I don't think I'm alone in feeling that Studio 35 is just as much a local watering hole as it is a movie theater.
The first thing they ask you when you go in is some variation of "Are you seeing a movie with us or just hanging out?" At any given time, more than half the patrons in the bar seem to be there more for drinks and conversation than whatever happens to be playing that night.
For that reason, whatever challenges the cinema world may face in the future, I believe Studio 35 will weather them all--so long as people still like a variety of beers, whiskeys, and cheap pizza.
Let's start there. "Drafthouse" isn't in the name for nothing; the folks running the place do a great job of curating a rotating selection of tap handles sourced from all over the place. They also maintain an excellent liquor list, and were allegedly the first theater in the nation to obtain a license to sell spirits.
Prices aren't quite dive-levels of through the floor cheap, but still affordable even when compared with non-theater bars with similar selections.
But the thing I'm trying to tell more people about is the in-house pizzeria, Fibonacci's, and their insane Monday deal: $12 for any specialty, $10 to build your own at the time of writing. Every Monday, dine-in or carryout.
Which wouldn't be so impressive if it weren't for the more than passable quality of the pies themselves, and the assortment of toppings (which include a fair number of vegan options!).
More about the theater itself: situated near the border of Clintonville and the Old North in a historic building dating back to the '30s, the place's signature sign and marquee turn the heads of any traveler turning down Indianola.
Inside, the walls drip personality--the place is decorated like a movie-obsessed teenager's bedroom (but in a tasteful way). Red paint, wall-to-wall posters and paraphernalia, even a whole corner (shrine?) to El Duderino. It's all very on theme, and manages to be fun and unique without feeling cluttered.
The main auditorium is a bit odd in that it slopes UP a bit as you near the front, but thanks to the seat design I've yet to have that be a problem, even in sold-out shows with filled seats (I'm on the taller side though, your mileage may vary). Some seats near the rear feature tables so you can have a true-dine in experience as well, though most people seem to opt to eat in the bar or in the extra seating/balcony upstairs before the show.
The sound system was recently replaced and it sounds superb, and I've never had an issue with the picture quality in any showing I've attended.
There is a second "recliner room" upstairs, but as someone who also enjoys having a home theater, I've yet to actually bring myself to pay to see something up there. If Studio 35 has one weakness, it's the necessary programming limitations that come with limited screens/seats and just one real auditorium.
As one of just a handful of long-standing institutions within the Columbus independent cinema scene, there's a noticeable overlap between the clientele here and each of the others, but Studio 35 stands out the most in my mind as feeling in many ways the most casual, welcoming, and working-class (which is in no way derogatory; it should be a point of pride). A place like the Gateway Film Center is an art gallery, but Studio 35 is where the artists actually hang out.
Living just two miles away, it's firmly lodged itself near the top of the list of places where I might be found any given evening (but especially Mondays). I feel that as Clintonville and surrounding areas continue to blossom, Indianola may become something of a second High Street-- which will only make Studio 35 all the more popular. And I'm glad, because I want to continue coming here for as long as I live in Columbus.
If you find yourself enamored with the place as I am, there's an older documentary floating around out there about the theater's history with all sorts of interesting tidbits (like the liquor license first I mentioned earlier) including its stint as an "adult" venue--check it out! read more