After 40 years of helping to keep Austin weird, the curtains to Dobie Theater have been closed.

In early spring of this year, Dobie Theater was denied a renewed contract by its owner, Landmark Theatres, because of the theater’s lack of business.

 Dobie was notorious for screening independent films and supporting local filmmakers. In addition, Dobie’s elaborate Egyptian, Gothic, Space and French-style themed theaters were an integral part of the movie-going experience.

 “I went there for a film festival, and it was really cool,” sophomore Neda Khozein said. “It was small and cozy, and it felt very personal.”

Dobie Theater is leaving behind a long history that represents the heart of Austin. From the venue’s opening in the 1970s to screenings hosted by the Austin Film Society beginning in 1985, the theater has been a landmark of Austin film culture. The theater also hosted the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival in 1987, Quentin Tarantino’s first Q Fest in 1997 and, of course, the debut of Richard Linklater’s classic film, “Slacker,” in 1991.

“The theater is a big part of Dobie [Mall] in terms of tradition, and it provided an inexpensive [option] for college students’ entertainment,” University of Texas sophomore Teresa Chueng said.

Not only did closing Dobie create a loss of local film screenings, but the theater was also the only easily accessible movie venue for many UT students.

Students like Khozein are upset about the decision to close Dobie.

“Seeing a movie there was the first ‘Austin-y’ thing I did,” Khozein said. “How is Austin not throwing a fit? The theater is pretty monumental!”

Landmark, which has operated Dobie since 1999, has not released any plans to reopen the movie house. Whether new management, with a new theater operator, will take over the theater remains to be seen.

Even if Dobie does manage to reopen, it will face competition from other theaters in the area.

Alamo Drafthouse has already announced that it will be opening a theater in Austin’s Circle C subdivision by next year. Also, the boutique art house, Violet Crown, will be opening downtown in December, showing exclusively art, foreign and indie films.