Getting to know Knoxville’s niche theater with co-owner Nick Huinker
When Central Cinema co-owner Nick Huinker opened the house early to tell me about the life of an independent movie theater, the first poster to catch my eye as I walked in was for “The Goonies,” the movie that epitomized summer vacation for me growing up. A long hallway forms the entryway, with three successive doors on the left, through which sit several rows of seats, 96 in total, facing a single projector screen.
The calendar of February showings doesn’t boast the latest blockbusters. On the contrary, Central is treating its viewers this month with beloved modern rom-com classics like “The Wedding Singer” and “Romeo + Juliet” alongside the second annual Southern Oasis Film Festival and community-partnered programming presented by TAMIS and Black in Appalachia. In addition, there are indie movies you’ve never heard of and films from the vault re-released for modern audiences (like “Tammy and the T-Rex,” a quirky gore film not to be missed).
Huinker performs numerous duties at Central Cinema. In addition to being a co-owner, he serves as general manager. You’ll also typically find him behind the counter slinging beers and popcorn between running the show for moviegoers. He’s not alone in this regard, either; he laughs as he says, “At any time, you’ll see one of the three owners back here behind the counter. Or one of our wives.”
Actually established as a small movie theater in 1916, the building Central Cinema calls home has functioned as a cinema for most of the last 100 years. Before becoming Central, though, it most recently was occupied by a Tai Chi studio. The transformation of the space back into a theater was the result of a partnership with a shared goal.
Huinker started the Knoxville Horror Film Fest in 2009 with William Mahaffey out of sheer passion for the genre. The longtime friends and lifelong movie lovers built a dedicated audience with the yearly event and gradually expanded it to include special screenings throughout the year at public spaces gracious enough to host such gatherings.
“After a while, we got tired of showing just horror movies,” Huinker says. “And we wanted a place where we could have a top-notch cinema experience.”
Showing films at local bars and music venues was a great way to draw a crowd, but he and Mahaffey wanted a better viewing experience that included theater seats, uninterrupted viewing and the opportunity for patrons to lose themselves in watching movies. In looking to open Central Cinema, the pair partnered with Logan Myers to run a successful crowdfunding campaign, raising over $30,000 for the first phase of the buildout.
The finished product is at once a nostalgic trip back into movie theaters of the past while being the handmade creation of a group of people who genuinely love movies. The sparse décor, featuring several vintage movie posters and prints, is culled from the owners’ personal collections. The snack bar has a beer fridge, stacks of candy and a single popcorn machine. The overall experience is like visiting the novelest of home theaters not actually located in someone’s home.
Sitting in the theater with the house lights turned low and the audio at just the right volume, you do feel completely enveloped by the experience. Huinker explains that creating this kind of atmosphere might be his favorite part of running Central Cinema.
“Being able to sit there and lose yourself in a movie, to eliminate [the] distractions and to see a movie in a group. … There aren’t always huge crowds here, but sometimes movies surprise us. And when there’s a good crowd there, that’s the best way to see a movie.
Most movie theaters now are multiplexes full of life-sized cardboard cutouts and substantial open spaces to accommodate the inevitable queues for weekend crowds and premieres. Seating often is stadium-style, with bright house lights which often aren’t dulled to minimal brightness for safety reasons. Central Cinema is a throwback to a bygone era free of modern conveniences but big on ambiance.
“If you’re at home watching a movie, you’re going to be on your phone. You’re going to get up, go make popcorn. … As movie lovers, we cherish the theatrical experience that is kind of going away … this experience that they’ve grown up with, that they love,” Huinker says. “[Today’s] theatrical exhibition is huge, full of technical upsells, and that’s neat, but sometimes the movies get lost in the mix.”
Not showing blockbusters doesn’t hinder Central Cinema one bit; in fact, it’s precisely what sets them apart from other theaters. Rather than compete with the big franchises, niche movie houses like this one can organize their own specialized catalogs. The proprietors use their individual tastes and talents to select movies from all eras, genres and levels of notoriety.
As Huinker explains, Central chooses “movies that are fun, that are people’s favorites,” adding that the inclusion of cult hits and populist films alike will attract all sorts of folks. “Even if they’ve owned the DVD for 15 years, they’ll pay $8 to $10 to come to see it in a theater [and] to be around people who are enjoying the same thing.”
Central Cinema is the epitome of Knoxville’s “Scruffy City” moniker: It’s a small, family-owned business that partners with the community whenever it can and offers a variety of free events every month that make the cinema accessible to all. On top of it all, its owners are passionate about what they do and proud of the niche community they’ve built.
“It’s very gratifying [that] when people show up, they get it,” Huinker says. “They understand this place. This is an alternative to what moviegoing has become. This is a different experience. It’s local. We built this with the help of the community, and we’re doing it for the community.”
Central Cinema is located along Happy Holler at 1205 N. Central St. Visit www.centralcinema865.com and follow it across all social media with the handle @centralcinemaknox. The email newsletter is the best way to get weekly updates on the calendar of screenings, and becoming a member is the easiest way to make Central Cinema a part of your own personal entertainment calendar.
