Embrace Big Screen Nostalgia at The Loft Cinema in Tucson

• Experience classic and art house cinema at the Loft Cinema in Tucson
• The Loft Cinema was founded by film enthusiasts who wanted to create a space for alternative and diverse cinema in Tucson

My friend Kathy knows more about classic horror movies than anyone I know. She went to film school and now aspires to create the type of dark screen terror popularized by her hero, George A. Romero of Dawn of the Dead fame.

When I tell you she knows what she's talking about as she gushes over the particulars of this classic film, I'm not kidding. She's been known for deep dives into the history and background, pulling out little-known facts about actors, locations, and filmmakers. I suspect she even knows what the film's editors typically ate for breakfast while they cut the iconic scenes together.

The Big Screen Experience at the Loft Cinema in Tucson

Not everyone is as obsessed with classic cinema as my friend Kathy. With digital media and streaming services literally at our fingertips, the idea of seeing a movie on the big screen might not be at the top of our minds, especially if the flick has been off the Marquis for decades. And that's a shame.

Let's be real. You can watch a movie on your cell phone or you can experience the magic on the big screen, as the filmmaker intended.

A live movie weaves a spell as the lights drop and the reel begins to unspool, spilling the story across the screen. Sitting in the dim theatre with others sharing the experience is a type of magic you just won't get in your livingroom.

The Loft Cinema: A Tucson Treasure

If you're even half as passionate about movies as Kathy, you've probably been to the Loft Cinema in Tucson at least once.

This is not your kid's big-chain-movie-theatre. According to their website, The Loft Cinema "is a nonprofit art house cinema that's been screening independent and classic films since 1972." But do you know the history and importance of this local gem?

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Founded by film enthusiasts, the group wanted to create a space for alternative and diverse cinema in Tucson. So, they began renting a small storefront on 6th Avenue, where they showed 16-mm films on a makeshift screen.

Over the years, The Loft Cinema expanded to a larger location on Speedway. With the permanent home established, it added more screens and seats and became a member of the Sundance Institute's Art House Project, as its Wikipedia page explains.

The Loft Cinema always offers an array of movies, some old, new, and some in between. As I write this, they're showing Dune, Part 2 in 70mm and The Craft, the original film from 1996.

2001's Donny Darko is coming later in the month, and much to Kathy's delight, tickets for the 45th anniversary of Dawn of the Dead are already being sold for next month's featured showing of the film.

If you haven't visited The Loft Cinema yet, plan to go to Tucson for an experience you won't forget.

Check out their website for the latest films and showtimes. You just might become a film buff, too. The Loft Cinema is located at 3233 E Speedway Blvd in Tucson. You can also call them at (520) 795-0844.