Entry No. 53 — the Spokane file — filed under: after-dark
Midnight Movies at The Garland Theater
A 1945 single-screen neighborhood movie palace that has stayed scrappy and independent, open daily until midnight and home to a long-running cult-film tradition. A dedicated 'Midnight Movies at the Garland' crowd packs in for The Rocky Horror Picture Show with full audience-participation chaos. Cheap tickets (around $3.50) and the attached Bon Bon cocktail bar make it a proper after-dark hangout rather than a multiplex.
The story
The Garland Theater opened in 1945, a single-screen neighborhood movie palace that managed to survive the multiplex era without surrendering its independence or getting carved up into small rooms. While most surviving mid-century theaters turned into sterile corporate houses or fell into disrepair, the Garland leaned hard into remaining a scrappy, budget-friendly night haunt for Spokane.
The anchor of its after-dark reputation is the long-running 'Midnight Movies at The Garland Theater' series. On late Saturday nights, the screen turns over to cult-film revivals ranging from *Harold and Maude* to full audience-participation rituals. The local shadow cast, Absolute Pleasure, routinely takes the floor for *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, guiding a packed room through full-contact callouts, costumes, and flying props.
What keeps it working as a genuine local hangout rather than a slick nostalgic theme bar is its price point and layout. Tickets run around $3.50, and the lobby connects directly into the Bon Bon, an attached cocktail bar. You didn't hear it from us, but ducking into the Bon Bon for a drink before stepping straight into a 1945 movie palace is the proper way to handle a midnight screening.
What it's like
Arrive under the glowing neon sign on Garland Avenue and head through the historic lobby. If you show up early, grab a cocktail at the attached Bon Bon before claiming a seat in the massive single-screen auditorium. Late-night cult screenings and Rocky Horror events bring out a dedicated, noisy local crowd that knows every word—expect flying toast, toilet paper, and shout-backs if Absolute Pleasure is on floor duty. Tickets remain around $3.50, but confirm current showtimes online before you head out.
The move: Grab the cheap late tickets for a Rocky Horror midnight screening and throw toast with the regulars.
- 📍 Garland District, Spokane
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 924 W Garland Ave, Spokane, WA 99205
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Jodi's Broom Closet — Browse the herbs, crystals, and supplies at this witch shop located right in the same historic Garland block before catching your late movie.
- Mary Lou's Milk Bottle — Grab a diner bite beneath the massive 1935 architectural milk bottle just a block down Garland Avenue before late-night showtime.
- Spokane Neon Museum — Follow up the theater's iconic mid-century neon facade with a short trip south to view a restored collection of Spokane's vintage commercial signs.
Good to know
How much does admission cost?
Tickets for screenings at the theater generally sit right around $3.50, making it one of the cheapest late-night outings in Spokane.
Can you get drinks at the theater?
Yes, the theater features an attached cocktail lounge called the Bon Bon right off the building, so you can grab a drink before the show.
Who puts on the live Rocky Horror floor shows?
The local shadow cast group Absolute Pleasure regularly performs live alongside the midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Are midnight movies screened every night?
No, midnight cult screenings and special events happen on specific nights, so you should check their current schedule online before heading down.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · spokesman.com · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-24