MemeMachineGo!

Another Berkeley movie theatre has bitten the dust.

A Berkeley cinema staple for 35 years has closed. Act 1&2 Theatre at 2128 Center St., showed final screenings of C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America and Summer Storm to sparse audiences Sunday before closing down for good. […] “In general, one of the problems with theater properties is the retail value of the square footage is higher than the value of the theater. Other retail venues can better afford to pay that.”

The Act I & II had two screens, and specialized in indepedent, foreign and art films. It was part of the Landmark chain, which still has two other theatres in Berkeley. It’s likely that most of the same movies will still play in Berkeley, but with fewer screens to go around, engagements will be shorter.

I regret that it’s gone, but, you know, I wasn’t doing much to support it. I don’t think I’ve been there since Mirrormask opened six months ago. I haven’t seen a movie in a theatre at all since King Kong (and that was the first in a long time.) Most of Pocahontas’ and my money goes straight into our house. Seeing a matinee together costs $15. We can rent 4 movies for that, and not have to deal with screaming children, other people’s cellphones, or 15 minutes of commercials.

Much as I wouldn’t like to see a world without theatres, until such theoretical time as we have a lot more disposable cash, the rentals win.