One of Dublin's last traditional suburban cinemas, the Classic in Harold's Cross, is set to close at the end of next week.
The decision was taken reluctantly by the cinema's owner, Mr Albert Kelly, and was based entirely on health reasons.
"My doctor told me I had to stop doing a seven-days-a-week job," he told The Irish Times yesterday.
"I like the film business too much to give it up for any other reason. The business is thriving."
The Classic and the nearby Stella in Rathmines are the last two-screen neighbourhood cinemas in the capital. The final week's presentations at the Classic will be Veronica Guerin, the biggest hit of this year at Irish cinemas, and American Pie: The Wedding.
However, the film chosen as the cinema's last picture show next Friday night is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has broken all Irish cinema records by running at late-night shows in the Classic for the past 21 years.
"It has had a great cult following," Mr Kelly said. "It drew regular patrons from all walks of life - road sweepers, university students, petrol-pump attendants, professional people."
On learning the cinema is to close, Rocky Horror fans turned out in force last Friday and presented Mr Kelly with a plaque. He received a 10-minute standing ovation.
The Classic is sticking to its "no booking" policy for its final night. Tickets for the final three shows will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Originally named the Kenilworth, the cinema first opened its doors in 1953. In 1976, its owners, Sundrive Cinemas, decided to close the cinema and their other property, the Classic in Terenure, where Mr Kelly was the manager.
He bought the lease on the Kenilworth, took the Classic's name with him, and opened his own cinema there in October 1976. Mr Kelly made a point of being present every evening to greet his customers.
He had served his apprenticeship as a projectionist in the Grand Central cinema on O'Connell Street during the second World War. Its programming was composed mostly of unlikely reissues, but the cinema became renowned for its showmanship.
When screening the nature documentary, Bring 'Em Back Alive, the management exhibited a live caged monkey in the foyer. Intrigued by the gimmick, the public flocked to see the movie - until one evening when the monkey was electrocuted and went out of control, scaring the queue away.