FAQ
Private Shows – New Program Effective Immediately
All private shows are subject to screen availability and staff availability. During certain times of year, only early-morning and late-night times are available, due to running a full public movie schedule. Please drop us an email and we will try to accommodate your group!
Movie
Your cost would be our matinee price per person (plus tax), with a minimum of $150. If you are seeing an older movie, the cost may be higher, depending upon what the studio charges for that movie. We can research the cost of the movie of your choice, and you can decide if you want move forward or not.
If you want to see an older movie, it may take up to 2 weeks to book and receive the movie from the studio, so please plan ahead. If we can use a BluRay or DVD, and we have it or can get it quickly, we still need to get it booked with the studio, but the lead time should be less. And, yes, the studio still charges us even if we use a BluRay or DVD.
Concessions
A pre-payment for a concession voucher for a minimum amount of $100 will be required.
The concession voucher(s), can be issued as a gift card with the full amount purchased, or as separate $5 paper gift vouchers for the total amount.
The concession credit can be used for the private show that day, or at a later date, if you prefer
If you are coordinating an event, we ask that you please make certain ground rules clear to all attendees:
No outside food or drink may be brought in. If that does happen, those items will be confiscated and returned after the movie.
If there is disruptive behavior, patrons may be asked to leave.
If the attendees are younger than 16, we ask that there be guardians or chaperones in attendance.
Our sincere apologies for having to spell out these rules. They are necessary because of a very few groups we have hosted. We hope that issues can be avoided by ensuring our expectations and rules are clear. Thank you for understanding.
Can I use free passes that I won from the radio station or from some other event to purchase reserved tickets online?
No, free passes are for walk-in business only. You can, however, come in during business hours and reserve a seat for a future show with a free pass. Please do not purchase a seat online and bring a free pass in and ask for a refund. If there is a lot of demand for that, maybe we can determine a fee for it. But we incur credit card charges for the purchase, then also for the refund, so not only are you getting free admission, but we are incurring charges for it. We can't afford to do that. Thank you for understanding.
To be clear, you CAN use gift cards to purchase tickets online. Just not free passes.
Can I use a credit card at the theater?
Yes, both The Prairie Cinema and The Elkader Cinema accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
How much are tickets at the Elkader Cinema?
2D Prices, all seats:
• 7:00 PM show: $6.00
• Matinees (shows before 5:00 PM): $5.00
3D Prices, all seats:
• 7:00 PM show: $7.00
• Matinees (shows before 5:00 PM): $6.00
How much are tickets at the Prairie Cinema?
2D Prices:
• Regular Adult Price 2D: $8.50
• Children (12 and under) and Seniors (60+) 2D: $6.50
• Matinees (shows before 5:00 PM) 2D: $6.50
3D Prices:
• Regular Adult Price 3D: $10.00
• Children (12 and under) and Seniors (60+) 3D: $8.00
• Matinees (shows before 5:00 PM) 3D: $8.00
There is an additional $1.50 cost to the customer for 3D movies at the Prairie Cinema, to help us cover additional fees we have to pay for 3D movies. This fee is charged even if you bring you own 3D glasses, because we have to pay the fees regardless of whether you bring your own glasses or not. However, we will be offering 2D showings of 3D movies still at the previous prices. Please pay special attention to the information on the website, on the phone, on fliers and all other advertising to be sure you are coming to the format you want to see (2D vs. 3D).
Most movies are still 2D only. If 2D or 3D is not specified, you can assume it is 2D.
Do you sell gift certificates?
Both The Elkader Cinema and The Prairie Cinema sell gift cards. You can purchase them in person, or over the phone with a credit card. If you purchase them over the phone, there is a $2.00 postage/handling charge per order (for any number of cards).
Gift cards purchased at either theater may be used interchangeably at both theaters!
Gift cards at the Prairie Cinema can also be used as loyalty cards. (See the next FAQ to learn about Prairie Cinema loyalty cards.)
What are the rewards and point levels for loyalty cards at the Prairie Cinema?
Loyalty cards at the Prairie Cinema are free. All you need to do is fill out a registration card. Once the loyalty card is registered, you receive 2 points for every paid admission. You may use that same card as a gift/cash card. You may purchase any amount of credit to be added to your card. You receive the following rewards at each multiple of 12 points:
12 pts - Junior Drink
24 pts - Junior Popcorn
36 pts - Frozen Drink
48 pts - Small Drink
60 pts - Small Popcorn
72 pts - Nachos
84 pts - Medium Drink
96 pts - Medium Popcorn
108 pts - Snack Pack
120 pts - Free Admission
...and then you start again at the top.
What is your R-Rated movie policy?
Children under 17 will only be admitted to an R-Rated movie if they are accompanied by a parent or adult guardian, or if their parent or adult guardian comes into the theater, speaks with our staff, and purchases the child's ticket. All children in R-Rated movies will be expected to behave in a mature manner, or they will be asked to leave. Neither refunds nor passes will be issued for those asked to leave due to bad behavior.
Because R-Rated movies are intended for adult audiences, children under 6 years of age will not be admitted to R-Rated movies under any circumstances.
Thank you for your understanding.
Can we view a DVD at your theater?
Technically speaking, yes. However, viewing a DVD in a venue such as a theater requires a licensing fee to be paid to the movie studio. This is generally $150 to $350, depending upon the movie. The movie theater gets no portion of that licensing fee; 100% of it goes to the studio.
Can I plan a birthday party at the Prairie Cinema?
Yes! If the birthday party consists of 8 or more people, you can get special group pricing on admission and a Kid's Pack, and the birthday child's admission and Kid's Pack is free! The package price is $9.00 per child, which includes admission and a Kid's Pack (normally $10.00), or $10.50 if it's a 3D movie (normally $11.50). We have tables we can reserve for you, and if you let us know ahead of time, you will be allowed to bring in a cake or cupcakes for your party. Remember, give the office a call ahead of time so that we know you're coming! The office number is: 608-326-8578.
Can I plan a birthday party at the Elkader Cinema?
Yes! For any birthday party group with 8 or more kids, the birthday child gets free admission! Please call ahead, 563-245-2668, to let the manager on-duty know you are coming.
In Elkader, we don't have seating with tables for a party, so we don't allow cake or cupcakes to be brought in. But, lots of people celebrate their birthdays at the Elkader Cinema! In addition to free admission for the birthday child (with 8 or more kids), you can pre-purchase and reserve your seats, if you want to make sure your group is seated all together.
Can I reserve seats for a movie?
Both the Elkader and Prairie Cinemas are all-reserved seats. You may purchase your seats online in advance, or you may purchase them when you arrive at the theatre. If you purchase your tickets at the theatre, you will still have a reserved seat; you will select it at the cashier's station.
Will you make a donation to my event?
We donate free passes to many events and causes. We cannot guarantee that we will donate to yours, but if you would like to make a request, please do so in writing. You may drop your request off at the office. Please do not expect to receive a donation on the spot. However, we carefully consider all requests and fulfill as many as we can.
May I post a flier or leave brochures about my business or event at your theater?
If you are one of our on-screen advertisers, yes you can! We do reserve our advertising space for our paying advertising customers. If you join our on-screen advertising program, information about your business or event will reach a lot of people! You can request changes to your on-screen ad as often as every week, at no additional charge!
Are there loyalty cards at the Elkader Cinema?
Not at this time. The Elkader Cinema does have gift cards, but there is not a reward program associated with those cards.