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Tyler SKYVUE

January 17th, 2010

Outdoor movie drive in, Tyler TX
Tyler SKYVUE is our drive-in theater that is located at 10713 Hwy 69 North, Tyler, Texas 75706. Just three minutes north of Tyler’s Loop 323 and four minutes south of Lindale’s Interstate 20. The cost is $6 per adult and $4 per child that is 5-12 years old…younger than that are free. It’s a great place to go if you want to watch a movie, but in a different way. You get to watch two movies and they are newer releases. I enjoy going because you can take your own chairs and sit in the outside. You can comment on the movie, if you want and won’t get in trouble by talking in a closed room. You can also take whatever snacks and drinks you want, which saves you money. They have a place where you can buy snacks and drinks if you would rather than bringing your own.

Movies theaters are a great entertainment and how about a different experience with a drive-in theater? Going to an outdoor theater is very fun and interesting. You have to wait until it gets dark outside before they start the movies, which is usually somewhere around 7p.m. or so. They usually end by midnight or later because its two movies you are watching….so you get two for the price of one. Skyvue is a great place for you to go out and have some fun with your friends and/or family and not worry about going broke while you do it.

Skyvue isn’t far off, whether you live in Lindale or Tyler, it is worth the drive to see a movie. This makes a great gift…to pick up some friends and take them as a group to see two movies for the price of one, we did that and ended up having a blast and decided it was worth doing more.

Tyler Movie Theaters

January 12th, 2010

Timesquare Cinema in Tyler TX
Tyler has three movie theaters. Each one differs in price, quality, cleanness, and sizes. Hollywood Theatre has 14 screens. They have not made the changes to the digital technology. I am constantly disappointed in how dirty each theater is. When I go spend $7 to go see a movie I don’t want to think what I am sitting in and why the arm rest in so greasy. I have worked back in the kitchen and it is really dirty and properly cleaned. I have been there a few times when the movie has broke and I had to sit in the theater and wait for the projectionist to get it started again. Hollywood theater is not very family friendly atmosphere. Most of the time there are people who just hangout around the building and start fights and cause trouble.

The quality of the movies are not up to date, the theaters and lobby are always dirty, and it is not a family friendly environment, although it is cheaper, I much rather prefer Carmike. Carmike theater also has 14 screens. Movies there are much more expensive than the other two theaters in Tyler Texas. All of their movies are projected digitally and not through the old film projectors that break easily and are the pictures are not as clear. The theaters are not always the cleanest, but at least I can somewhat relax, the kitchen is in sight of the costumers and seems to be kept somewhat clean. Although you have to fight the large crowds, I think Carmike is worth it for its quality alone. I think it is more family friendly than Hollywood but the large crowds does make it harder to balance the drinks, popcorn, and kids.

Carmike’s movies tend to have about 20 minutes of advertisement and previews before the actual movie starts, which can be frustrating.

If the price is a bigger issue than the quality there is the smaller theater, Times Square. It only has a few screens, so the movie that you want to see may not be playing there. Times Square’s small crowds makes the viewing experience less stressful and more personal. Time Square still gives a student discount on the price of certain show times. It keeps the previews to a minimum of a couple minutes, and gets to the movie. The quality has began to change over to the digital projection and even some of the movies are in 3D, but it still does not compare to the size and clarity of Carmike. The screens are smaller than the other two theater’s, and the rooms sit less. Times Square is usually very clean, and from a resent report, it’s seats were the cleanest under a “black light” test. It’s easy to relax when you know that the theater is being properly cleaned.

So next time you want to have a good night and go see a movie, think about what is important to you to have a fun and relaxing experience.

Movies in Tyler Texas

December 20th, 2009

For showtimes at all the movie theaters in Tyler we recommend using an online service like Flixter, Fandango, or RottenTomatoes

Because Tyler, TX is a mid-sized city that is overshadowed by titans like Dallas and Fort Worth, people often say there is nothing to do in the city. There are no pro sports teams, and major concerts with big name artists are rare. Maybe this is true to a degree but virtually ever resident of Tyler Texas love movies and restaurants. There are hundreds of restaurants in the city, but there are three movie theaters: The Hollywood Rose, Carmike 14, and Times Square Cinema. Below is a brief description of each of these.

Movie Theaters in Tyler

Hollywood Rose Cinema

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $7.75

This west Tyler theater was built in the 1990’s, and remains a popular choice for many young people in the city. However, “The Tyler Rose” is generally considered the worst theater in Tyler. The staff members appear to hate their jobs, and the floor is perpetually sticky. The movie viewing, too, is subpar. Expect problems with the projector and sound, and maybe even the temperature. But the biggest problem with The Tyler Rose is the chaotic atmosphere. The theater is ground zero for high school loiterers who have nothing better to do than attract attention to themselves. Fights are routine, and there are often policemen roaming the premises. For other high schoolers, this might be an attractive atmosphere. But not for parents who want to send their kid to a movie, and not for adults who just want to watch a film in peace.[ad#large-blog-block]

Carmike 14 in Tyler

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $8.25

Carmike 14 is Tyler’s largest and most modern theater. It is located close to a hoard of shopping outlets on South Broadway such as Kohls, Target, Walmart Super Center, and Gander Mountain. Carmike 14 is a fine theater, offering digital projection and 3-D movies (when they are available.) The staff are generally cheerful and competent. The stadium seating, too, is great. I have few qualms with Carmike 14, other than the slightly higher prices and the problem of crowds. But at least the crowds are there because it’s a good theater, unlike The Tyler Rose.

Times Square Cinema

Cost for a regular admission ticket: $7.50

Long before The Tyler Rose or Carmike 14 were ever built, movies in Tyler Texas were being shown 7 days a week at a little theater in Times Square on South Broadway. The theater has just six screens, and a small staff. It has an entirely different feel than most modern theaters. It’s a much more down to earth atmosphere because it is a family owned and operated business. When you go there, you can expect digital projection, 3-D viewing, and a clean atmosphere. The screens are smaller than the ones at the other theaters, but the experience is better overall. The best part? The high school kids prefer to hang out at the bigger places. Times Square patrons are their to watch movies, not to attract (or repulse) potential mates.

Video Rentals in Tyler

If you prefer to rent movies in Tyler Texas, there are still two Blockbuster video stores, one on 5th and Beckham, and one on Troupe in the Green Acres Shopping Center. Hollywood Video is still renting to customers on South Broadway. Ten years ago, this city was crawling with video stores! But the advent of Netflix and RedBox movie kiosks have made those places irrelevant. If you want to rent a movie in Tyler, it’s easier and cheaper to drop into WalMart or MacDonalds. Update: Netflix and Redbox have destroyed all rental movie stores. Sorry but you will have to mail order your video rentals, do pay per view, or use the redbox and blockbuster video vending machines around town.

Times Square Cinema: The Grown-up’s Choice

November 11th, 2009

First, you must understand that Times Square in Tyler bears no resemblance in any way, shape, or form to the famous Times Square in New York City. It has always intrigued young Tylerites that this name was ever chosen. Times Square shopping center, featuring staples like Casa Ole, Racquet & Jog, and Double Dave’s Pizzaworks have exactly nothing in common with New York City. But that doesn’t mean that Times Square in Tyler is without merit. Not only are the restaurants good and the location accessible, but the the The Times Square Cinema is a long-standing staple in the city.

Times Square Cinema is a small, privately owned, old time-feel family theater, which is a rarity in the modern age of mega-30 screen cinemaplexes. It is considerably smaller than the Tyler Rose in west Tyler, and a fraction of the size of Carmike 14. Nevertheless, The Times Square Cinema is a nice alternative for those who get tired of the crowds at the other locations. The theater offers digital projection, and 3-D viewing for movies that offer it. The snack bar isn’t huge, but it’s good, and cheaper than the other theaters as well. The staff here are friendly and productive, keeping a smile on their faces, and popcorn off the floor. It is a clean and pleasant place to watch a movie.

This theater is the cheapest in Tyler. Adult tickets are $7.50, a full $.75 cheaper than Carmike. Granted, the screens are not as large, and the infrastructure not as impressive. But the experience should be good, nevertheless.

Who should come to Times Square Cinema? Grown ups. Times Square is no longer a hip hang out place for high schoolers who prefer to congregate in massive crowds. They go to The Tyler Rose or to Carmike. That is reason enough for me to go watch a movie at Times Squaare. I know I won’t have to put up with alot of loudness or nonsense. Unless the movie itself is bad, I know I will have a good experience every time at Times Square Cinema. Because I’m a grown up.

Carmike 14 in Tyler

November 11th, 2009

Ever since Carmike 14 opened several years ago, movie goers have not ceased to rejoice that there was finally an alternative to the infamous “Tyler Rose,” a lousy at a bad location. Over the years, Tyler has continued to expand down South Broadway, with recent additions like Kohls and Ganger Mountain. The Carmike cinemaplex is perfectly located around these shopping centers. This makes it a natural choice for shoppers over the Hollywood Rose theater on West Broadway, which is close to a bank and a chicken store.

Great location aside, Carmike is better than Hollywood Theater in every way imaginable. The staff is friendly and helpful. The box office is inside the door so you don’t have to sweat to death while you’re choosing a movie. The workers do a good job of cleaning up.

This theater also offers digital projection. If you are used to going to movies with black blotches and static lines, digital viewing can be quite a revelation. the colors are so much more vivid, and the picture is always clear. It is important to note that the Hollywood Rose does not offer digital projection. You can also see 3-D movies here at Carmike when applicable.

But for me, the most memorable part of Carmike 14 in Tyler is the snack bar. Because this theater is the only one in town that has the massive popcorn shoot. The popcorn is made upstairs, just over the snack bar, and it flows down to the snack bar like manna from heaven. This type of setup is perfect for those who are easily entertained like me.

The only downside to Carmike 14 is the crowds. Because of its central location, I can rarely drive in to the parking lot without hunting hard for a parking spot. This is especially true on the weekends, naturally. Tylerites love their restaurants and their movies, so expect to have to wade through traffic and lines at the box office and at the snack bar. And expect to pay a little more for a ticket to Carmike 14: $8.25 is the going rate for a regular adult at an evening show. If you don’t like the crowds, consider going to Times Square Cinema, just a couple miles north of Carmike. The screens are smaller there, but the crowds are, too. Just be sure that you don’t go to The Tyler Rose.

Overall, the Carmike 14 Theater in Tyler is a well run establishment, offering a pleasant viewing experience from the opening credits to the last kernel of buttery goodness.