In our highly industrialized world, everything seems to be getting bigger. Stores become super-marts, companies merge into larger companies and banks are bought out, made bigger, and the names change before the paint even dries on the original moniker.
The film industry is not immune to this trend either. Movie budgets burgeon into the hundreds of millions, studios combine and theatres become the size of shopping malls.
What is an overwhelmed movie-goer to do? Gone is the day of the small neighborhood theatre. Instead you have impersonal multiplexes with four screens showing Snow Dogs. Your movie of choice is stuffed into one of the closet-sized screens and all four concession stands are packed with customers eager to buy a prepackaged bag of nachos and cheese.
Where are movie lovers to go if they really want to enjoy the experience of watching a film and not worry about the butter dispenser being broken again? Try an independent theatre. If you can look past all the bravado and bright lights of the major theatres in St. Louis, you will find the city has much to offer the film-goer, if you know where to look.
The Galleria, Chase Park Plaza and the Screening Room are three such theatres in the metro area that offer a refreshing alternative to the generic twenty-four screen movie theatres or staying at home to watch Tommy Boy for the 30th time. They are locally owned and operated by Harman Moseley, who wants to give movie viewers a genuinely comfortable and accommodating movie experience at an affordable price. With the exception of the Tivoli, the Hi-Pointe and the Plaza Frontenac, all owned by The Landmark, Moseley’s theatres are the only true, independently-owned screens in the city.
Harman wants to make his guests remember their visits at his theatres by paying attention to all the little details. “I want to micromanage every detail about the place.what kind of music to play, what slides to put on the screen, what to charge, how many previews; you make a million different decisions and create a completely different experience.people notice stuff like that,” Harman said.
You will certainly notice Harman: He spends Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights traveling to each of his theatres to make sure everyone is enjoying the experience as much as he is.
Varying from the norm is the method Harman likes to use; he feels it will set him apart from the mega-plexes by making his own little niche. “That is the one thing I want people to think when they walk in to my theatre, that they are someplace else.(in that sense) there is no way that an AMC or Wherenberg can compete with an indie.”
One man cannot be the sole force behind making a theatre a unique experience. It requires an entire staff of people who love the art, craft and movie magic as much as the audience does. Moseley makes sure that his employees are all working to create something special for the customers. “If you can convey to the people that are working for you to care the same way you care then you’ve really got something going.”
Moseley recently acquired the Galleria Cinema, located at the food court in the Galleria Mall. He had the entire theatre renovated, including a new concession stand and a comfortable caf? area where customers can relax.
Film murals replaced the drab wallpaper, new sound systems and seating were added to all six screens, and an organist entertains the crowd in the largest screen before the feature presentation. After the film, audience members will be pleased to find mints waiting for them outside as they exit the cinema, a Harman Moseley signature. The Galleria is also applying for a liquor license to create more options for the over-21 crowd.
The Screening Room is the newest theatre that Moseley operates. Located in the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown Clayton, this one-screen theatre creates an intimate viewing experience unmatched elsewhere in St. Louis.
Located in the second floor above the lobby lounge, the screen offers state-of-the-art Dolby Digital sound, padded walls and plush seats to create the richest sound. The lounge on the first floor has a phenomenal sushi bar. If you don’t want to wait around downstairs, you can simply find the best seat in the theatre and have your adult beverage brought to you courtesy of the hotel staff.
All of this can be enjoyed for the student ticket price of $5. Free parking is available on the street, or $3 on the weekdays in the garage, free on Sundays and $6 for valet parking.
The Chase Park Plaza Cinema is one of the best-kept secrets in the Central West End. Located on the corner of Lindell and Kingshighway, the newly renovated hotel houses five screens with all the amenities that you will find at Harman’s two other theatres. Stop at the bar on the way in to the movie and purchase a drink and a snack, or have a sit-down dinner at the delicious Caf? Eau.
Valet parking is free before 5p.m. and free parking is located on the south corner of Lindell and Euclid.
All three theatres are open seven days a week. Admission is $5 for students. Both the Chase Park and the Galleria have show times and selections that are comparable to the mega-plexes. The Screening Room’s film plays at 5:45 and 8:15p.m.
A trip to one of Moseley’s theatres can be a great night out: the staple dinner and a movie with a little Hollywood flare. Harman believes this is what people want. “I’ve been in the business now for 25 years. I’ve had a lot of losers and a few winners, and if anything, I know what people want. I know they want to be treated well. It is hard to give people this kind of service at a Wal-Mart. This is more like a True-Value Hardware Store, and that is the difference.”
