I used to come to Joshua Tree as a teen, in the summer. We would romp around in the park in the evenings and go to the theater in the heat of the day. I just went recently for Síle Heany's local queer short film debut, Dig My Hole. She rented out the theater and showed Brokeback Mountain as the main feature. Although there were only 25 or so, the event had a beautiful impact. I believe it's $350 to rent out a screen and cover movie rights if you get enough people in attendance, you can make your money back and gain some profit.
Excellent story on the movie theater’s comeback. The original Twin Valley movie theater was housed where the NAPA auto parts store is now. Along with the original K-mart which was on the empty lot next to the health clinic, which was condemned after the Landers quake. The K-mart came down and was rebuilt where the Town Center mall is now. The building next to where the newspaper offices used to be was a Sears catalog store, so I believe that the current theater building with multiple screens must have been built in the late ‘90s? Although I seem to remember going to see the last film, Phantom Menace, at the original theater, and that was released in 1999, so my timeline may be a bit off.
Thanks for sharing this bit of history! I read it was originally built back in 1982 as the Valley Twin as a single screen venue and was expanded in the remodel to four screens for its reopening in 2024.🍿🍿🍿
first time reading sad trombone column! excellent will now seek it out. viva cinema will get off my ass and go support local theaters!
Thanks for reading! 🍿🍿🍿
I used to come to Joshua Tree as a teen, in the summer. We would romp around in the park in the evenings and go to the theater in the heat of the day. I just went recently for Síle Heany's local queer short film debut, Dig My Hole. She rented out the theater and showed Brokeback Mountain as the main feature. Although there were only 25 or so, the event had a beautiful impact. I believe it's $350 to rent out a screen and cover movie rights if you get enough people in attendance, you can make your money back and gain some profit.
Yes! I had also recently looked up renting a screen and it seemed reasonable. It could also be a great way to celebrate a birthday party. 🍿📽️🎉
Excellent story on the movie theater’s comeback. The original Twin Valley movie theater was housed where the NAPA auto parts store is now. Along with the original K-mart which was on the empty lot next to the health clinic, which was condemned after the Landers quake. The K-mart came down and was rebuilt where the Town Center mall is now. The building next to where the newspaper offices used to be was a Sears catalog store, so I believe that the current theater building with multiple screens must have been built in the late ‘90s? Although I seem to remember going to see the last film, Phantom Menace, at the original theater, and that was released in 1999, so my timeline may be a bit off.
Thanks for sharing this bit of history! I read it was originally built back in 1982 as the Valley Twin as a single screen venue and was expanded in the remodel to four screens for its reopening in 2024.🍿🍿🍿