Kotte.org point's out an interesting piece in the New Yorker about the future of movies. He excerpts a bit about the state of the modern multiplex theater:

Consider the mall or the urban multiplex. The steady rain of contempt that I heard Hollywood executives direct at the theatres has been amplified, a dozen times over, by friends and strangers alike. The concession stands were wrathfully noted, with their "small" Cokes in which you could drown a rabbit, their candy bars the size of cow patties; add to that the pre-movie purgatory padded out to thirty minutes with ads, coming attractions, public-service announcements, theatre-chain logos, enticements for kitty-kat clubs and Ukrainian bakeries-anything to delay the movie and send you back to the concession stand, where the theatres make forty per cent of their profits.

It made me think about what I'd change about movie theaters.

For one thing, I'd ditch the arcade rooms and reduce the number, size and scope of the concessions stands to just the basics of drinks, some candy and popcorn. Instead of the ubiquitous and over-priced concessions stands, I'd start offering adjacent bistros and tickets that included both dinner and a movie. There'd be a smaller Starbucks-coffee-like area with pastries, desserts, small sandwiches and salads and drinks and tables to sit. The other would be a little more developed, with menus and entrees fit for a family night-out or romantic dinner for two.

In place of the arcade rooms? A shop with movie-related merchandise, of course. Movie memorabilia, crap related to the currently playing movies, and software and cameras for those inspired to go out and make their own independent films.

Theaters like the Alamo drafthouse already do things a bit differently by installing interactive devices in the seats so customers can participate in quizzes on the screen while waiting for the movie, or offering food and drink service to your seat. So why don't more theaters radically change their concepts?

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