Are we about to lose the Castro? Will it go the way of the Balboa and start carrying first-run Hollywood fare?
A regular Bayflicks.net reader pointed me to a very frightening article on the SF Weekly web site, which directed me to a much less scary one at the Bay Area Reporter. I’ve also exchanged emails with my regular Castro contact (who books the repertory stuff there). My conclusion: Some cause for concern, but not for panic or defeat. I doubt the Castro will become an exclusively first-run theater any time soon.
The new Indiana Jones movie will open at the Castro–along with half the multiplexes in the world–on May 22. But it will only run there through June 18. As those multiplexes move it to a smaller screen to make way for the next blockbuster, the Casto will replace it with Frameline’s annual LGBT festival. At least through the end of July, I’ve been assured, things will be pretty normal, with classic movies filling in the dates between the Silent and Jewish festivals.
Interestingly enough, according to the Bay Area Reporter, the Castro is getting “a new surround sound system and upgrading its projection equipment.†I’m not sure of the details. Aside from a high-class digital projection system, I don’t know what could improve upon the Castro’s system. Of course, it could be getting a platter for one of its two 35mm projectors, which would make economic sense for the theater but not improve the movie-going experience. (If they remove a projector and just use a platter, thereby making the theater unacceptable for older prints, then I’ll start worrying.)
This isn’t the 1970’s. Revival movie theaters have to compete against DVDs, HDNet, and Turner Classic Movies. Soon they’ll have to compete against Blu-Ray (which isn’t offering many classics, yet). If booking the occasional blockbuster helps keep the Castro solvent for the things that make it special, I can live with that.
Besides, could you think of a better theater to see Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Bayflicks 