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Monday, November 29, 2010
Shit Talk / Business Re: "Neptune Theater to Close, Reopen as Live Performance Venue"
Posted by Eric Grandy on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Actually, it's not "fucking lame" that the U-District's Neptune Theater, which is closing, is going to be reopened as a live performance venue by Seattle Theater Group. STG is an awesome non-profit that does a lot of good for Seattle by preserving historic theaters like the Moore and the Paramount as well as putting on shows. So the U-District loses one of three (oops, four) movie theaters; it gains a live music venue. End of the day, though, the Neptune gets preserved, which is the very opposite of fucking lame.
1
I think this switch is a GREAT idea. The U-District sorely needs a good place to listen to live music. My only worry is they'll have to make it an 18+ place due to the college kids.
2
I agree with Eric G. It rocks.
But they could make it all ages 16+ for most shows and have an optional upper deck bar for 21+ events too. The only prob is security and carding.
But they could make it all ages 16+ for most shows and have an optional upper deck bar for 21+ events too. The only prob is security and carding.
4
I hate to lose my favorite place to watch a film... but, ok, yeah, Seattle doesn't need another 'movie' theater. It becoming just a 'theater' is good, I guess.
5
@2 Will in Seattle
And how many All Ages Shows do you go to? RCKCNDY used to be a decent all ages venue, worked out so well, they demolished the place to build apartments for chronic alocholics. All Ages venues need to be more medium sized, or much larger than the Neptune seating capacity. Venues like Moore Theater (2,500) or Paramount (3,000 seats) can do this and they dont operate every single day, but the Neptume (1,000) will struggle, they would need to operate 7 days a week and that just aint gonna happen.
Alternatives that I would pay money to frequent.
#1) Karaoke Gong Show venue. Free to perform, not so free to criticize the shows. Setup a text messaging system, vote yes or no, if enough votes are no, it triggers a mechanical gong.
#2) 2nd Run Theater with cheap alcohol! Lets go see Shrek 4 for 3$. 3$ for 16 oz PBR.
#3) Digital Projector, run live PPV events for people too poor to pay 50$ a pop in their apt, or hell, people who cant afford cable in the first place. Want to watch the husky football games? Cant afford 80$ a month for digital cable or 60$ for a ticket to the game? Come on in for 10$
And how many All Ages Shows do you go to? RCKCNDY used to be a decent all ages venue, worked out so well, they demolished the place to build apartments for chronic alocholics. All Ages venues need to be more medium sized, or much larger than the Neptune seating capacity. Venues like Moore Theater (2,500) or Paramount (3,000 seats) can do this and they dont operate every single day, but the Neptume (1,000) will struggle, they would need to operate 7 days a week and that just aint gonna happen.
Alternatives that I would pay money to frequent.
#1) Karaoke Gong Show venue. Free to perform, not so free to criticize the shows. Setup a text messaging system, vote yes or no, if enough votes are no, it triggers a mechanical gong.
#2) 2nd Run Theater with cheap alcohol! Lets go see Shrek 4 for 3$. 3$ for 16 oz PBR.
#3) Digital Projector, run live PPV events for people too poor to pay 50$ a pop in their apt, or hell, people who cant afford cable in the first place. Want to watch the husky football games? Cant afford 80$ a month for digital cable or 60$ for a ticket to the game? Come on in for 10$
6
I'd love to see a good music venue back in the U Dist. There are a ton of music fans down there (despite all the record stores closing). This could be good!
7
@5: i remember RCKNDY was where the hotel is. the Chronic Alcoholic housing is where Spy PI was. both are sorely missed.
9
@7
Ahhh yes, I stand corrected. A Hotel now stands where the RCKNDY once stood. The apt for chronic alcholics is 20' away.
I really dont see how turning the Neptune theater into something Seattle has a dozen of already, will allow it to operate. Might as well turn it into a coffee bar at that point.
Ahhh yes, I stand corrected. A Hotel now stands where the RCKNDY once stood. The apt for chronic alcholics is 20' away.
I really dont see how turning the Neptune theater into something Seattle has a dozen of already, will allow it to operate. Might as well turn it into a coffee bar at that point.
10
@5 There are several primarily all-ages venues in Seattle that have been getting by just fine for years and even more 21+ venues that are more than willing to put on the occasional all-ages show. The Neptune wouldn't have to be just one or the other.
As someone who went to a TON of all-ages shows during my UW days, this would have been awesome and it will be awesome for all the current and future UW students. Hell, I still go to plenty of all-ages shows, so I'm sure I'll be seeing a few at The Neptune. It'll provide a nice stepping stone for bands that are too big for El Corazon/Neumos but too small for The Showbox.
As someone who went to a TON of all-ages shows during my UW days, this would have been awesome and it will be awesome for all the current and future UW students. Hell, I still go to plenty of all-ages shows, so I'm sure I'll be seeing a few at The Neptune. It'll provide a nice stepping stone for bands that are too big for El Corazon/Neumos but too small for The Showbox.
11
I don't forsee allowing alcohol unless they put in a hockey rink style sheet of plexyglass on the front of the balcony to avoid having people crowd surf the hard way... That balcony gets steeper the more you drink; and I have been to SIFF after party there so I have experienced it.
12
I'm sorry to see the Neptune go, but it will be nice to see shows in the U-District. Maybe Built to Spill????
14
When the masses of people leave the theater after a rockin' show hopefully none of them will stumble into 45th St. traffic and get hit.
16
The Neptune has been my favorite Seattle movie theater for over 20 years. I little bit of our history is dying... it's sad to see all the cool and unique old movie theaters disappear as people flock to the megaplexes. Eric, I think to many people the Neptune isn't just another theater, it's thee theater. Back when you were a kid and I lived in the U-District, the Neptune was the theater that showed every cult, punk, and rockn'roll movie on the planet. Every John Waters movie played there. Every great foreign film in the '80s, from Leolo to Betty Blue. Movies like Erasurehead and The Wall. Those movies were packed with people from the local music scene and they'd show two for like $5 or $7, we'd get stoned or down beers during intermission between the movies. And at midnight it's where Rocky Horror played. The Neptune was an essential part of the Seattle experience in that era. Even when it was redone and started doing first run movies, it was still the most unique and cool theater to see films at in Seattle. So yes, seeing it stop doing movies is fucking lame, even if a cool theater group may be taking it over. It's another part of Seattle history fading away, let the people that have great memories of the place mourn a little.
17
Dan10, I remember that history, but all of that's been over for almost 20 years. If anything, this move will be a move back toward that earlier era.
19
The first time I ever went to the Neptune, I wondered if it was once a live venue, and when I found out it was, I thought, man, they need to make it that again someday. So, awesome, and good for STG.
@16 That's really the Varsity now. The Neptune has mostly done nothing but big blockbusters for at least a decade.
@16 That's really the Varsity now. The Neptune has mostly done nothing but big blockbusters for at least a decade.
20
Better it becomes a live music venue than a furniture store or something...which is what happened to my favorite old theater back home.
21
Let's hope! I can't say I ever go to The Paramount or The Moore though, where I do still see movies at the Neptune occasionally.
22
The Landmark employee probably thought it was "Fucking Lame", because their friends are going to losing their fucking jobs.
23
Sure the marquee will be missed, but I agree that this is a big plus for the U-District and great that the venue will be in the hands of STG rather than some non-arts space.
24
I favorite quirky Seattle movie house is the Seven Gables Theater. How the hell does that little fella stay in business?
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