Entry No. 3 — the Santa Fe file — filed under: cinema
Jean Cocteau Cinema
A single-screen art house that George R.R. Martin bought out of a 2006 closure and reopened in 2013, complete with a full bar and its own line of "Rocinante" beer; the FAQ page states its hours flat-out as "Wednesday thru Friday 5pm to midnight-ish and Saturday and Sunday 4pm to midnight-ish." Every Monday at 6:30pm it hands the screen over, free, to Lisa Harris of Video Library — which the cinema bills as "America's oldest living video rental store" — for a 75-seat, first-come program called VLVC.
The story
When the original single-screen house went dark in 2006, the Montezuma Avenue venue seemed destined to become another lost Santa Fe memory. Local fantasy author George R.R. Martin stepped in, purchased the property, and officially reopened it in 2013. Rather than turning it into a polished corporate multiplex, he preserved its single-screen layout, equipped it with a 35mm film projection system alongside digital capability, and added a full bar right in the lobby.
The cinema's oddest weekly ritual happens every Monday at 6:30 PM, when the box office steps aside for Lisa Harris of Video Library—an operation billed as America's oldest living video rental store. Known as the Video Library Video Club (VLVC), the night hands the single screen over for free cult programming, eccentric offbeat features, and rare physical media pulls.
What it's like
Stepping inside 418 Montezuma Avenue feels like gaining access to a cinephile's private screening bunker. You can order a drink at the lobby bar—including the house Rocinante beer—and bring it straight to your seat in the intimate 75-chair auditorium. If you plan to attend a free Monday VLVC screening, arrive well before the 6:30 PM start time: space is strictly capped at 75 seats, seat-saving for friends is banned, and late arrivals get turned away at the door.
The move: Show up early on a Monday for the free VLVC screening (arrive ahead of 6:30pm, no seat-saving allowed, 75 seats total), grab a drink from the full bar to support the house, and let the night run past whatever's on the regular midnight-ish bill afterward.
- 📍 Santa Fe Railyard District
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 418 Montezuma Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- form & concept — Walk a tenth of a mile down the Railyard after a screening to swap cult cinema for conceptual craft art inside a converted warehouse.
- Ark Books — Take a short two-block stroll before showtime to browse metaphysical and esoteric texts inside a converted adobe house.
- The Matador — Head four blocks downtown after the late feature to keep the night going down a subterranean stairwell at this cash-only dive.
Good to know
How do I get into the free Monday night VLVC screenings?
Show up early before the 6:30 PM showtime. Admission is completely free on a first-come, first-served basis for 75 seats, and staff enforce a strict no-seat-saving rule.
Can I order alcohol inside the theater?
Yes. The venue has a full lobby bar featuring its own custom 'Rocinante' beer, and you can take your drinks directly to your theater seat.
What are the regular operating hours?
Outside of special Monday events, official hours run Wednesday through Friday from 5:00 PM to 'midnight-ish' and Saturday through Sunday from 4:00 PM to 'midnight-ish'.
Does the theater show actual physical film prints?
Yes, a 35mm film projection system was installed during its revival, allowing the cinema to run rare physical 35mm prints.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-20