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Dobie operator, Landmark Theatre, made the announcement Monday, marking the end of a long and somewhat romantic history.

In 1990, Richard Linklater released the cult favorite "Slacker" at the theatre, and the well-received "Hands on Hard Body" lit up the Dobie screen for a year. Today, the Dobie plays commercial movies, in an effort to stay in business.

"They can go elsewhere in town and see a movie on a bigger screen and they might get to eat and drink while they're watching a movie," Austin Film Society Executive Director Rebecca Campbell said. "It could be a party atmosphere and clearly the Dobie Theatre is not meeting their needs."

The Dobie has been in business since the 1980s, but in more recent years, moviegoers have complained about uncomfortable seats and awkward seating positions.

"Many movie buffs will go see, will go watch movies in terribly uncomfortable places if it's something different, something new we can't see anywhere else and the Dobie programming isn't that way anymore," Jette Kernion writes for the blog Slackerwood.

Film experts agree that without comfortable or innovative exhibition conditions, the Dobie is not an ideal choice to check out the latest blockbuster film, with so many better theatre options in Austin.

"It was important, historically. But really, it's the physical space is just so limited that time has kind of passed it by and audiences expect a different kind of a space these days," Campbell said.

Campbell said the Austin Film Society was birthed at the older theatre, and even kicked off its premiere party there in 1985.

The Slackerwood editor said all good things come to pass, especially in Austin.

"I'm sad because I have so many fond memories of going to see movies at the Dobie, but, sadly, not surprised," Kernion said.