Latchis Theatre

This theater is definitely an experience. Forget the directors hall, reclining seats, and surround sound in modern IMAX theaters. Latchis offers a vintage foyer with Greek murals and columns inside. The movies are inexpensive and they stir up quite the crowd in this sleepy town. The seats are uncomfortable and all the same level. Pray no one tall sits in front of you. The sound fades in and out. It’s not bad and it’s not good but it manages to make sense in this small Vermont town.

«You gotta see the baby! You’ve GOT to see the BABY!»
Remember that one from Seinfeld? Yep, the «ugly baby» episode, in which Elaine and Jerry visit friends and their new born child. «He looked like a Pekinese,» says Elaine.
— — — —
What can you say when locals proudly show off what they assume you will (sensibly of course!) agree is their little town gem?
Standing in the ticket line in the marbled 1930’s entry way, you and host begin your pre-​movie chatter.
«Nice, huh? They just renovated the place!» says your local guide.
«Well, it’s a nice foyer.»
«The renovations were inside. Wait til you see it!» remarks your excited host.
After ten minutes procuring tickets and securing traditional movie time sustenance at the sometimes under caring concession stand, you venture inside. Perhaps you will be seeing the big hit film du jour, and will be viewing said film in the main theatre (there are four all together). You wander in, okay popcorn and standard fountain drink in hand.
You sit down.
«Charming, isn’t it?» says your host.
«Seems so,» say you, while looking around the cavern trying to get comfortable in your seat. «Um, are these new seats?»
«Yes!» replies your local. «Great aren’t they?».
The faux leather seats, small, narrow and unyielding with minimal leg room are already challenging your lower back. «Uh, well what were the old ones like?»
«The old ones? Just like this, but kinda worn out. They replaced them with the same style. Cool, huh?»
«Let me get this straight,» you ask incredulously. «They renovated the place and put the same seats in?»
«Yep. And check out the new paint on the walls and ceiling.»
You look up at the blue domed ceiling and walls. There are large, life sized standing figurines, garish heroes of Greek mythology staring back at you.
«It’s kinda blue. A little too much, don’t you think?» you ask.
«Well, I think they got a deal at Walmart.»
«Who did the renovations?»
«Um, I’m not sure, but I think they got a deal on that, too,» replies your guide.
«I wonder what they meant by renovations???»
If you are not so lucky to find yourself in the «renovated» imperial Greek theatre, you will be viewing your film in one of three other screening rooms: theatre 2 a.k.a. «the Closet», theatre 3 or «The Ballroom Sauna», or the ridiculous theatre 4, a collection of folding chairs normally set up in the local high school audio-​visual club meeting.
Generally a decent choice of films on offer (which can be viewed in far more comfort in Greenfield or Keene), as well as the occasional special events.
Otherwise, The Latchis Theatre is Brattleboro’s ugly baby.

the sound and the picture were awful on the big screen. nearly inaudible and unwatchable. should have asked for our money back early but drove far to see movie. they would have done it. smaller theaters better.

This place is really an art masterpiece. Look around at the paintings on the walls and ceilings, it has an incredible vista of art in both structure and in scene. And the popcorn is simply the best, even if it is more expensive than the dinner you had before you got there!

Love this place. Stale, gross popcorn? Doesn’t matter. Still love this place. Seats so hard and lumpy and misshapen that I walk funny for hours after seeing a movie there? Doesn’t matter. Still love this place. Go. If only for the ridiculous, gorgeous greek wall murals in the main theater.

Old, musty and yet, charming. Don’t expect to find any cup holders or head rests. Instead, take in soaring ceilings, chipped Greek murals, and columns. The faded velvet seats, the art deco walls and the giant astrological painting on the main theatre ceiling… all of those things are what makes this place feel special. I remember seeing so many wonderful movies here over the years… and there is no other place quite like it. Just saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows here this past weekend with my Mom and sister… and it was like I had never left. :)

Brattleboro is a beautiful town, of that I am sure. It is wonderful no matter how you slice it. Of my memories of Brattleboro some institutions stand out, among them are the Latchis, It has an old school charm to it despite the ongoing renovations that are taking place on the premise. Not only is the Latchis very charming in its art deco design it is also reasonably priced at 7.50. Also the cookies and confections that are sold are in themselves reasonably priced. Suffice to say the Latchis has alot going for it however if you are a technophile do not expect the Latchis to have the most up to date equipment don’t get me wrong it has good sound and picture in its theaters, they are just not the best also there is a pub that connects to the Latchis which is also nice.

Pretty sweet theatre! Went for their Samurai and Monster film festival, was not disappointed. Only like… I think, eight bucks for a double feature!
Folding chairs in a room with a projector. But very very cute and fun. :)
EDIT:
The small room which I describe in the above review is now gone; however, the main theater is still there, beautiful as ever.
Yes, the sound gives out now and then, and picture is not always top notch… but tickets are cheap, they sell fresh baked cookies at the concession stand, and they have great two-​for-​one showing prices!

I spy with my little eye something starting with old people. The theater is nice and old fashioned and since they didn’t ban me for sneaking in a bottle of wine and dropping it I think I’ll definitely come back.

Don’t come here looking for your strip mall multiplex with reclining seats and twelve screens all playing the newest blockbuster garbage– you’ll be horribly disappointed. This place is much like the town in which is stands, funky and old but reasonably well kept up while offering the shadowy hints of grander times long past. Once owned by the Latchis family as part of their larger complex it is now operated by The Friends Of The Latchis and seems to be doing well. They finally got rid of the longtime manager who was a thorn in many an employee and patron’s side. While they plan to put a fourth theatre in since the youth theatre relocated right now it’s just the three theatres– the main one boasts a crazy but beautiful astrological wheel on it’s ceiling as well as some other neat design features while other two are your standard small-​ish screens. Movies here are usually more of the independent variety and are carefully chosen, though they did get to run the recent Star Wars series. Tickets are cheaper than most other movie houses in the region and the weekend matinees only run you five dollars and fifty cents. A modest concession stand has all the basics plus one claim to fame– being one of the few remaining in the country that use real butter for the popcorn. Try the brewer’s yeast on it for a different take on the standard viewing fare. It’s a great anchor for downtown brattleboro as a thriving community and a refreshing change from the massed-​produced box theatres.