Quaint atmosphere, quirky films

It's easy to walk down Main Avenue and miss the sign for the Magic Lantern Theatre. A small sign hangs on the Saranac building, but without previous knowledge, most people pass by without a second glance.

The Magic Lantern Theatre is unique to the entire east side of Washington state.

"All of our shows are first run; we're the only ones showing it," director of the theater Jonathan Abramson, said.

The theater prides itself on showing independent films, foreign films and documentaries that aren't mainstream or picked up by big chains like AMC and Regal.

Walk into the building and up the stairs and you will find a cozy theater paired with a unique atmosphere. Abramson greets customers while wearing a Gonzaga sweatshirt. When you buy your $7 tickets, you also have the option of buying an assortment of espresso drinks and freshly made goods. Abramson is quick to point out that they provide $3 fresh, bottomless popcorn and a generous sized mug of fresh-made coffee.

"Where else can you sit down [for a movie] and have your coffee brought to you in a nice cup?" Alex Gatley, former GU student and frequent patron of the theater, asked.

The lobby resembles an indie coffee shop with tables, chairs and a bookshelf in the corner. Regular customers come in to eat, whether or not they stay for a movie.

Gatley discovered the theater because her yoga class was nearby and she often sat outside waiting before class. Abramson would offer her coffee.

"The coffee is so good! That's how [John] got me to come over the first time," she said. She's been spending time in the lobby ever since.

Also in the lobby sits cinephile Nicole Bower. Bower was there to meet her fellow members of the Spokane Film Club, which gathers at the Magic Lantern.

"The Spokane Film Club meets about twice a month and we pick a movie as a club to watch," Bower said. "Afterwards, we go down to Hills to talk." 

Bower explains how the Magic Lantern isn't the place to see a major release. The theater showed the Swedish version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" before the series became a hit and the show sold out on opening night.

"We just try to do the best we can," Abramson said. "We're here for the community."

The Magic Lantern provided diverse films in two theaters for the Spokane community for more than 30 years, then relocated to their location on Main Avenue in 2007 when Dr. Joe Davis took over while completing his residency at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

"[Before owning the theater] Davis came to see films all the time with Nicole, me and the film club," Magic Lantern employee Aaron Spickelmire said. Davis offered Spickelmire a part-time job as well as training to run the projectors and equipment. The unique community and goals of the theater please him.

"It's a more common–minded atmosphere. You can actually talk with people and regulars come in often," Spickelmire said. "There are some things that would never be shown in Spokane if we didn't show them."

Tonight, the Magic Lantern will begin its 10–day position as host of the Spokane International Film Festival (SpIFF).

In previous years, the festival has been divided;  half the films were shown in the AMC theater and half at the Magic Lantern. However, the AMC theater rarely sold out and SpIFF lost money. This year, about 85 percent of the movies will be shown at the Magic Lantern.

Spickelmire credits the switch to his "more of a hands on relationship [with SpIFF]." He is excited for the festival because he recommended many films to Abramson and Davis such as "Tyrannosaur," "In the Family," "We Were Here" and "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia," which won an award at Cannes last year.

Abramson is so pleased with the lineup of movies that he found it hard to recommend just one, but he wants to see "The Green Wave."

After the SpiFF, the Magic Lantern is due to show "My Week With Marilyn" starring Michelle Williams and "We Need to Talk About Kevin," starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly in February.

The theater is a diamond in the rough of Spokane. The tickets are cheap, the coffee is always hot and there is plenty of popcorn for less than the cost of a latté at Starbucks. The Magic Lantern shows poignant movies for a fraction of the price of an AMC movie.

"It makes my day when someone sees a memorable movie and has good coffee," Abramson concluded.