It’s 40 minutes before the movie starts, and the Mondo Monday crowd at The Loft Cinema is already gathering in the theater’s patio.
As the sun sets, the lovers of cult classic movies sip on beer and munch on popcorn while they wait for the doors to open.
Among them is Lisa Norton, who is here every Monday.
“It’s two and a half hours of total laughter,” she says about the movies, which generally are so bad they are good.
Her friend Michael Stone had almost given up on going to the movies. Then he discovered the Loft a few years ago.
“The movies they play are marvelous,” Stone says. “They’re my kind of movies.”
Mondo Monday isn’t an anomaly — the Loft offers a variety of ways to entertain, including mobile movies, film fests, guest artists, international film. And, of course, the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
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History
The Loft Cinema got its start in a 160-seat space above a bike shop just south of the University of Arizona campus. Soft porn movies flickered on the screen before the Loft moved there in 1972 and started screening films by directors with such names as Cocteau, Truffaut and Fellini. In 1991, UA expansion pushed the Loft out, and it took over the space once occupied by the Showcase movie house, where it still makes its home.
When the Loft went up for sale about a decade later, Peggy Johnson stepped in, established it as a non-profit, raised money to buy the building, and has been expanding its programs and space since its rebirth in 2002.
New seats
The main theater closed May 5 for a facelift. It’s getting something it hasn’t had in decades: new seats.
The well-worn blue seats that stretched across the theater are being replaced with 500 dark grey, cushy seats. The rows will be split by an aisle in the middle, making for an easier entrance and exit.
The new seats will be in and ready for occupants July 21, when Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” opens. The movie was shot in 70 millimeter and the Loft not only has a projector to screen it, the rows of seats remain slightly curved, which is the ideal way to view 70 millimeter movies, says Johnson
“We’re really excited to have this film come on the day we can reopen and show it in 70 millimeter,” Johnson said. “Because nobody has it anymore.”
Hanging out at the JCC
With the big theater out of commission, the Loft has held some larger screenings at the Jewish Community Center. It’s the perfect location, says Johnson, because the space is about the same size as the theatre undergoing renovations. This isn’t the first time the Loft and the JCC have worked together. The Loft houses the opening night of the Jewish Film Festival every January.
“It’s been a good opportunity,” says Johnson.
“We are going to continue to do things with the JCC.”
Solar Van
The Loft has taken its shows on the road. A van, equipped with a solar energy projector and three different-sized screens, has set up for outdoor movies as such places as the UA and the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson.
The solar van is a key component to the Loft’s outreach program. They’ll be taking it to Nogales in October for the Santa Cruz International Film Festival.
“What I’m really excited about is a screening in conjunction with the Nogales film festival.” Johnson says.
The feature film will be projected onto the border wall from the American side, as well as from the Mexican side.
Kids Fest
Popcorn, Eegees, and movies are all things to look forward to at the 10th annual Loft Kids Fest, which starts next Saturday, July 22 and runs through July 30.
Pre-movie, there will be arts and crafts. On the screen will be such kid-friendly favorites as “The Bee Movie,” and “Ice Age.”
The festival will also show movies that kids may not have had a chance to see on the big screen, such as “The Sandlot,” “Looney Tunes,” and “Kubo and the Two Strings.”
“The look in the kids faces,” says Johnson. “They’re so excited. It’s really great.”
And here is the best part: It’s free. Even the popcorn.
That’s not all, folks
Here’s a taste of what else is going on at the Loft:
The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” every third Saturday of the month with, of course, a shadow cast.
The Solar Van brings Films to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson every fourth Friday of the month through September.
Free classic art films every Tuesday evening.
The annual all-night Scream-O-Rama with 12 hours of horror films.
The Outdoor Movie Party, with chairs in the parking lot and a film on a big screen.
Check the movie theater’s website for these and other events.
Lauren Whetzel is a University of Arizona journalism student apprenticing at the Star.
