October 28th, 2010
Hollywood Theater Tyler Texas
Every time I drive by Hollywood I am always surprised that there are cars there. Honestly, I am shocked that they are still in business. The theater used to be the popular place to go see a movie. Maybe that is because at one time it was the only theater. I remember the first time I walked into Hollywood theater as a young child. I was blown away by the large screen in the lobby and the colorful carpet. The screens used to be the largest I had seen. And the quality of film was great. Sadly nothing has changed.
As all the other theaters have changed to using digital projectors, Hollywood Theaters still uses the old film. The movies get sent to the theater in about five different reels of film. The projectionist puts the film together into one really large reel by using a strong tape. This process can be pretty easy but it is also easy to make a mistake. If you ever have been to the theater and all of a sudden the film turns upside down, whoever had put together the film, taped the reels wrong and did not match up the pictures on the reels. Also you may have been to the theater and the film jumps and all a sudden you can only see the top part of the movie because it is not centered, this is a very common mistake that is made. In-between reels the projectionist left a small gap. Even the smallest mistake in taping can make the movie messed up. But it is not very hard to correct these mistakes, it is just time consuming. When using digital movies these annoying mistakes do not happen and it makes the movie so much more enjoyable. Digital movies are so clear and you do not have to worry about complaining to a manager that your movie screen is just white.
One of the first things that you do when you walk into the theater is spend twenty dollars on popcorn, drinks, and candy. If you are spending so much money on snacks you want to get the best for your money. At one point the theater’s snack counter had the customer scoop the butter for your popcorn with a giant spoon out of an open hot container. This is in no way clean or sanitary.
Although there are a lot of issues at Hollywood Theater, my biggest issue is the nasty seats. The last time I had thought about going there I was about to bring trash bags to sit on. Usually the lights are really dim so that you can not see what you are about to sit in. The seats look like they are covered in a black tar. Every time I have gone to see a movie here I feel like I have to go home and take a shower and I can not enjoy the movie. The only thing that the employees do between show times is throw trash away and sometimes do a quick sweep. The floor is always sticky and the whole place has a weird smell.
At Hollywood Theater you can not enjoy your movie. You are paying all this money to feel frustrated and grossed out. Hollywood needs to get their chairs cleaned and their employees need to learn how to mop the floor. I may one day return to the theater if they start showing movies using digital projectors, and when they learn how to clean, but for now I will stick to going to the other two theaters in Tyler.
Tags: Annoying Mistakes, Blown Away, Candy, Caption, Carpet, Cars, Digital Projectors, Digital Theaters, Drinks, Film Tape, Film The Projectionist, Gap, Hollywood, Hollywood Theater, Hollywood Theater Tyler Texas, Hollywood Theater Tyler TX, Hollywood Theaters, Mistake, Movie Theaters Tyler Texas, Old Film, Screens, Snacks, Time Consuming, Tyler Texas
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April 15th, 2010
1250 Loop 323 South SW
Tyler
75701
903 592 7000
The Tyler Rose is the only movie theater serving the North (East) of Tyler – the rest are on South Broadway. (There is a drive-in, Sky-Vue, on Hwy 69 N)
The Hollywood has 10 screens and shows all the latest releases. It is easily accessible from the loop and easy to find and has plenty of parking in the front. There is a Chicken Express and Rudys BBQ very close by for those wanting to eat before or after watching a film.
The place itself is slightly seedy. The location is a favorite place to meet for local teens who hang around the front of the theater. I have heard some people complain that they don’t feel safe walking to their car at night there. It is sad but true that they have police presence working in the theater at the weekends to avoid trouble. At least the police are friendly, the other personnel will not give you a smile as they serve you. Sometimes the lines to get a ticket are very long but you can speed up the process by buying your ticket on line in advance (fandango.com)
Another negative point to mention is that the movie theater does not seem clean. The seats are grubby, there is sometimes trash on the floors and the floors have a slightly sticky feel as you walk through the complex. However, the seats are platform style (and yet solid – set in concrete) and you can have a great view of the movie wherever you chose to sit in the auditorium.
There is a concessions stand with limited food and drinks. No fancy flavored popcorn here but plenty of candies, sodas and hot dogs. If you are a big snack consumer it is good to know that there are free refills on the large sodas and large popcorn.
One final complaint – they often turn the lights on before the credits have finished rolling on the film which gives you the feeling that you are being turned out early!
On a more positive note, Hollywood Theaters do sometimes have special events like live music from local artists Bongo and the Point and they have giveaways at new releases on most weekends and holidays.
Seeing a movie at the Hollywood is also less expensive than most other movie theaters Prices – adult $7.75, children and seniors – $5.75. There is also a student discount and at performances between 3-6pm (Twilight showings) it is only $4.50. Tuesdays are the special night, where adults pay the children’s price and hot dogs are just $1.50.
Not sure I would go so far as to recommend the Tyler Rose but if you are happy with a ‘no frills’ experience and prefer feeling a little uneasy walking to your car than driving to Broadway to watch a film then it’s OK.
Tags: Bongo, Candies, Concessions, Concrete, Favorite Place, Flavored Popcorn, Hollywood Theater, Hollywood Theaters, Hot Dogs, Live Music, Local Artists, Movie Theater, Movie Theaters, Police Presence, Rudys, Screens, Snack, Sodas, South Broadway, Sw Tyler, Ticket On Line
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January 18th, 2010
Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q was placed in operation in 1989. It was a store first them, became a food place. Barbecue lovers this is the place for you to enjoy one of the best BBQ places in Tyler. Inside it’s very country looking and inviting. Menu is amazing, all kinds of brisket, turkey breast, pork loin, chopped beef. Pork spare ribs and everybody loves some Baby back ribs, half chicken, regular chicken, jalapeno sausages and this is just the meat, so far. Hungry yet….OK I will keep going…potato salad, pinto beans, green bean salad, cream corn, new potatoes, corn on the cob, green chili stew and jumbo smokes potato.
Never leave out the desserts….banana pudding, pecan pie, chocolate pudding, butter milk pie, ice cream, peach cobbler and rice crispy treats. This is making me hungry all over again. I had a loaded baked potato with cheese, sour cream and pulled pork on top of it. Yes, it was delicious. Outside the store they also have gas station available just in case you are running low or want to fill up while you are there. They sell soft drinks and beer to go with your meal, depending on what you prefer.
After your meal, they have some stuff you can purchase in their store. The store is located on 1410 SSW Loop 323, Tyler, Texas. Some of the other locations are in Waco, Frisco and Houston, Texas just to name a few. They have many other locations which you could easily find on their website. They carry gift cards in their store. It is a great place to go and eat a good lunch and it’s very close to our Hollywood theater. Once you are done eating you could drop in and watch the movie you were looking for.
Rudy’s place burned a few years ago and it took them quite a while to build the kitchen area back to be even better than it was in the beginning. They made a bigger dining area and redid the kitchen to accommodate an even bigger crowd. More people go there than before the fire, it is worth the visit.
Tags: Baby Back Ribs, Banana Pudding, Barbecue Lovers, Butter Milk, Chocolate Pudding, Chopped Beef, Corn On The Cob, Cream Corn, Food Place, Green Bean Salad, Green Chili Stew, Hollywood Theater, New Potatoes, Peach Cobbler, Pinto Beans, Pork Spare Ribs, Rice Crispy, Rudy's Bar-B-Q, Salad Cream, Soft Drinks, Turkey Breast
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January 12th, 2010
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.
Tags: Arm Rest, Atmosphere, Cause Trouble, Cleanness, Costumers, Digital Technology, Drinks, Film Projectors, Hollywood, Hollywood Theater, Hollywood Theatre, Large Crowds, Movie Theaters, Old Film, Popcorn, Price Quality, Projectionist, Screens, Times Square, Tyler Movie Theaters, Tyler Movie Theatres, Tyler Movies, Tyler Texas, Tyler Texas Movie Theatres, Tyler TX Movie Theaters
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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.
Tags: Blotches, carmike 14 in tyler, carmike theater tyler, Central Location, Chicken Store, Cinemaplex, Crowds, Digital Projection, Downside, Evening Show, Ganger Mountain, Good Job, Hollywood Theater, Kohls, Manna From Heaven, Movie Goers, movies in tyler, Natural Choice, Recent Additions, Snack Bar, South Broadway, Static Lines, West Broadway
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