Since this is the first I’m hearing of The Louisville Vanguard Cinema, I’m going to assume you haven’t heard of it either. So let’s dig into some background to get us up to speed.

The Louisville Vanguard Cinema, the only local dine-in,
drink-in, dual-screen independent cinema is counting
on the public to make the dream a reality. Cities across
the country from Austin, Chicago, and Portland to Asheville
NC and Springfield MO have their own cinema drafthouses
showing quality artistic films – why not Louisville?
Don’t we deserve to join their ranks?

We will screen everything from the latest David Lynch, Richard Kelly,
Michael Haneke, and Spike Jonze offerings to animé and Evil Dead 2.
Documentaries? We got ‘em. Foreign films, director appearances, film
festivals, filmmaking workshops. We will have drive-in movies in the
parking lot with the sound broadcast over the FM dial. We will have
special menus to reflect various films. We will screen the latest our
local community of filmmakers can muster up. You get the idea.

Louisville’s arts scene is flourishing. Painting, sculpture, music,
and theater all thrive here – and there are galleries and venues to
showcase them. We do not have, however, a welcoming place for film: a
medium that can incorporate all those arts. Existing activities and
groups such as The Kentuckiana Cinematography Club, KINO, Last Call
Film Festival, Louisville Film Society, Hart/Lunsford Productions, and
the 48-Hour Film Project demonstrate that there is both production and
appreciation of the art of the film in Louisville, but we have no venue
where the full range of cinema – from experimental, independent,
foreign, cult, and documentary to modern classics – finds a true home.

The Vanguard Cinema will be that home. Our inviting, innovative, comfortable
cinema will be a place where films of all kinds can be shown and discussed,
where local film makers can screen their work and grow an audience, where the
innovative movie experience can become part of the fabric and vocabulary of
Louisville’s culture. Special events tied into the films will enhance the “entertainment
value” of the theater experience. Unlike ordinary movie theaters, The Vanguard
Cinema will have a restaurant with wine, spirits, and beer, and the seating
will be an inviting mix of easy chairs and couches, bar tables, and theater
seating. A wait staff will serve the clientele in their seats while the film
plays. It will be a place where a dialogue between other arts and film can
happen. Musicians can perform, art can be displayed, films shown, writers can
be heard, all in one exciting place where people are encouraged to linger and
talk and eat and drink. An audience for film will grow, and a clientele that
keeps coming back will develop. After all, as Bertolt Brecht said, “A theater
without beer is just a museum.”

The food will be innovative – often reflecting the themes of the current film
offerings. The food, spirit, beer, and wine choices will feature local and
regional production. The Vanguard Cinema will be a place of celebration and
delight in the local and the global. Local, regional, and national artists
will exhibit in the art gallery/lobby and the venue will be a major stop on
the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop. The Vanguard Cinema will also be a delightful
education – festivals, courses, discussion groups can all happen here. Louisville
will learn film – and learn all the arts – more deeply. And have great fun
doing it.

So, as best I can tell the actual space isn’t completed yet and the business model includes selling memberships. Is that what you’re getting from all that info? It all sounds really interesting to me and I look forward to learning more. Screenings thrown by Louisville Vanguard currently, again as far as I can tell, are in a covered, open air space at the Mellwood Art Center. You’re responsible for bringing a lawn chair or what not.

The first such event is tonight. They’re showing Girls Rock! a kick ass looking documentary and some uber violent Japanese film called The Machine Girl. There will be food from North End Cafe, beer, live music and all kinds of festiveness. I wish I could tell you how much (if anything) tickets cost but I can’t figure it out. So maybe just show up with a $20 and hope that covers entrance and a beer?

Update: It was terribly easy to overlook but the post says $2 is the suggested donation. That’s a steal dude, donate more if you go.