Moxie Cinema

Post #630 - March 28, 2010 - 12:50 pm

Spring Cleaning

EXCERPT:  Well, it's Spring 'round these parts...we think. ("There's a saying in Missouri, if you don't like the weather just wait five minutes. In Blaine, with hard work, I think we can get that down to three or four minutes." --WAITING FOR GUFFMAN) Anyways, with Spring always comes the urge for changes, sprucing up, etc. And we've got a lot of changes coming. So over the next few weeks we'll be updating the blog and spreading the word, so keep checking back! But here's a quick sneak peek at some of the things we're working on (some more ...

Post #616 - August 28, 2009 - 1:07 pm

Ch-ch-changes

EXCERPT:  It's been a while since our last blog post! Oops! But before you get upset, let me explain what's been going on behind the scenes - there have been a lot of changes! First, and most obviously, yours truly has been going through some bizarre physical alterations, in which a human is growing inside my belly (and yes, just one human, because many of you have asked if there were more than one inside...)! I had heard about the exhaustion that pregnant women get, but I had no idea it was going to be like having mono again! Top ...

Post #615 - June 30, 2009 - 3:41 pm

New Business Classification

EXCERPT:  In the past people have referred to The Moxie as a "Mom and Pop" operation. But that's not quite true, since we don't have kids. But come early December, you can officially call us a "Mom and Pop" business! It's going to be an exciting (and probably terrifying!) transition, but we couldn't wait to share with you! ...

Post #611 - May 30, 2009 - 4:49 pm

The 3/50 Project and why it's GENIUS

EXCERPT:  An exciting new campaign is hitting the Twitter feed, and I like it. It's called The 3/50 Project, and it's encouraging community members to spend $50 a month at local, independently owned, brick and mortar organizations. They prompt you by saying, "What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?" I know for sure that on a daily basis I miss our neighbor Carla at Pastiche. My credit card is probably thanking me, but with her unique boutique gone, I seriously felt like a bit of Springfield's pizazz left as well. And since her closure, my personal ...

Post #610 - May 18, 2009 - 7:22 pm

Looking Through The Independent Lens

EXCERPT:  Independent Lens on PBS is possibly one of the best programs on TV right now. I mean, take a look at some of the documentaries they've aired over the past couple years: STRANDED HELVETICA CHICAGO 10 CAN MR. SMITH GET TO WASHINGTON ANYMORE? ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM NEW YEAR BABY THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL WORDPLAY Do those look familiar? Hopefully you caught them all the first time at our little theater! We have a special place in our heart for Independent Lens, so when they included us on their interactive Art-House Theater ...

Post #531 - February 8, 2008 - 8:01 pm

February: Love is in the Air

EXCERPT:  I think that February is a turning point in Dan's and my marriage, and I owe it all to The Moxie. Uh-oh! That sounds bad. Like I could say, "We've had just enough working together 24/7 and have decided to call it quits." But don't worry. That's not where I'm going with this rare entry into the Moxie blogosphere. Sure we have our blow outs, but no fears - Danicole are still going strong (we even have that blasted nickname that someone came up with...cute, right?). No, the reason is this: For as long as I can remember, ...

Post #524 - December 13, 2007 - 5:10 pm

Wehrenberg Theatres announces imminent buyout

EXCERPT:  Word on the street is that Wehrenberg Theatres is looking for a buyer, which means the Campbell 16 will have a new name in the near future. Wehrenberg is the oldest theater chain in the country, and basically owns the St. Louis exhibition market, so this announcement came as quite a shock. It does, however, afford me the opportunity to relate the theater industry to one of my favorite hobbies, baseball, and treat their imminent sale like a key offseason free agent signing. So, without any further ado, let the prognosticating begin! Before we discuss who might buy Wehrenberg, ...

Post #503 - June 23, 2007 - 10:09 pm

The fall of the Avalon

EXCERPT:  The Avalon Cinema is a small, single screen theater situated about 2,000 miles to the West of us in Corvallis, Oregon (a town roughly 1/3 the size of Springfield). Like the Moxie, the Avalon is the only theater in its town to show smaller independent films, but after ten years of being in business, attendance has dropped so low that they can no longer pay their bills... and now another haven of alternative cinema is gone. Nicole and I took this news especially hard, mainly because Paul, the owner, had taken the time to answer our questions back in the ...

Post #438 - August 3, 2006 - 9:34 pm

Mmm, mmm Quizno's

EXCERPT:  Yesterday, only a few blocks from the theater, a brand new Quizno's (one of my all-time favorite sandwich shops) opened its doors to the public, kicking off the beginning phase of a much bemoaned, yet highly anticipated, gentrification of downtown Springfield. I, for one, think it's great, and made it a point to buy a sandwich on opening day - not really so much because I support big chain diversification, but mainly because their sandwiches make my pants tight. I can't say I'll show the same enthusiasm for every nationwide store that opens its doors downtown, but for ...

Post #385 - March 23, 2006 - 10:33 pm

The Moxie Loves...

EXCERPT:  Hope Davis! I was sitting here tonight realizing that out of the 50 or so movies we've shown so far, Hope Davis has been in three: PROOF, DUMA, and now THE MATADOR. That's 6%! The closest contender behind our new friend Hope is Sarah Silverman for THE ARISTOCRATS and SARAH SILVERMAN: JESUS IS MAGIC. Or am I forgetting someone? But with Sarah, that's only 4% - a huge difference! Of Hope's films, PROOF did surprisingly well, while DUMA had one of the lowest turnouts, but we're expecting some nice crowds in for THE MATADOR. Based on how ...

Post #351 - January 17, 2006 - 10:44 pm

Mic check

EXCERPT:  All this talk about the red carpet and celebrities has me thinking: wouldn't it be funny to dress up like a reporter and interview Puff Daddy? No? What if, right in the middle of the interview, you bonked him in the nads with the microphone?! Yeah! That would be hilarious! It would make that ultra-satisfying "thunk" noise and everyone would laugh. Of course, you'd probably be killed within the hour by Diddy's entourage, but the endless airtime that the "thunk" moment would get would be well worth it. ...

Post #342 - December 24, 2005 - 10:09 pm

A question...

EXCERPT:  What the hell is on Joey's head? Seriously. ...

Post #111 - December 2, 2004 - 2:26 pm

Quicksand

EXCERPT:  You never realize how much work starting a small art-house theater is until the government hands you a check and says, "get to work." *note: I couldn't think of a name for this little thought, so I used the title of the song that's playing on my iPod right now. ...

Post #105 - November 18, 2004 - 9:22 pm

The big WAIT

EXCERPT:  It's like the big sleep, only longer and with hideous Smashmouth music playing in the background. ...

Post #101 - November 12, 2004 - 11:00 am

Post #100

EXCERPT:  Since there's not much to report in the way of progress today, and since Friday tends to be this blog's least visited day of the week, I'm going to list off a few thoughts that I've had. Why? Because I can... and it's my 100th post, so give me a break. Why choose white shoes? Say it fast a few times and think about it. The word "kind" has always seemed strange to me. It's one of those words that the more I say it and write it, the more it doesn't seem to really be a word. ...

Post #99 - November 10, 2004 - 2:51 pm

Six LONG hours

EXCERPT:  E-mail I wrote six hours ago: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Good morning, I'm just writing to check on the progress of the revised theater loan. If there's anything else either one of you need from me, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks again for your help and cooperation throughout this rather extended process. Sincerely, Dan C. - - - - - - - - ...

Post #93 - November 2, 2004 - 2:51 pm

Hecticity

EXCERPT:  It's been a hectic day here at work, but we get to leave an hour early to vote, so that's good news. I wish it were nicer outside so we could walk to the poll. That's all. ...

Post #81 - October 27, 2004 - 10:53 am

Take that, France!

EXCERPT:  Natalie Portman is America's answer to the 10,000 Gigawatt cuteness of Audrey Tautou. Presidents don't stop wars, Natalie Portmans do. Remember that on November 3rd... 2ND... I meant 2nd. ...

Post #79 - October 26, 2004 - 1:14 pm

Expiration dates

EXCERPT:  Much to the chagrin of Nicole and starving children the world over, I refuse to eat or drink anything past its expiration date. If the milk says "BEST IF USED BY OCT 25" and I wake up at 1:15 AM on October 26th for a late-night snack, I won't touch it. ...

Post #30 - July 1, 2004 - 5:59 pm

Theater etiquette

EXCERPT:  Yesterday's post was a real brain fryer, so today's will be a bit more "fresco," as it were. Theater Etiquette When squeezing through a crowded movie aisle, do you face the screen (butt flash) or the projection port (crotch flash)? Why? What if someone were to hit/pinch/slap/bite your butt/crotch? What then, I ask? What then? That's all. ...