MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Whatever Happened To The Double Feature?

Whatever Happened To The Double Feature?

posted 7 years ago by R_Kane (15828)
31 replies | jump to latest

I'm watching Stephen King's Sleepwalkers for the first time in ages, and there was just a scene showing the marquis of the movie theater where Tanya (Madchen Amick, yum!) works, and it's showing a double feature. Why did we stop doing this? They were great. How many wonderful B Movies can you name? You used to able to spend a large part of the day in the theater and get absorbed in it, eat too much food that was bad for you and make out a lot. Sleepwalkers seems to be set in the late 1970s. Forty years ago, we had double features. Where did they go, and why?

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

My guess is money. They can sell more tickets to main features rather than that time being taken up
by another movie.
Having said that I would think they could make more money in concessions.
The longer you're there the more you would buy.

Can still see a double feature at the drive-in.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 7 years ago

Yes, Dewey, I think the common industry perception is they can make more money with a single-run A feature, but I'd love to see a progressive, boutique theater do double features (in a comfortable, quality environment with a great sound system and no cell phones) and prove "them" wrong. And offer quality concessions, like shrimp cocktail and platters of hamburger sliders, and you will make good money.

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

It would be interesting to see if that could be pulled off.

They couldn't help but make money on any food they sell.
I really couldn't imagine what they would charge for a shrimp cocktail.
My local theater already charges 10 bucks for mixed drinks.

For whatever reason this reminds me of the dollar theaters that were around back
in the late 80's and 90's. Maybe still around?
Movies for a buck. Those were the days.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 7 years ago

Your theater sells mixed drinks? I had no idea that was a thing.

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

For quite a few years now.

They have quite a menu too. Maybe even shrimp cocktail
Little tables in the seats.

Problem is people order from their seats and they deliver it during the movie.
Too much chaos.
Not my thing.

[–] Stratego (30511) 7 years ago

They served wine and beer when I went to see The Godfather. The result was grown up men giggling at inappropriate times.

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

Sorry, I didn't realize that was you.

[–] Stratego (30511) 7 years ago

Goddammit, dewey, you laugh like a 11-year old girl meeting her idol crush Harry Styles for the first time and not realizing he's gay.

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

What can I say?
I've always liked John Cazale.

[–] Stratego (30511) 7 years ago

You seemed more turned on by a half naked Moe Greene...

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

More of a Salvatore Tessio type guy.

[–] Stratego (30511) 7 years ago

Then we've got the same taste in men! You go, girlfriend!

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

As long as I'm in the will then I'm good.
I'm not like those other basic bitches.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77425) 7 years ago

In the early '80s a Drive-In theater about a half hour away would do them...that sweet old joint is long demolished and built up with crappy stores now...i saw Tentacles, Food of the Gods, Orca and many other fine crappy ones as doubles there...Pop would load the back of the big green station wagon with sleeping bags and pillows for us kids
That was the last time unless you count intentionally fun events like at Alamo Drafthouse which offers up schlocky b- movie doubles ( though the experience is different its still pretty fun)

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Fucking no way...I saw tentacles at a drive in when I was a kid...ours got turned into a XXX drive in by the time we were 13-14...used to ride out this old country road for a few miles on our bmxs, stash them,cut through some farm land and sneak in. We'd fuck with the patrons,get high,the usual...always ended with us getting the fuck chased out of us by "security"...good times! Got demolished by 2000...probably sooner.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77425) 7 years ago

A shame theyre nearly extinct now
I missed out on the Drive-in culture of the 60's and 70's...crappy biker and beach party and horror flicks, making out with a date, tinny sounding audio, lousy snacks and snuck in beers...sounds like a good time!
BTW...outdoor XXX theater?? Thats really weird!

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

It was the 80s and desolate...but yeah...I wouldn't call it common...sure as hell wouldn't fly these days!😄

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

They went from mainstream theatres in the mid-80's in the UK.

About the same time that movies weren't just movies but toys and meal deals and magazine covers.

Just a way to make more money is what it was I think.

[–] hairbox (72) 7 years ago

They probably wouldn't sell in most theaters. Movie theaters are dying out a bit. I work at one, and we're only busy when there's a holiday or a good movie coming out. Other than that, it's pretty dead. A lot of these old b-movies wouldn't draw in much of a crowd.

Last month, we did show the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, for a single screening, and less than half of the theater was occupied. Only weirdos like me go to these things.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77425) 7 years ago

*only weirdos like you and me go to these things
I make it a habit to go to oddball cult and b-grade movie showings and marathons...my best memories at the movies involve chainsaws and MC Clubs and monsters:)
Attending a 12 hour show in December!

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

hairbox! Where have you been?
I literally just saw an old post of yours mentioning a box of hair and Cornbugs.
So weird.

[–] hairbox (72) 7 years ago

I've been around. The crappy ads usually scare me off, but I ain't seeing any now, so I thought I'd disgrace this place with my presence. Cornbugs is the best.

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

We've grown to live with the crappy ads.

I'm glad you're disgracing us again with your disgracing presence.
Hopefully you stick around for awhile.
A box full of disgraceful hair that likes Cornbugs is always welcome.

[–] hairbox (72) 7 years ago

To be honest, I'm not sure a lot of people know who the Cornbugs are. When I met Bill Moseley, I told him I loved Cornbugs, and he gave me a cornbugs Halloween candy bag. I have it hidden away somewhere, because the only things that matter are the sentimental things, you know? Plus, I got his "Spider Mountain" album, signed. Gotta love horror conventions.

I wonder if he'll return for the next Devil's Rejects movie. Rob Zombie is working on the script, apparently...

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

I'm on overload here.

We don't care about most people is the first thing.
I don't know what I like more that you met Moseley or that Cornbugs has
a Halloween bag. It's too close to call at this point.

[–] hairbox (72) 7 years ago

http://trashepics.com/dump/file/1/cornbugs_bag.jpg

There she is. Kind of just a bag with an advertisement on it, really. If it were a real Cornbugs bag, it'd have buckethead, and rotten meat, and licked-plates.

[–] godewey (16472) 7 years ago

That's a little disappointing.
I was expecting it to at the least to be a bucket or something.

Thanks for the pic though. It's appreciated.
You got a signed album. That's cool.
Looking forward to the next Reject movie.

Glad you're back man.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

It died with the drive-in theater.

[–] brux (14724) 7 years ago

Maximizing profit. The movies were usually better back then too.
When I was a kid they had cartoons to open the show in addition to previews.
My Dad got to watch newsreels.
Today's movies are pretty bad.
I used to go to the movies about once a week, sometimes more.
Now there is maybe 1 movie, sometimes nothing that I watch in a year.
But also in cities the land value has gone us so much that any theater really
does have to maximized it's profits, as well as the studies and distribution
companies have sucked the money out of it, like the oil companies sucked
the profit out of gas stations.

They used to hire adult people of normal intelligence who could speak
English and walk you to your seat, or remove someone in the theater
who was being a distraction. Now at least in my city's theaters the
ushers don't do anything but press buttons.

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

Two words: Dodo Bird.

😎

[–] TexasJack (12516) 7 years ago

Same place as the baseball doubleheader, and for same reason: $$$