I guess that’s why I’ve never walked out of the Oriental with a sour face. The Oriental Theatre, built in 1927, features three screens, incredible Eastern décor throughout, and it’s usually not too difficult to secure a street-parking spot around the surrounding blocks of Farwell and North Avenue. Ticket prices for each show are $8.50 - which is comparable to a typical theater, although the films shown here are all indie flicks, and hey, there’s an atypical selection of munchables at the concession stand, including ice cream, candy, hot pretzels, pastries, and espresso.

The inside of the theater is a sight in itself. Colorful, almost historic looking décor is planted everywhere, even the inside of the theaters. The movie-goer will certainly feel a bit more cozy and posh at the Oriental Theatre than at the suburbia multiplex theaters.

The Oriental used to host live concerts throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, welcoming the likes of Iggy Pop, The Violent Femmes, Jerry Garcia Band, R.E.M., Blondie, Tears for Fears and Devo. In the late ‘80s owners decided to dedicate the theater solely to movies, adding two additional screens and a concession stand.

Now, the theater is heralded as one of the top locations in the Milwaukee area to catch a flick that you normally wouldn’t even hear about – the kind that definitely didn’t come from big-wig producers in Hollywood. That’s not to say that notable films don’t show here; the flicks that come to the Oriental always seem to have a little more artistic flair, panache and attitude to them though, like Michael Moore’s "Fahrenheit 911" and "Super Size Me," the tale of Morgan Spurlock, who ate nothing but McDonald’s three meals per day for an entire month and documented the ridiculous health risks associated with doing so.

While documentaries are actually more of a rare treat at The Oriental, under the radar indie flicks aplenty are the theater’s forte, along with a twice a month Saturday night showing of perhaps the all-time most popular cult movie: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

With a smaller, friendlier atmosphere than most cold-hearted corporately-owned theaters, it’s hard to dislike The Oriental Theatre, even if the movie you chose to see doesn’t quite live up to your expectations.

Comments

Write Comment
Name:	Guest
Title:
Comment:
Code:*

Powered by AkoComment 2.0!