In 1929, there were twenty-two thousand movie theaters across the United States. Now… we’re down to fewer than three thousand. 

In his new documentary “The Last Picture Shows,” local filmmaker Rustin Thompson chronicles the life, death, and resilience of many of these small town theaters across the American West. 

Thompson drove through ten states and visited scores of theaters… both open AND closed… to tell the story of small town cinemas, and the people who keep them running. 

People like Tiny Pedersen, of the Desert Historic Theater in Burns, Oregon:

“ We don't have anything else here. There's not a bowling alley. There's not a video game machine. There, there's absolutely nothing else for high school kids or teenagers or even young adults to have a night out on the town with a date.”

The film is a postcard of American life and a love story to a part of it that seems to be fading. 

GUEST: Rustin Thompson

RELATED LINKS: 
The Last Picture Shows
The Last Picture Shows - Trailer
Seattle filmmaker’s documentary finds hope in small-town movie theaters

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes 

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

In 1929, there were twenty-two thousand movie theaters across the United States. Now&hellip; we&rsquo;re down to fewer than three thousand.&nbsp;
In his new documentary &ldquo;The Last Picture Shows,&rdquo; local filmmaker Rustin Thompson chronicles the life, death, and resilience of many of these small town theaters across the American West.&nbsp;
Thompson drove through ten states and visited scores of theaters&hellip; both open AND closed&hellip; to tell the story of small town cinemas, and the people who keep them running.&nbsp;
People like Tiny Pedersen, of the Desert Historic Theater in Burns, Oregon:
&ldquo; We don't have anything else here. There's not a bowling alley. There's not a video game machine. There, there's absolutely nothing else for high school kids or teenagers or even young adults to have a night out on the town with a date.&rdquo;
The film is a postcard of American life and a love story to a part of it that seems to be fading.&nbsp;
GUEST:&nbsp;<a href="https://rustinthompson.com/">Rustin Thompson</a>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://rustinthompson.com/last-picture-shows/">The Last Picture Shows</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbAyrFj5Ihs">The Last Picture Shows - Trailer</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/seattle-filmmakers-documentary-finds-hope-in-small-town-movie-theaters/">Seattle filmmaker&rsquo;s documentary finds hope in small-town movie theaters</a> </li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-6646">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>&nbsp;
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Rustin Thompson loves movies, and took a 10,000 mile road trip through the American West to find the small town theaters that used to thrive.