Who hates State College movie theaters? I do, I do. Can anyone please tell me why a town of at least 60,000 people only has two movie theaters at its disposal?

I cannot figure it out.

With the recent Golden Globe Awards and the upcoming Oscars, it is always a tradition of mine to get out and at least see the movies that were nominated for Best Picture. However, State College makes that pretty impossible.

Recently, I have attempted to see the movies A Beautiful Mind and The Royal Tenenbaums.

It took me three attempts to get into A Beautiful Mind and I have not even attempted a second try at The Royal Tenenbaums.

The shows have been sold out numerous times. Maybe if the theaters held more than 200 people a few more could get past the doors.

Since the closing of the State Twin on College Ave. and The Movies on Beaver Ave., students have had to rely on Cinema 5 and Cinema 6.

For those who do not have a car or refuse to take CATA, Cinema 5 is the only option. If you have been to either of those theaters then you know those aren't really options.

Rumors have floated around that a major multiplex theater was going to open somewhere in the Centre County region, but never got underway.

The current theaters don't look like they've been renovated since at least 1930.

What would be the crime in providing students and residents with a higher quality movie theater?

State College doesn't have to go high tech. I don't expect stadium seating or surround sound anytime soon, but reclining seats and slightly larger theaters could be a nice addition.

Maybe putting a bit of insulation in Cinema 5 so viewers won't have to listen to the bumping sounds of the Gingerbread Man next door.

Another major problem with the movies is that Monday through Friday viewers can only see a 7 or 10 p.m. movie.

On the weekends, movies will start at 1 p.m. and maybe show four other shows throughout the day.

That does not leave residents many options to get out and see a show.

President Spanier continually harps on his no alcohol policy in State College, but there is little else for students under the age of 21 to do.

Students have the option of bowling (only one alley, which is always packed), Late Night Penn State (yeah right), a show at the Eisenhower Auditorium (which happens once a month) or the movies.

If Graham really wants students to stop drinking, then State College needs to be more options. Where better than the movies to start?

Build a multiplex so viewers will have a broad range of movies to see and movies will actually arrive in downtown State College when they open.

Often I have had to go home to Pittsburgh to see a new or art movie in a real theater instead of the GSA CAFE film series in Chambers and the Kern Buildings.

I know those films won't show up here for a month or, in the case of an art film, never, because downtown State College can't handle the arts.

The right to see a movie in a pleasing atmosphere should be added to the Bill of Rights.

It is our right as Americans to go to a theater and never see a sold-out sign on the door.

It is our right to sit in reclining chairs, hear surround sound and not eat stale popcorn.

It is the American way of life and its time for State College to move into the 20th century. (I know that the 21st century is too much to ask.)