Sound Cinema: Central Cinema

Central Cinema’s marquee

The Evergreen Echo

Central Cinema looks incredibly industrial from the outside, but once inside, it's a single screen of terrific movie magic.

The building that houses Central Cinema in Seattle's Central District was erected in the late 1920s and has housed both a car dealership and a milk bottling plant. The idea to turn a piece of the space into a combination movie theater and pub came to Kevin Spitzer, a metal artist, when he was renting it as his studio. In summer 2005, Kevin and his wife Kate opened the theater and have been operating it in the 20 years since.  

The lobby has very tall ceilings, and if you look up, you will see an incredible array of framed movie posters and one-sheets lining the walls. Just off to the right of the ticket counter is a cozy dining room for drinks, dinner, or relaxing pre- or post-show. The theater is down a hallway and to the right. As you enter the screen plays a special mix of preshow entertainment, including old cartoons, film strips, and music videos. Just below the screen is a stage for special presentations. On the far wall is the glowing menu of specials as well as some bus trays, cups, silverware, and a large urn for water.

The seating is an intriguing mix of different styles that all go together in their odd ways. Because Central Cinema is a theater in which you can order food and drinks from wherever you sit, there are short tables in front of every seat. There are multiple wide aisles to accommodate wait staff. Some seats near the middle aisle are free-standing chairs. Closer to the screen there are seats more closely resembling one side of a diner banquette. There is a second seating area up a small set of stairs—a mix of the free-standing chairs and angled comfy benches. In terms of leg room, I opted for the upper level as there were no barriers under the table and I could stretch my legs if need be.

The incomparable Eartha Kitt on screen at Central Cinema’s theater (from her music video for "Where is My Man?")

The Evergreen Echo

Typically, I avoid concessions at movie theaters because I go so often and it can get expensive, but I really wanted to get into the Central Cinema spirit, so I made it a dinner-and-a-movie outing for myself. I ordered the Hot ‘n Spicy pizza, which has Cascioppo's spicy Italian sausage and Mama Lil's hot peppers, both of which are made here in Washington. I also added a Jones Cola (made in Seattle) and a bag of peanut M&M's for dessert. I got my dinner before the show, but you can order from your seat at any time with a QR code and digital ordering. Central Cinema also features a built-in intermission so you can refresh your beverage or get some extra snacks for the back half of the film.

Of the two films playing when I went, I decided on the classic I've seen maybe once or twice in my lifetime: Casablanca. This film has become so ubiquitous in our culture that even if you haven't seen it, there are several lines you will have known your whole life without even realizing it. Casablanca is classic not only because of its starry cast and reputation as a film that film scholars point to for its script and execution, but because it makes a strong statement about resistance in the face of tyranny. It's a love story in which our hero, Rick (Humphrey Bogart), makes an incredible sacrifice and his frenemy, Louis (Claude Rains), is coded in a way that if you listen carefully you'll hear how deeply he's in love with Rick. It's funny, heart-breaking, and still as thrilling as it was when it premiered 83 years ago.

Central Cinema runs a mix of films. Most are classics, cult classics, or special runs of recent releases. They do special events like Hecklevision, where cinema goers are encouraged to send a smart-mouthed comment with their smart phone to be played on screen. Every Thursday they have a free cartoon happy hour from 5-7 p.m. with kid-friendly snacks. They also host Moviecat Trivia with fun clips and prizes. Every December they feature a Christmas film for every possible sensibility. Until December 10, you can catch The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Green Knight. Then December 12 will have Elf and Die Hard. Rounding out the season starting December 19 will be Home Alone and Deadly Games: Dial Code Santa Claus. In between there will be Hecklevision screenings for The Long Kiss Goodnight  and Die Hard as well as a special presentation of Krampus by horror emcee Baron Von Terror.

Central Cinema is a unique space within Seattle. It's a casual theater to relax, have dinner, and see something you may not have seen in a while, or may have never seen on the big screen. Even with the brick walls and the feeling of past heavy industry, it's a welcoming space and a place to have a good time at the movies no matter what you're seeing.