The biggest movie of the summer at the best movie theatre in the City: it couldn’t get any better than that! At one time, not in a galaxy far, far away, but right here in the glorious city of San Francisco, there were neighborhood movie theatres like the Fox, the Coronet, the Metro, and many others. They’re all gone now and have been replaced by big boring multiplexes with no ambience or excitement.

In the ‘70s, when George Lucas’ Star Wars opened at the Coronet Theatre with its more than 1,250 seats, the lines for each showing snaked through the big parking lot and back out onto Geary Blvd.

As the ticket buyers found their seats, you could feel the euphoria as the lights dimmed, the curtains opened, and the crowds were filled with anticipation, not only for the film itself, but also for the communal experience. Epics like the Star Wars series and Indiana Jones movies were meant to be seen at these large venues with their fabulous interiors. This same experience will be duplicated when one comes to see the hottest and most anticipated movie of the summer at the only remaining genuine movie palace in San Francisco, the Castro Theatre, seating 1,400.

You won’t just be in a movie theatre; you will feel like you’re part of the action, thanks to the huge screen and DTS sound that will totally envelope you. Besides, we need to support this struggling theatre whose gloriously garish flashing neon sign alerts everyone that they are in the middle of the fabulous Castro District, Gay Mecca USA. And where else in San Francisco can you be entertained by the Mighty Wurlitzer organ?!

Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull runs May 22 through June 18 at the Castro Theatre. If you’ve been on Mars for the last three weeks, this thrill-packed flick stars Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, and John Hurt, among others. Advance tickets are available at the theatre box office during regular operating hours or through ticketweb.com. This is gonna be BIG!!!