The Palm Theatre is a non-profit, independent movie theater located on Palm Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. Sitting in the center of SLO’s “Chinatown,” the Palm has been providing an intimate, old-fashioned movie experience for almost four decades. The theatre is open from Thursday to Monday each week, playing old and new movie classics, indie titles, documentaries, blockbusters and more.
In 1988, Jim and Patty Dee opened the Palm Theatre to the public with only two screening rooms. The Palm now has 252 seats spread between three screening rooms. According to the theatre website and reaffirmed by Assistant Theatre Manager/Projectionist Griffen Meyers, the Dees had 98 solar panels installed on the roof of the building in 2004. It became the first solar-powered movie theatre in the United States and remains fully solar-powered today. The theatre currently operates as a non-profit under the ownership of the SLO Film Fest.
Bailey Bennett, a staff member who’s been working at the Palm for a year, said the theatre has a “spirit” that makes it special. “People are attracted to chipping paint and sort of strange, bizarre structural features.” Bennett said. He also pointed out the juxtaposition of the building’s placement next to Hotel San Luis Obispo. A newer building with a flashier appearance beside an old theatre with so much character attracts different crowds.
Despite being in a college town, Meyers says the crowd tends to be more retirees than young people. “I’d say like a 60/40 split – we have a lot of groups and couples that come in, and then some die-hards that come alone,” Meyers said. “It’s a diverse group of people.”
The Palm sells popcorn, candy and soda like most theatres, but at a lower price than many others. Bennett told stories of mixed reactions to the prices, since a large percentage of their audience remembers the days when “popcorn was 50 cents.” But the Palm doesn’t just stick to regular concessions. “We sell coffee and biscotti,” Bennett said. “I think that’s pretty old school.”
Tickets can be purchased online at the Palm website or at their box office in person. Ticket prices range from $9 to $12, depending on the age of attendees and the showtime. Every Monday, they offer a special deal of $9 per ticket all day to everyone. Memberships are also offered at the Palm theatre, allowing avid movie goers to get a more affordable deal for a year of movies. The Palm Theatre membership page adds that “Thanks to the AHC Visiting Members Program, your Palmie membership gets you national perks at other theatres who participate in the program.”
