NOTE: About a year ago, when I was still writing a weekly column for The Coeur d’Alene Press, I wrote an article about my appreciation for the moviegoing arrangement I have with the Hayden, Idaho movie theater. As I am still writing reviews for The Press, my relationship with the theater continues.

So I thought, hey, this place deserves some more recognition. Rather than writing a fresh article, I retrofit that previous column into this blog post. But for those who didn’t see it the first time, congratulations! Fresh content!

I love the Hayden Cinema 6 Theater.

For 4+ years, this local movie house has permitted me to see the latest Hollywood offerings for free.

Before we get too far into this, I want to stress that I was not asked or bribed to write this article. Every now and again, I feel the urge to write something with actual substance, and I can’t think of a better subject than this locally owned and operated business.

Really, I only have one thing to say: Thank you.

Owner Curtis Deming can’t control whether I like a certain movie, but he always provides me a pleasant theatergoing experience. I don’t think I get preferential treatment. From what I’ve seen, his employees give every customer the same respect and quality service.

When we first pitched the weekly Ticket Stubs column to local movie theaters, Deming immediately accepted our proposition.

The others guys in town didn’t even return the call.

I know a local film critic probably isn’t important to many readers of a small-town newspaper, but it’s something I hope exists long after my employment at the Press. Most newspapers run the same reviews from the same five, nationally-syndicated critics. It’s important to have a local critic who sits in the same dark room as everybody else in town.

So even if you don’t like me or my reviews, I encourage everyone in the area to at least try out this upstanding local business. Here’s why:

Cheapest movie tickets in town

Even though Hollywood studios now take more than half of a film’s box office returns, the Hayden has managed to keep ticket prices below local and national averages. Their web site has regularly offered two-for-one specials, and the theater is now offering a matinee punch card. Buy nine matinee movie tickets and get the 10th free.

Bottomless popcorn and drinks

Local theaters make almost all of their money on concession sales. Unfortunately, this is the first thing people cut in tight economic times. Hayden prices are still below that of national chains, and Deming buys most of his product locally. The popcorn? Without a doubt, the best in town.

The future

The movie house has two stadium-seating auditoriums, and one is now equipped with a 3D projector. Deming hopes to upgrade one of his four other auditoriums to stadium seating soon.

Those upgrades are obviously dependent on solid business during the typically-busy summer season. In the meantime, Deming hopes to keep audiences happy with clean auditoriums, reasonable prices, good food and quality sound and picture presentation.

Note: There was some BS at the end of this article about how I thought the Regal Cinemas at Riverstone was still a nice place to see movies. They were Press advertisers, so I kinda just through them a bone to keep my job. The truth is, the local Regal house is overpriced, poorly managed, and kinda lousy for a so-called state-of-the-art movie house. Plus, even with 14 screens, they rarely bring anything outside of the mainstream.

Bottom line: The Hayden Cinema 6 is better. Obviously. For all the movies that don’t get there, I recommend the AMC Cinemas at River Park Square in Spokane.