Unlike other revered Austin institutions, I think this situation will be temporary because it’s sitting on some rather desirable real estate. Believe me, anything in, around, on, whatever preposition you want to go with, if it’s in the vicinity of UT, somebody can make a go of it. The current art-house chain running it probably couldn’t find a way to do it well and/or this economy forced the closing.
Nowadays the Dobie isn’t really as popular since the Alamo came along in the late Nineties. Not so much for the content, more for the fun, hipness, opportunities and food. It’s also easier to find free parking near the four Alamos.
In its defense, I have numerous wonderful memories seeing movies there at all hours and genres. When I first moved to Austin in 1994, Dobie only had two theaters so the choices were more limited. Since it was within walking distance from the dorm room I had during my initial six months, I definitely took in anything interesting: an animation showcase, Cyril Collard’s Les Nuits Fauves and oddly Reality Bites. Every day at midnight they also showed Dazed n’ Confused for at least a year. I saw it three times. Once to see what was the fuss, the second on the next night to re-analyze it because I wasn’t impressed after viewing number one (I liked it then) and a final screening before I had to move further north.
Living up at 38th and Guadalupe didn’t deter me, especially when I had a bike or a ride. I normally took in anything French, La Reine Margot is a pleasant memory. Sonia twisted my arm into Muriel’s Wedding which became a personal favorite from Australia. Finally seeing the 20th anniversary edition of Taxi Driver was enlightening as I gained a better understanding of the cultural references. Stalingrad prepared me for all the cribbing Spielberg would do in making Saving Private Ryan.
When Jose came for his only visit to Austin, I made sure he got a taste of the local culture by taking him there when Swingers was the midnight show in Dazed‘s place although I don’t know if it got to stay a whole year. I caught Favreau and Vaughn’s breakout movie three times as well.
During my time away in North Carolina, I definitely missed the place. Seeing anything on par with Dobie was a relatively long drive to Chapel Hill.
Alas, upon returning to Austin, I didn’t see much since I tended to live even farther north (Georgetown, Round Rock and Well Branch) so seeing a movie at Dobie become a bigger undertaking. I think the last one I saw was Control around 2007 with my friend Mark M because we’re fans of Joy Division.
Currently, the field for the high-end, diehard moviegoer is getting crowded. Some overpriced nonsense joint opened in the Domain. I like great food, just not at what these clowns are charging. The local paper mentioned a fancy, schmancy place around 2nd Street. Alamo isn’t taking it lying down neither, two more franchises around Austin are planned. Compared to where I used to live, my new home is certainly turning into a movie-watching Mecca. I’m confident Dobie will return in the near future.