Review: The Drexel Theatre

Columbus has a wide variety of movie theaters coming in all shapes and sizes that offer patrons many different viewing experiences. The Drexel Theatre in Bexley, in its current form has been a Columbus staple for over twenty years and seemed as good a place as any to start the long process of reviewing every movie theater in the Columbus area.

Theaters will be graded on a weighted scale in eleven categories for a total of 100 possible points. Many categories are only worth a maximum of five points because they only play a minor role on what contributes to a worthwhile theatrical experience. Three categories will be out of ten, twenty, and thirty points respectively; these three categories account for 50% of the total scoring because they make up the ‘heart and soul’ of what makes a theater worth going to. Obviously everyone has their own reasons for why they patronize one theater over another; convenience and cost are the two reasons I hear most often. Those of course are valid reasons but if you’re really looking for the best moving going experience in Columbus you need to look at more than how much a night at the movies sets you back in your wallet or how far you have to drive.

Location [4/5] – Located in the heart of Bexley, the Drexel Theater sits right across the street the Capital University Campus. There are many restaurants and shops located within walking distance of the theater including COSI, the Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern, Moshi Sushi Bar, and Graeter’s Ice Cream.

Parking [2/5] - Parking at the Drexel can be tricky depending on the time of your visit. Unmetered street parking is available as well parking lots within walking distance of the theater but towing does seem to be a problem. Management of the Drexel is aware of the parking difficulties going as far as to post a “Drexel Parking: Dos & Don’ts” on their bulletin board which is also available on their contact page.

Appearance [4/5] - The Drexel features a classic theater look complete with a working neon marquee. Unfortunately the lobby box office is no longer used and has fallen into a state of disrepair. Tickets are now sold at the concession full time. The concession stand has a distinct look that compliments the classic look the Drexel is trying to present. There are some clutter issues that could be addressed namely the display cases which house many of items some of which look nice while others pieces look cheap and out of place. An old telephone booth sits in the lobby but it looks and feels like it’s been placed in its current location to cover an ugly spot on the wall or carpet. The drinking fountains are out of order with notes attached to them to please go to the concession stand for a cup of water.

Over the doors of the auditoriums there are spaces to put the title of what film is playing; the day I visited two auditoriums had nothing listed and the third had a piece of printer paper with the title printed on it held up with tape. It’s not detrimental to the appearance of the theater but something could be done that looks a bit more professional. Inside, the auditoriums appear rather well maintained; there was some leftover clutter up by the screen but unless you’re up in the front row of the main auditorium you probably wouldn’t know it was there. Overall the Drexel is in good condition for its age but there is some room for some cosmetic improvement.

Film Assortment [5/5] – Being “Columbus’ Home of Independent Cinema” doesn’t hold the same luster as it once did. Many theater chains are playing independent cinema under their own banners such as AMC Independent and Cinemark’s Cinéart. Locally owned competition has also improved with the Gateway Film Center partnering with The Wexner Center for the Arts. Nevertheless the Drexel continues to show a wide variety of independent fare ranging from local films to foreign titles and everything in between.

Staff [5/5] – Running a three screen theater doesn’t take a lot of staff. The person that sold you your ticket will most likely be the same person that sells you your popcorn and drink. The Drexel staff is small but that doesn’t stop them from being friendly and efficient. It’s not uncommon to see the Operations Manager and former Drexel owner Jeff Frank in the lobby mingling with patrons.

Food & Drink [2/5] – Last year at this time the Drexel would have scored much better in this category when the Radio Café was still open. After closing the Radio Café for “renovations” on July 18th of last year there are no signs of the café re-opening which leaves the Drexel sitting at the bottom of the barrel in terms of food and drink options. Now instead of real food options like sandwiches, soups, beers on tap, and specialty drinks the theater is left with the most basic of theater fare in addition to a small assortment of beers and wines. Even though the options are limited the Drexel is still affordably priced but their advertised beer special of a 24oz. Pabst Blue Ribbon for $3.00 seems out of place for an art house theater.

Special Features [0/5] – The Drexel is one of the most basic theaters in the Columbus area. You won’t find digital projection or 3D and only one auditorium advertises digital sound. Its most special feature is the theater itself; the Drexel — like Studio 35 and the Grandview — are the last of a dying breed of small, neighborhood theaters that are trying to survive in an age filled with multiplexes, many of which are brimming with state of the art technology.

Comfort [2/5] – The seats at the Drexel fall somewhere between stadium bleachers and a padded folding chair. Sitting through a ninety minute movie was quite uncomfortable and when I readjusted in my seat the entire right side of my chair tilted back off the ground. The seats do have cupholders but beware they do not have a bottom so if you place your cell phone or keys in them they will fall to the floor.

Experience [8/10] – The Drexel is located in Bexley but its art house roots attract a specific audience from all over Columbus. You’re not likely to have to deal with rowdy kids or obnoxious teenagers; quite the contrarily is true, you’re going to be sitting with serious moviegoers that are there to see a film and not socialize with their cell phones throughout an entire film. Seeing a film in a historic Columbus theater like the Drexel adds an intangible element to the unique movie-going experience that goes beyond how comfortable the seats are, the concession stand offerings, or the quality of the presentation.

Value [15/20] – Admissions at the Drexel are in line with most other 2D tickets prices in Columbus.

While the concession menu is rather limited, their prices are also in the lower end the price spectrum when compared to other Columbus theaters.

The Drexel also offers the ‘Drexel Membership Program’ that allows you to take advantage of some minor discounts. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like much of a bargain but if you’ve got money to burn and you want to support the Drexel Theatre it might be worth it to you. Below is a breakdown of some of the membership levels, for a complete list visit the Drexel Membership Program page.

Individual: Cinema Paradiso ($60/year)

• $2 off general admission price on every Drexel visit for one year
• Free small popcorn or small fountain drink (up to 12/year)
• E-newsletter
• Tax Deductible Portion $15

Household: Room with a View ($110/year)

• $2 off general admission price for each member of the household on every Drexel visit for one year (maximum of four people)
• Free small popcorn or small fountain drink (up to 12/year)
• E-newsletter
• Invitations to special screenings, events, etc.
• Tax Deductible Portion $65

Premier Membership: Life is Beautiful ($250/year)

• $2 off general admission price for each member of the household on every Drexel visit for one year (maximum of four people)
• Free small popcorn (up to 12/year)
• Free small fountain drink (up to 12/year)
• E-newsletter
• Invitations and preferred seating for special screenings, events, etc.
• Four guest passes for free admission
• Advance notice and discounts for exclusive Drexel events including Red Carpet, Midnight Movies, etc.

Presentation [15/30] – For this review I saw a film in the Drexel’s main auditorium. Overall, the experience was merely OK which isn’t all that surprising considering the age of both the building and the projection equipment.

The sound was tinny and without much range but was always intelligible. Some of that can be attributed to the source material which was very dialogue driven but there is definite room for improvement.

Picture quality fared considerably worse than the audio. Regardless of how old the equipment is the picture should always been framed correctly on screen. An out of frame presentation is a just a sign of carelessness on the part of the projectionist. An even greater sign of carelessness is how dirty the film was during several of the reel changes. On the opening day of a new movie the film shouldn’t have excessive amounts of visible dirt and dust. That’s a sure sign that the beginning or the end of a reel was dragged on the floor before splicing the reels together which is one the cardinal sins of projectionist etiquette. Not all aspects of the presentation were bad however; the picture was in focus and the light level was appropriate and well balanced with no hot spots.

The masking along the top of the screen is also broken to some degree causing a slight crookedness along the top of the picture. It’s not overtly distracting but it has been this way for several years and should have been addressed by now. What was distracting was the intermittent source of light on the screen. It appeared to be the glare off of passing cars, perhaps those passing outside the front of the building but I couldn’t confirm its source.

The Drexel rarely plays films that call for a lot of visual or audio “Wow” factor in regard to their presentation so their deficiencies aren’t of life or death consequence. With that said however there are a lot of better places in Columbus to see a movie especially if top notch picture and sound is important to you.

Overall [62/100] – If you fancy yourself a fan of independent cinema and a supporter of local business, visiting the Drexel Theatre is a no brainer. Despite the lack of frills, the limited food and drink offerings, and a merely adequate film presentation the Drexel still offers an interesting film-going experience. My hope for the future of the Drexel is that it’s able to improve its presentation by upgrading to digital and to eventually re-open the Radio Café. If they can improve the presentation and offer customers more options while maintaining their identity and local roots the Drexel Theatre still has a bright future ahead of it.

Pictures of the Drexel Theatre can be found in the Drexel Theatre Album on the Movies Hate You Too Facebook page.

The Drexel Theatre is located at 2254 E. Main St. Columbus OH 43209. More information can be found at www. Drexel.net.