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Eton out
Published: 3/28/2008 6:01 PM
Last Modified: 3/28/2008 6:01 PM

I went to the Eton Square cinema on Friday at noon. I was alone. No, I mean, I was alone.

I needed to look at “Superhero Movie,” and the Eton had a good early time available (considering we wanted a review for Saturday morning’s paper), and it wasn’t in Bixby, a consideration when coming from downtown.

I hadn’t been to the Eton Square in years, but I thought the trip might be of value for a couple of reasons.

First, no one else I know had been to the Eton Square theater (61st Street and Memorial Drive, behind Jason’s Deli) in years; second, they show first-run pictures for a discounted price ($4 matinees, $6 at night for adults, $4 for children and seniors and $4 all day long on Tuesdays). Not bad.

Here’s what I found: Close parking, easy when you’re the only customer at noon on Friday. I presume the lot fills nicely on Friday and Saturday nights.

I arrived about 12:15 p.m. for my noon movie, close to my usual time, as I have never arrived 15 minutes late and found the movie started. There’s always a preview or two to go, or if I’m lucky it’s just some dancing popcorn on the screen before the feature begins.

“Superhero Movie” had not started yet, and it reminded me of that line that longtime Tulsa World country music writer John Wooley told me again and again, and that I giggled at time and again: “What time does the show start,” was the set-up for this joke about local shows that we knew would be sparsely attended. “What time can you be here?” was the club owner’s reply in the form of a punchline.

I was the only one in Theater No. 1, and perhaps in any of the six houses. After a couple of notices to the concession attendant, the previews started about 25 minutes late. Each was about half-visible. You know, either the bottom up at the top with a lower black bar, or vice versa. Things were not looking good.

But once the movie began, it went off without a hiccup. The restrooms were cleaner than I imagined, but they still needed work, as it was early in the moviegoing day. Unless the crew is supposed to clean them each night before closing, and if that’s the case, they were yucky, as my 3-year-old would say.

But I’m going to give the Eton Square another chance now that I know they have the earliest movie times outside of AMC Southroads and Starworld 20, and sometimes Cinemark Tulsa, on Fridays.

They’re closer to downtown. The price is right. That’s important to me when it comes to a matinee.

Reader Comments

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Meg (5 years ago)

We have enjoyed going the the Eton since it re-opened. We like the affordable entrance fee and concessions as well as having a table in front of each seat to put our feet/snacks on (preferably not at the same time!).

Michael Smith (5 years ago)

Very funny, Meg, I wondered what the ratio of feet to food was going on those tables....the tables are so large in front of the seats, I couldn't help but wonder if someone was thinking of trying out Tulsa's first beer/wine/entrees service inside the theater, a la Alamo Draft House in Austin or other sites around the country.

Rowdy Bradford (5 years ago)

My family and I went to the movies today.Well that was the plan.My son was exsided about going to the movies to watch iron man we got to the movies at 2:15 in the afternoon movie starts at 2:30 we bought are tickits and tryed to find a seat the only seats avalible were the ones in the front row and i didnt want to sit my children so close to the screen so i ask the lady if i could have the money back because theres know seating i payed 16 dollars and she said theres no refunds my kids saved money to go see this movie with there big brother and he had to be home at 6:00 so we had to find anouther movie place because of the time secudle but the lady or owner said there was no refunds so my children had to go with out seeing the movie with there brother because we didnt have the money to go some where else i think it was unfair the movie hadnt started i didnt see why they wanted to keep my childrens money an not alow them to have a good experiance at the movies even if it was somewhere else.I will never return to eton square again they robbed my children of there money and mad them very upset .I dont think this is right and i think something should be done the lady said she was the owner named stephine beard i would ask if she is indead the owner i dont think eton spuare should be open under this managment and here attitude was not family approprate.I hope more family members stand togeter to stop the owners of this theater from stilling from are children eton square theater should be prosacuted my children didnt see the movie and they keep my kids money.I hope somebody has enouth money and power to do something about it.

Michelle (5 years ago)

Although we have attended movies at Eton Square many times, one very unfortunate day our vehicle was stolen from the parking lot while attending a 5:00pm showing. The lot is very secluded, so I would suggest parking closer to 61st Street and walking a bit. 2 hours is ample time for thieves to scope a vehicle and drive away. According to TPD this is not uncommon at other area theaters, as well.

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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