry as it seems and the current operators of the theater seem to have neglected it for a while.
At the very least I think some research is in order. The Save the Tower campaign was organized when the city attempted to give money to another company to open more art house theaters on K street. The operators of Tower at the time claimed they would have to close the theater if there was any more competition.
This article bushes over the issue a little:
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/936571.html
1. Keep Tower Theatre as Sacramento’s premier art film venue – showing movies continuously since 1938! Tower brings 175,000 annual visitors to Tower District businesses and the City.
2. Limit to no more than five, the number of new movie screens built in the downtown movie market. Cinemark Theatre would be allowed to buildup to 12 movie screens in Downtown Plaza – almost doubling its existing 7-screen theatre. Building no more than five new movie screens downtown would allow Tower Theatre to continue to compete for the single print of the most popular (profitable) art films released in the downtown market -- and remain in business showing numerous premier art films!
3. Oppose City subsidies for development of movie theatres. Scarce redevelopment funds should be used on community priorities, such as housing, to truly revitalize K Street Mall!
I have to say, I don't really agree with any. The Tower is already not the premiere art film venue - that would be the Crest. It is also not really my job to make it a premiere venue - that would be the job of the operator of the venue. Of course if Tower became a co-operative or was city owned, I'm in!
I certainly do not want to limit the number of theaters downtown. I live downtown and I do not like driving around to go to a movie. I like living in the city center and I like the idea of more arts and entertainment, not less.
The city routinely hands out subsidies for restaurants, nightclubs hotels. I am not for blanket subsidies or against them. I think we need to carefully consider each and the impacts it would have on the central city and our region.
But the Crest's huge saving grace, economically, is that it's downtown's best venue for all kinds of concerts and lectures - big enough to seat almost 1,000 people, yet small enough to seem intimate even when full, And the sound system kicks *** - people expect indie/arts theaters to have poor sound, but the Crest blows most of the multiplexes away on sound quality.