McHENRY – In a business landscape that has been dominated by huge megaplexes with dozens of screens, Cindy Kottke’s movie theaters in McHenry and Antioch stand apart.

The McHenry Downtown Theatre, at 1204 N. Green St., seems a bit like a dinosaur.

Small, independent movie houses face growing financial challenges as film is being eclipsed by digital pictures that enable 3-D viewing and other features. At the same time, film itself is becoming more expensive.

But local movies theaters remain popular. Part of it may be nostalgia, something Kottke hears often from loyal McHenry moviegoers.

Independent theater owners also are changing with the times. Kottke has Facebook trivia contests, uses social media and has joined the legions of other small businesses encouraging people to shop locally.

Kottke recently sat down with reporter Brett Rowland to talk about the changing theater business and some of her favorite movies.

Rowland: How did you get started in this?

Kottke: I was in real estate and I lived on Green Street, just down the street. I would keep driving by, and I would see a sign “For Sale or Lease.” I’ve always loved the movies. I thought, “Hmm, let me see if I can figure something out with that.” I was able to and here I am.

When I was selling real estate, I would always go to the movies in the middle of work. I would go to the Crystal Lake theater, and a lot of times during the day, I would be the only person in there. I felt, “Wow, they’re just running this for me.”

Rowland: How has the business changed in recent years?

Kottke: With the new technology coming, it’s very difficult. In the next three to five years, I don’t believe film will be as readily available. Everything is going digital, which would make us 3-D capable.

We are looking into that because we will have to convert at some point.

The cost of the films has risen dramatically over the past few years. The studios are saying it is more expensive to make the prints, and they are pushing the switch to digital.

We’re going to be able to go digital, we’re just not sure how because we want to be able to keep it a quaint, downtown community theater.

Rowland: Tell me about being an independent.

Kottke: You definitely create a loyal following. It brings back a lot of memories. I can’t tell you how many times I hear, “This is where I had my first date” or “This is where I met my husband” or “I used to work here.” The people in McHenry and Antioch love being able to say that, and they are proud of that.

Rowland: What is the hardest part of being an independent?

Kottke: It’s getting the films that we want. We try to pick what our customers will want and we do get first-runs, but we’re not always able to get the ones that we think would do best in our theaters. We have to go a lot of times by what the studios want. So we don’t always get first choice of what we’d like, but we are still able to bring in the big movies because they make more prints of those.

Rowland: What are doing to capitalize on the fact that you are a small local theater?

Kottke: A lot of fun stuff. We’re doing an 11 O’clock Retro Block. That will be starting in March. It will be a monthly series of retro-type movies. The first ones we are trying for are the ’80s.

Rowland: A great decade for movies. Do you have a favorite from that era?

Kottke: “Pretty in Pink.”

Rowland: What else are you planning?

Kottke: We’re starting a bi-monthly trivia giveaway on Facebook. Actually, we’re doing a lot of giveaways with tickets, candy, prizes, flowers, cookies. In the summer, we’re starting to get involved in events with the 3/50 Project. The project encourages people to spend $50 each month at independently-owned businesses. It’s a nationwide push. The idea is that it helps local businesses stay here and helps the local community. When you spend locally, more of that money stays here. There’s a link on our Facebook page for more information about the 3/50 Project.

Rowland: What are some of your other favorite movie memories?

Kottke: Well, certainly “The Wizard of Oz,” I remember that like it was yesterday. “The Exorcist,” because I couldn’t sleep with the lights off for two months. And “The Godfather,” I thought that was the all-time best movie ever made at the time.

The Kottke lowdown

Who is she? Cindy Kottke is the owner of "C" You at the Movies, which operates movie theaters in McHenry and Antioch.

Favorite movies? "Out of Africa" and "Scarface."

Most popular movies in her theaters? The "Pirates of the Caribbean" series and the "Shrek" series

Website: cyouatthemovies.com or Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/McHenry-Theater/83551517495