Among Jacksonville's most recognized facades is that of the historic San Marco Theatre. One of the nation's oldest movie houses, it celebrates 70 years in 2008.

Where is it?:

The San Marco Theatre is located at 1996 San Marco Boulevard in the San Marco Square, an upscale, artsy district designed after Venice, Italy's Piazza di San Marco.Real estate developer Telfair Stockton had been impressed with the Italian square on a business trip and decided to replicate the ambiance in the 80-acre tract he purchased in what was then called South Jacksonville.

What's on the marquee?:

The San Marco Theatre offers first-run features one at a time - it has just one screen. But patrons also are treated to an eclectic array of cult classics, documentaries, independent and art films unseen anywhere else in Jacksonville. A wildly popular series call "The Talkies" features rarely seen flicks often hosted by the directors. And the subtitled sing-alongs are always a rousing good time.

What's on the menu?:

The San Marco Theatre's menu is a step up from the standard popcorn and peanuts fare. Enjoy a freshly made pizza or chicken quesadilla and a glass of Pinot Grigio while you take in a film. Theres' even a small table between pairs of chairs. Wine is sold by the glass, half carafe or bottle and beer by the mug, pint or pitcher.

What's so great about this place?:

Twentieth century architect Roy Benjamin was known throughout the South as a movie theatre specialist, designing more than 200 theatres during his career. Among his most enduring designs is the San Marco Theatre, an Art Deco treasure that opened in 1938 with a double bill showing Hopalong Cassidy Rides Again and A Slight Case of Murder.

Patrons paid all of 30 cents a piece for the double feature.

Seven decades later, the San Marco Theatre is one of the nation's oldest running movie houses. It was featured in the book Popcorn Palaces: The Art Deco Movie Theatre Paintings of Davis Cone and recognized by USA Today as one of the nation's 10 best classic cinemas.

When a film isn't on the screen, the venue is available for rent for private screenings, business meetings and parties. Bring your Power Point presentation or your favorite film on 35mm, 16mm, VHS or DVD - they'll play it for you.

It's those old-school capabilities that allow the San Marco Theatre to offer such a diverse array of films. Midnight showings of cult classics like Clockwork Orange and The Goonies are favorites. And rowdier patrons show up in droves for sing-along events such as the upcoming June showing of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, about a transsexual punk rock girl from East Berlin who tours the US with her rock band and follows the ex-bandmate/boyfriend who stole her songs.

The Hedwig sing-a-long is part of "The Talkies," a series developed by resident filmophile Tim Massett. The first of each two-night event is a screening of the selected 35mm film. But the real treat happens on the second night, when the film's director, dimly lit lest the event become a celebrity spectacle, provides running commentary throughout the screening.

One much publicized Talkies event featured John Waters' sold-out screening of his 1981 cult hit Polyester. A suburban housewife's seemingly idyllic life takes a downturn when her husband, a pornographer, admits he's a serial cheater; her unwed daughter gets knocked up; and her son is fingered as a foot-fetishist who has been breaking local women's feet. As if the crazed story line and commentary from the king of low-budget gore-fests wasn't enough, the audience also enjoyed (or perhaps endured) Odorama cards.

Upcoming, offbeat features include The Shining,The Blues Brothers, and Bomb It, a new documentary exploring the controversial art form of graffiti on five continents, all the way back to its prehistoric cave painting origins.