Old Town Pas Preps for New Kind of 'Luxury' Movie Theatre

With movie tickets going for $10-$14 a shot depending on the show time and cinema, is it that much of a stretch to the concept or budget to double that to see a film in a comfortable, intimate, "restaurant-like" setting? Gold Class Cinemas is banking on it, actually. The Aussie company is working on the renovation of the former Laemmle Theatres (which were AMC Theatres back in the day) at One Colorado in Old Pasadena, and is scheduled to open their 6-screen high-end movie venue "in time for the holiday season," according to the Star-News.

Your $22-34 ticket gets you a seat--a comfy seat in a reclining chair, no less--in a theatre that will seat 24-40 patrons. You'll have a blanket and a pillow, and a silent personal server who can bring you what you order from their offerings of restaurant-style extras such as beer, wine, cocktails, and food. Of course, just like at the ArcLight or the Pacific, what you put in your mouth comes out of your wallet, on top of the ticket price.

The marketing concept aimed at date-nights for couples is that you can have "dinner-and-a-movie" all in one place. Of course, it's pretty easy to accomplish this at a very low-budget cost: It's called YOUR HOME, where, minus the first-run flick, you can sit in a comfy chair with pillows and blankets, guzzle all the Two Buck Chuck you want, and make your BFF or significant other do the server duties. Stephen Mulheim, President and CEO of the Old Pasadena Business and Management District is far less cynical about the venture, calling Gold Class "an affordable splurge," and "a high level of luxury and really a very different experience." Too bad higher ticket prices don't make the movies themselves any better. Perhaps that's where the booze comes in...