For several years I had been wanting to take my son (who is now 14) to see a Movie in a old Movie Theater. He wanted to see Ready Player One so it seemed liked the perfect opportunity to take him to the Marion Theater which advertised it would be showing there. He said he preferred to go to Ocala Centre 6 or Regal Cinemas where they had 3D, but I convinced him to go to the Marion Theater at the 4:30 pm show on April 4, 2018.

After I paid for the tickets, the attendant told us to go upstairs to the balcony. I was like… huh?… because that was not what I was expecting. I also bought a drink and popcorn for about $9.

When we got to the top of the stairs and went through the curtains we were shocked to see that they divided up the theater into 2 parts. They put a wall up in the balcony, put a screen on it and a separate projector. I had never seen a movie theater divided up like this and didn’t know such things existed.

The look of the place made you feel like you were in a warehouse and was MOST unpleasant. We sat in the back row which was way too close to the screen for our liking. The seats were the most uncomfortable I think I’ve ever sat in. We debated leaving after we were setting there for a few minutes but decided to stick it out since we already paid… and there was a notice which said no refunds… and the movie had already started showing at the Ocala Centre 6.

For most people who would choose to go to the Marion Theatre, it’s about the experience of getting to see a movie in an old theater. There’s a night and day difference and no comparison between seeing the movie in the balcony and the main auditorium. Seeing a movie in the balcony is like not being at the Marion Theatre at all.

I feel the staff should told us before selling us the tickets that the theater had been divided up and the movie would be showing in the balcony, NOT the main theater. They should have let us see what the balcony was like so we could decide if we want to see it there.

I was and am VERY disappointed and feel terrible about talking my son into going to Marion Theatre. The reason we went there was so my son could get to see his movie in a grand old movie theater.

I will NEVER go there again to see another movie in the balcony.

The way they have divided the theater up, I feel it has been ruined. I think they should get some of their money back by selling the projector in the balcony, take the wall & screen down and restore the theater back to how it was originally.

To increase their revenue, I think they should have a classic movie night and show a classic old movie once a week. They could advertise on classic rock and oldies stations.

Hits: 551