Big President's Day Sale this Weekend at TheaterSeatStore.com

President's Day Sales and furniture kind of go hand-in-hand, and there is no exception in the online world. That is why we are offering a 6% discount on almost everything on TheaterSeatStore.com! Along with this discount, we are also adding free shipping and no taxes in most areas as well as one year of stain protection. If you were thinking of buying new home theater seats, but holding off due to cost, this sale is a great excuse to take the plunge and order your new home theater furniture today.

Call 888-602-7328 to speak with one of our Sales Professionals. They can walk you through the savings and answer any questions that you may have. For the 6% discount, you don't even need to call for the 6% discount, just add the code PREZTSS to the Coupon Code field on the online Checkout page.

Click this link for more details about the President's Day Sales Event.

OUYA: A Game System for the Masses – Coming Soon to Your Home Theater

Unless you are a hardcore gamer, or up on the latest home theater gadgets, you may have never heard of the OUYA. This tiny game console is no larger than a coffee mug, yet powerful enough to play games and stream video at full HD (1080i). The OUYA is slated to be in stores by April 2013 with an equally small price tag - $99.99. 

The tiny OUYA is the brainchild of Julie Uhrman, a game industry veteran who noted that many gamers were leaving TV-based consoles behind for games on mobile platforms. Part of the reason was cost, many mobile games are free or only cost a few dollars, while the latest releases for current consoles can be as much as $60. Another reason was the wide diversity of games available. Independent game developers are essentially shut out of the TV console market, so they have turned their talents toward mobile games, which have much smaller development costs. Many of which, such as Angry Birds by Finnish software developer Rovio Entertainment, became huge successes. Uhrman was inspired to bring the same open development model to TV gaming and got to work.

Soon, with the help of a great team and a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Uhrman raised 8.6 million dollars to develop the OUYA. It’s powerful hardware and features are able to carry a small price tag for three big reasons:

• Hardware – The PC board is tiny, but made with cutting edge hardware from NVIDIA, who make high-end video cards for gamers. The small circuit board carries a Tegra 3 Quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB of Flash Storage and built-in WiFi, Ethernet and Bluetooth. The Operating System is Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This powerful combination of hardware and software give the OUYA full HD capability and 5.1 Surround Sound. The OUYA can also stream video and music with apps from iHeartRadio and Plex.
• Games – All of the games being developed for the OUYA have one mandate – they either need to be free or offer free trials. This allows gamers to “try before they buy”. Also, because OUYA uses the Android operating system, prices are expected to be low for games as they are for mobile devices. Game developers can also make games with very little upfront capital as seen in the next section.
• Versatility - Every OUYA can also be used to develop new games, so aspiring game designers can build their own games and share them with the OUYA community. Hardware modders can even open up the OUYA console itself and tinker with the insides. This behavior is not only tolerated but encouraged by the developers.

If you want to get in on the next chapter of gaming for your home theater, you can pre-order your console now from the OUYA website or mainstream outlets like Amazon.

How to Get to Super Bowl XLVII on a Budget

How do you get to the Super Bowl™, or if you prefer The Big Game™? (Yup, both of those phrases are trademarked). One way is through hard work, a dedication to your sport and determination to take your team all the way. The other way is money, lots of it. Right now, a quick check on StubHub shows ticket prices ranging from $1,625 for a ticket in the nosebleeds to $323,538 for a luxury suite. Want to get as close to the action as you can? That will set you back $5 – 6,000 per ticket*. Oddly enough, many of these prices are down $100 from Saturday, according to SB Nation. So, what are some other ways an enterprising and thrifty football fan gets one of these Golden Tickets?

CraigsList – If you’re willing to take a risk, sellers on CraigsList in New Orleans are selling Super Bowl tickets at prices from $1,000 on up. Of course, it’s important to check further into these deals before you start giving out your credit card or Paypal info, or agree to meet a stranger in a dark alley with a wad of cash in your pocket.

Know Somebody – The NFL distributes a large percentage of Super Bowl tickets to the competing teams. These are used for employees, family members, corporate sponsors, charities and other fans affiliated with the teams. According to Ryan Guiana in CashMoneyLife.com, this percentage is about 75% total. If you happen to know someone who works for one of the competing teams (or any NFL team, they all get some of the tickets) – and this person owes you a HUGE favor – It might just be your ticket in. Of course, odds of that happening are like winning the lottery. Speaking of lottery…

NFL Ticket Lottery – Every year, the NFL holds a lottery of Super Bowl tickets that are given out to fans. It’s too late to get in on the action for this Super Bowl, but you can throw your hat in the ring for Super Bowl 2014. More details can be found on this About.com article.

Get a Job at the Stadium – The Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA is currently looking for part time Field Crew members. You can send in an application, and hope that you can get hired, trained and on the field in the next couple of days. All of the stadium job details are found here.

*Of course, for the same amount of money you can put together a nice home theater system that puts you right in the thick of the action. Add some high quality home theater seats and you have the location for an awesome Super Bowl party! The best part? You can enjoy your home theater year round!

Celebrity Homes with Jaw Dropping Home Theaters for Sale

Image from sports.yahoo.com

Many people love to troll their favorite gossip sites for the latest celebrity news, including the latest in real estate buying and selling. As home theater enthusiasts, we could care less about Italian marble in the living room or Neo-classic architecture; we want to see where the rich and famous enjoy their movies! Lately, a few places have gone on the market with pricey home theaters as a selling point. Here is a look at a couple of them, (some even with pictures)!

 Barry Bonds’ 25 Million dollar Home – The famous MLB slugger has put his Beverly Hills mansion up for sale. The Beverly Hills mansion is 17,100 square feet and sits on 1.8 acres of property. More importantly, the light and airy open theater space looks as if it is inspired by Ceaser’s Palace in Las Vegas. Where are the slot machines and buffet?

Piney Point Mansion for 9.5 Million – At 23,500 square feet, this mansion in the pricey suburb of Houston, TX has it all. It has everything from granite and marble floors, suspended staircases, malachite inlays and even gold plated fixtures. The best part of this house has got to be the home theater. With blue velvet walls, real wood trim and a large sectional, this home theater space looks like something out of a fairy tale. While the sellers may not be national celebrities (Recently divorced Melanie and Doug Johnson of Channel 51 Fame), one of the potential buyers is. Rumor has it that Beyonce is interested in buying the house for her mother.

Image from CEPro

Ryan Seacrest from American Idol - Industry home theater audiophiles were lit up when these images of the famous presenter and radio DJ hit the internet last year.  They surfaced when he put this home up for sale for as part of an upgrade to Ellen DeGeneres's $49 million palace.  Don't worry, Forbes claim he earned $51M last year so he will survive.  His old home (sold for $11M and purchased for the same price in 2006 from Kevin Costner) showcases one of the very cleanest theater designs that have been seen in years.  Totally original and somewhat contemporary, this look struck a cord in the industry and will no doubt be emulated for years to come. Check out the images of the back room behind the home theater which is adorned with in-wall speakers and sub-woofers.

 Madonna’s Magnificent Mansion – The Material Girl herself has put her huge Beverly Hills mansion up for sale at a cool 22.5 million dollars. This 17,000 foot spread has nine bedrooms, two guest houses and a full-sized screening room. Unfortunately no pictures of the screening room exist, but with Madonna’s millions of dollars (and expensive tastes), it has to be more than this improvised home theater.

Christina Aguilera shows her style - in the recent listing for sale of the Beverly Hills Mediterranean  home well recognized from the Osbourne reality show.  The home was bought by the pop star for $11.5M in 2008 from Sharon and Ozzy and is now on the market for sale at $13.5M following the announcement of her divorce from her husband Jordan Bratman.  The home theater and entertainment room enjoys a look that is distinctly Christina.

Michael Jordan's Huge Florida home - This brand new mega-property represents a big move for the famous basketball player.  A Chicago (Highland Park) native for decades, the icon has now decided to move to Jupiter FL and into an exclusive community called the Bear Club - developed by Jack Nicklaus.  This neighborhood is home to many billionaires and his home sits on three acres and includes a tony home theater room that is massive and is specially designed to handle large amounts of cigar smoke.

CES 2013: 4K vs. Ultra HD – The Future of Home Video Debate Rages On

As we look back on the exquisite chaos that was the 2013 CES Expo in Las Vegas last week, TV makers gave us a glimpse of the future of home video: 4K and Ultra HD. If this argument seems familiar, it is. The same formats were unveiled at the CES Expo of 2012. Only this time, major manufacturers are starting to unveil market-ready products that promise to usher in a whole new level of home theater resolution, and just like Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD and VHS vs. Betamax, there are two major formats competing for your eyeballs – Ultra HD (also called 4K) and OLED screen technology.

What’s the Difference? – The fundamental difference between the two is that OLED is a type of display technology while 4K is a resolution format. Both offer video definition that puts current 1080p displays to shame, but they go about it in different ways. OLED screens are celebrated for their vivid colors. Blacks are true black and colors pop better than ever. OLED screens also offer wider viewing angles and fluid fast motion thanks to a faster response rate. OLED screens can also be curved, ushering a whole new dimension in screen design. TechHive explains more about OLED technology here. Ultra-HD on the other hand offers a screen resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, or 2160p. This roughly quadruples the number of pixels vs. a standard 1080i screen. 4K resolution is also close to true 35mm film resolution, and is the standard that movie studios use to digitally archive their film content. Movie theaters are already using a different form of 4K to screen select movies like The Amazing Spider-Man and Prometheus. TechHive also has a great article that further explains 4K technology.

What’s the Cost? – Right now, 4K and OLED television sets are available from major manufacturers like LG and Sony. These sets are large, ranging in size from 65 to 80 inches, and boast a price tag of 20 – 25,000 dollars! This makes them out of reach of all but the richest and most committed home theater aficionados. The good news is that the price is likely to come down to more reasonable levels as the technology becomes more mainstream. This has happened from the very first VCR’s all the way to the latest HD televisions.

Why Wait? Take My Money Now! – Three major factors (other than price) might make you want to take pause. The first is that most people have HD televisions that are only a few years old. Unlike the HD TV, which was the first major innovation since color television in the 1960’s, these new formats come right on the heels of high definition TV. The second major factor is the lack of content. While 4K Blu-ray discs and digital downloads are being developed, there are not many choices available. Also, while your new TV may support 4K resolution, your set-top box, game console and Blu-ray player do not. Finally, the third reason you may want to wait is the best. At the CES 2013 Expo, Panasonic unveiled a 4K OLED TV that combines the best of both worlds! So it may be better to wait and get two fantastic technologies in one package.

Cut the Cord! A Look at Wireless Gadgets for Home Theaters

If you’re like me, you have moved beyond the charm of speaker wires stapled to the wall or wound around furniture to wire your home theater. Such a method was fine for our first apartments but not for a sophisticated home theater. You could spend precious money or time pushing the wiring through your walls, but if you have neither the money nor skill to do this it can be quite a chore (as the numerous holes in my rec-room walls can attest to).  Lucky for us, numerous manufacturers have come out with wireless home theater gadgets that deliver high quality sound and picture without the pesky wires.



Wireless Speakers – These days, many televisions and home theater components have Bluetooth, WiFi or Airplay capability, and manufacturers are starting to utilize these capabilities. Most of the products in this category, like the Sony RDP-XA900IP are designed to work with small devices like smartphones. Others like the Aperion 5.1 and 7.1 Home theater Systems reviewed by PC Magazine are designed to communicate over a 5GHz band. This is less crowded than the 2.4GHz band that most WiFi and Bluetooth devices use. Right now this technology is available at the $3,000 range, but will likely come down in price as the technology becomes more widespread.

Wireless HD – Many new Blu-ray DVD players and game systems have WiFi connectivity that allows them to stream content and play it on your HD TV. If the unit and TV are connected with an HDMI cable, true HD content can be streamed to the TV. There are also stand-alone units that do the same thing, such as the Roku brand of wireless receivers. These devices also have the capability to stream content from your home computer with a Media app like Plex.

Wireless Projectors – A great alternative to a flat panel television is a projector and screen. This configuration is necessary for screens larger than 70 inches without spending a fortune. Wireless or Smart Projectors use technologies like Airplay and WiFi to stream content and project it on a screen. One of the best known models is the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 3010e.  PC Mag reviewed this projector and said that it is one of the few true HD projectors to support WirelessHD.

The Future of Home Theater 3D Sound is “Virtual Sound Balls”

The next level of 3D sound could literally give you a ball. Scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) are working on a new technology that controls the location of sound with an array of loudspeakers and a software controller. This new system creates virtual “sound ball” that calculates the virtual location, direction and intensity of a sound to make it feel like it is really happening in the room. They announced this technology in a recent press release.

What are 3D Sound effects? – 3D sound is a term that describes the feeling that sound from a movie or other media is happening in a particular direction. Sounds may seem to happen behind, above or to one side of your location. This effect is achieved with surround-sound speakers, headphones or a speaker array.

How Do These Sound Balls Work? – KAIST Professors Yang-Hann Kim and Jung-Woo Choi are the primary developers of this new system. They use an array of 24 – 50 small loudspeakers controlled by a complex software app to create a 3D space. Within this space, the array can create virtual points of sound (which they have dubbed sound balls). Each of these points can then emit sounds that the listener hears as coming from a particular location. No matter where the listener moves in the 3D Space the location of the sound balls remains constant, so the virtual location of the sound is always in the same place. This system allows for commercial movie theater quality surround sound without the need for expensive speakers or hardware.

When Can I Buy this Technology? -  Although the technology is still in the testing stage, Professor Jung-Woo Choi reports that it “is ready for an immediate translation into commercial products”. This means that we could see this technology on the market within the next 5 years. In the meantime, you can read more about this new discovery in this article from RedOrbit.

The Best Home Theater Seat Innovations from 2012

Since the Mayan Apocalypse didn’t happen last week, it did not save us from all of the “End-of-the-Year Roundups” that show up on blogs, news sites and news outlets across the Internet. Therefore we have decided to add ours to the mix too.

Welcome to the Theater Seat Store 2012 Home Theater Seat Roundup!

We decided to take a brief look at the innovations and trends that have shaped home theater seating over 2012. It was a big year for home theater seats as many new models were introduced with fantastic new features:

• Ambient Base Lighting – Traditional movie theaters tend to have a small light at the end of each row that is embedded in the riser. This helps people find their way in the darkened theater. Home theater enthusiasts could mimic this effect in their own home theaters, but there was no commercial kit to help them. A popular new trend for 2012 has been to add a strip of LED lighting along the baserail of each seat. This light is usually blue to not interfere with the picture or viewers’ eyes that have adjusted to the darkness. This popular feature is now available on a wide variety of theater seat models.
• Pocket Coil Seating – Until 2012, pretty much all home theater seats had foam seat cushions that were made up of layers of furniture foam. While these seats are comfortable and offer decent support, home theater seats got a boost in the comfort zone when some manufacturers started adding pocket coil seating to their new models. Pocket coils are an array of steel springs that are encased in layers of foam. Each coil is encased in its own fabric sheath, and coils are packed together tightly (16 coils per 10-inch square space). This offers an increased level of comfort and support thanks to the individual coils distributing weight evenly.
• Better Bonded Leather – Bonded leather is a popular and inexpensive alternative to real leather upholstery. It is made up of a small amount of real leather scraps mixed with vinyl material. Up until now, bonded leather has had a plastic-like feel and sheen to it. This year, new manufacturing techniques have produced bonded leather that looks and feels like the real thing.
• Smartphone or Tablet Control – New products by major manufacturers now have apps that you can download to your Apple or Android smartphone. These apps allow you to control the powered features of each seat. You can use your smartphone or tablet to recline the seat, activate massage features or even turn lighting on and off. Add a remote control app and you can control your entire home theater from the comfort of your seat. Palliser Furniture even added an iPad Holder to some of their newer models! This device holds your tablet at an angle for comfortable use.
• Built-in Charging Stations – Why let your mobile phone battery run out during a movie? Some home theater seats feature built in charging stations to charge your smartphone or tablet while you watch your favorite shows. You can also use the charging station to power your mobile device while you control the functions of your home theater seat, (see above).

Goodbye Rear Projection TV’s – Your Bulky Presence will be Missed!

Though Mark Twain famously said, “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated”, the same cannot be said for the giant staple of many a living room and man cave – the big screen rear-projection TV. Since the 1970’s, these giant behemoths were highly sought after for home theaters across America. They were considered status symbols and held a commanding presence in the room that they were placed. Who wouldn’t want to watch the Big Game on their own home Jumbo-tron? 

Now with the popularity of plasma and LCD TV’s, the rear projection television has become a relic of the past. David Katzmeier recently wrote an article for CNET announcing the exit of Mitsubishi from the rear projection TV market. Mitsubishi is the last major manufacturer to stop making rear projection TV’s. This sounded the final death knell for rear projection technology.

The biggest reason that plasma and LCD televisions dominate the market is the simple fact that they can be mounted on the wall. Current rear projection TV’s are also high definition and use the latest technologies to produce picture quality that rivals that of a plasma or LCD screen. Their biggest problem is their size. According to an article on thestar.com, “it does not matter that most buyers never mount their TV on a wall. They want to think they can”.           

Rear-projection technology has been around since 1947, when RCA unveiled the first rear projection television. This technology saw some popularity in the 1950’s when cathode ray tubes had a maximum size of 12 inches. Products like the Philips 1800A could be found in affluent living rooms. Large rear-projection TV’s became available to the masses in the 1970’s and stayed popular through the early 2000’s.   

So fare thee well, rear projection TV’s! We will miss the simulated wood grain paneling of your cabinet and the way that you dominated the rec room. Though we had to find the right viewing height to avoid your “hot spot”, we will miss you as we try to figure out what to do with all of the new floor space.

The 'IT' of Home Theater

Every year new developments in home theater have us saying "wow, this is really it!!" - why should this year be any different??

Prima Cinema

So, if you are the guy or girl who wants to have it all, then 'all' has just arrived - it comes in the shape of a small black box.  No, its not Tivo - that was the "it" of 1999 - its called the Prima Cinema System.  Burn those three words into your memory because this is what the top of the home theater food chain looks like.

The Prima Cinema allows viewers to get access to elusive first run movies - all whilst relaxing at home.  The system's focus is theatrical releases and one can now enjoy new movies released on the same day as local cinemas in the absolute comfort of your own home theater room.

This device has found a home in the screening rooms of many Hollywood directors and movie industry veterans like Brett Ratner, for instance, but is now available to everyone.  Screening rooms have become status symbols for those who receive early copies of new movies like directors, industry executives and A-list actors.  Access to early releases is  limited to those that make the exclusive insider list referred to as the 'Bell Air Circuit', if you come from Hollywood, or the 'subway circuit' if you are from New York.

The unit itself was designed by BMW DesignWorksUSA and will set you back a cool $20,000-$30,000. That's not were the money tree stops shaking either.  Be prepared to spend an additional $500 per movie on opening weekends.  So what can be better than hosting a red carpet event in your own home?

The Last Supper for Cinema

The Lounge at Odeon Whiteleys

In the home theater world, there is a lot of talk about the impact of big screen home TV on the traditional cinema experience.  The advent and arrival of this new medium about 5-7 years ago - at least at a price that makes it attainable to everyone - has had a significant impact on the traditional theater business.

Most people love the experience that comes with a night out at the movies, but do they want to sacrifice the comfort of home with a comparable technical experience?  Times are changing and now, more than ever, the pressure is on the traditional theater business to evolve and compete with this formidable new challenger.  

As avid theater afficiandos, we follow the industry news and are seeing more and more of a premium cinema experience moving into the traditional theater business.  Behemoths in the space like AMC, Celebration Cinemas and Odeon (in the UK) are evolving with the times and testing the concept of bringing the living room into the movie theater.  Now the game is on!! 

AMC have renovated a theater they operate and own in Marina Del Rey and introduced 50% less of the traditional theater style rockers and replaced them with home-style theater loungers.  They are calling the concept the CinemaSuite.  This renovation has cost $5 million and includes a widening of the isle space to accommodate the fully reclined new theater chairs.  The trend has just taken hold here in the US but is also in full motion in Europe and is successfully operated by Odeon - the UK's largest cinema chain - in a number of their theaters in London.

Get Your Shopping Done Early with Black Friday Savings Going on NOW

TheaterSeatStore.com is proud to offer Black Friday specials early to help you enjoy great savings and avoid the holiday rush. From now through Black Friday, theater Seat Store is offering some great savings on leading brands:

• 50% off Power Recline Upgrades to all Lane Home Theater Seats. This represents a savings of $100 per seat!
• Free White Glove Delivery or an Extended Warranty on all Palliser Models.
• 6% discount on all other home theater products. Enter the code BLACKTSS into the coupon field of the Shopping Cart Checkout page.

With so many great savings, you can check off the home theater enthusiast from your shopping list. Be sure to hurry as these savings are slated to run through Black Friday.

Brad Pitt Adds Furniture Designer to His Impressive List of Roles

Brad Pitt at the 2012 Cannes
Film Festival

Fresh off his latest film, Killing Them Softly (due to be released November 30th), Brad Pitt is hard at work on his next role. No, we’re not talking about the highly anticipated World War Z due out next summer. Instead, Pitt is collaborating with famous furniture designer Frank Pollaro on a line of high-end contemporary furniture that is due to be unveiled November 13th at a special showing in Manhattan. This collection is based on Pitt’s own designs and incorporates stunning modern and minimalist themes with beautiful materials like tropical hardwoods, silk and 24 carat gold.

"Design for a Wall Decoration"
by Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Pitt’s new passion was not born overnight. “I’ve been doodling ideas for buildings and furniture since the early 1990s, when I first discovered [Charles Rennie] Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright,” said Pitt in a recent interview with Architectural Digest magazine. “Actually, I found Wright in college [at the University of Missouri], when looking for a lazy two-point credit to get out of French. It forever changed my life”. Much of Pitt’s designs center around the idea of a continuous line, such as the long angled line under his dining room tables. Pitt describes it this way, “I can’t wholly articulate it, but it started with my introduction to Mackintosh’s Glasgow rose, which is drawn with one continuous line. But for me there is something more grand at play, as if you could tell the story of one’s life with a single line—from birth to death, with all the bloody triumphs and perceived humiliating losses, even boredoms, along the way”.

The new collection by Brad Pitt and Frank Pollaro can be seen November 13-15th 2012 in the Chelsea Neighborhood of Manhattan. Unfortunately, tickets are already sold out, but you wish to drop $45,000 on one of these stunning pieces, we’re sure that you can find a way through this new website set to launch November 11th.

Minimalist Seating for the Home Theater of the Future

Lamm, an Italian manufacturer that specializes in auditorium seating, has created a line of theater seats that look like they are from the future. Designed by Dante Bonuccelli, the Genya Theater Seat folds out from an angled slab that looks like the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Each seat is fully padded with armrests, and angled for precise balance. This way they can handle many different body types while keeping their ultra-slim profile. The seats bolt to the floor, hiding any visible means of support. When folded, the armrests fold into the seat so they cannot be seen from the outside. These simple yet innovative details add to the notion that these futuristic seats defy gravity.

While these seats are designed for the auditorium and not the home, they could be easily incorporated into a home theater design with little effort. One of the most noticeable home theater features missing from these seats are cupholders, though the Genya does come with fold-down trays that connect to the back of each row, like an airline tray table. The seats are available with side and corner connectors to allow them to be placed in a straight or curved formation. They also come in different fabric and leather upholsteries, and the backs can even be finished in wood or marble.

With the recent unveiling of Steve Jobs’ minimalist super-yacht, these futuristic seats would be perfect for a home theater aboard a vessel that looks like a floating iPhone™.

Anticipation is on the Rise for the Home Theater Release of Batman: the Dark Knight Rises

Home theater and comic book fans rejoice! Batman: The Dark Knight Rises is set to appear on DVD/Blu-Ray format Tuesday, December 4, 2012. The third and final movie in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy will be available in a variety of formats including a Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack, DVD only single pack and a collector’s edition that includes a Batman Cowl. This collection is sure to be on the Christmas List of many home theater enthusiasts and a welcome addition to any home video library.

The Caped Crusader has been the subject of many movies over the years, and best-to-worst lists are as numerous as Batman fans. Ranker.com has a comprehensive list that includes both live action and animated movies taken from fan surveys. Bryan Lomax also has a great list on IMDB, the Internet Movie Database. These movies do not just appeal to comic book fans, as the innovative sound design and cinematography also makes them a favorite with home theater owners. Many of the Batman movies bear this out with multiple Oscar nominations, and some have even taken home the little golden statue. Tim Burton’s original Batman (1989) took home the Oscar for Best Art Direction, and Batman: The Dark Knight (2008) won Oscars for Sound Editing and Best Supporting Actor (for Heath Ledger’s brilliant portrayal of the Joker).

Whether you have your very own customized Bat Cave Home Theater, or just enjoy watching movies in the family room, the home video release of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises is sure to be welcome news this holiday season.

The Future of Home Theater Seat Shopping is Here

Here at Theater Seat Store, we are busting with pride at our latest news. We have completely redesigned our online retail website TheaterSeatStore.com! With new menu and page layouts, the redesigned format makes it easier to shop for the exact home theater seat that you are looking for.

Shop By Filters

We have streamlined the navigation system to help you focus in on the home theater seating you truly want. Start by choosing the type of furniture you want to find, whether it is home theater seating, sofa groups or sports seating. Simple drop down menus then allow you to search by many different criteria including size, style, color, price and features, among other filters. For example, you can choose to look only at home theater seats with motorized headrests or NFLSports seating with a simple click.

Product Pages

The product pages have also gone through a complete makeover to better aid your purchasing choices. Now, important info like customer reviews and pricing configurators are integrated into the main page instead of hiding behind a tab. Images have been improved as well with the help of zoom tools that let you look closely at products to take in the fine details. Dimension information is also easy to find in order to help you determine if the furniture’s size is right for your space. 

Sales Support

Sometimes, you have a question that cannot be answered by text or images, and you need to speak to a real human being. Theater Seat Store makes this easy with a one-click chat window that can be accessed from almost any page. Phone and email information is also easy to find if you prefer. Our sales and customer support staff are friendly, knowledgeable and standing by to help answer your questions or complete your order.

Klaussner Showcase Smashes Into Home Theater

Klaussner Furniture are continuing their aggressive drive into home theater with another great introduction - the Klaussner Showcase.  This new frame is available in straight rows of 3 or more seats and can ship under our quick ship program in 10-14 days from order date.

Some of the features of this exciting new introduction are:

• power recline
• black bonded leather
• accent white stitch
• chaise style foot rest
• straight rows only
• 42' seat back height
• sliding arm rest

The Showcase is no doubt going to make an impact and is offered to compete against the very prominent Headliner theater seat sold at Best Buy stores but at a price point that offers even more savings.  Pricing is $529 per chair for the power recline model - that includes fast free shipping - with the manual recline pricing sure to follow shortly.  At the moment, only the power recline model is available.  A unique feature to this model is the adjustable arm rest that slides backwards or forwards on a mechanism design to best suit the placement of your arms.  Klaussner's factory warranty stands behind this theater seat - 1 year on everything - and the style falls in the transitional range, not to modern and not too traditional.  

Our Labor Day Sales Event - with a Twist!

There are many Labor Day sales this weekend, especially for furniture. It almost seems like Labor Day, like Presidents Day, was created specifically for furniture merchants to top each other with outrageous offers.

Here at TheaterSeatStore.com, we are offering our own Labor Day sale (we are a furniture merchant after all), but with a twist. How would you like to shop for furniture and save money from the comfort of your couch, hammock, or wherever you choose to relax during this three day weekend?

In the spirit of the Labor Day season, Theater Seat Store is offering exclusive deals on all inventory furniture. From August 24, 2012 through Labor Day, shoppers will receive an additional 6% off on all inventory items, including items that are currently on sale like the Home Meridian Marquee home theater seat. The Marquee is originally priced at $599, but is currently on sale for $399 and customers will be able to take an additional 6% off the sale price. New and returning customers alike are urged to take advantage of the incredible savings in the Labor Day Sales Event.

Another great offer this Labor Day weekend is 50% off all power recline upgrades on Lane home theater seats. Now you can add push-button recline for half the cost. This is a huge money saver on a feature that everyone loves.

Getting Your Kids Ready for School- Cutting down on Technology

The start of a new school year can be a difficult time for some children and young teens. The Summer Learn Loss theory suggests that most kids loose and average of 1-3 months of learning when on summer vacation, depending on household income and environment. Teachers for a while have noticed that summer vacation is a period of academic decline. It is no wonder why some children have a difficult time getting back into an academic routine. It is important for parents for help their child get ready for a new school year by establishing a healthy schedule.

Before returning to school, doctors strongly recommend a well-balanced breakfast and a full night’s rest that way your developing child has enough energy to pay attention in class. Proper nutrition is essential for developing children and young adults and can help them stay focused when they are sitting in on an hour long math lecture.

Cutting down on TV and Technology

Cutting down on technology may not be your child’s favorite idea but it is necessary for academic success. In the age of technology, it is easy for kids to become distracted from school work through the internet, TV and cell phones.

One research study found that TV’s effects on education were long term. The study found that watching TV as a child affected educational achievements at age 26. Watching more TV in childhood increased chances of dropping out of school and decreased chances of getting a college degree, even after controlling for confounding factors. [1] 

According to a study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children from the ages of 8 to 18 spend an average of 7.5 hours a day on devices.  This includes using a smart phone, computer, and watching television. The shocking reality is that the over usage of media devices can be very detrimental to your child’s academic development.

“The study showed that 47 percent of the heaviest media users-those who consumed at least 16 hours a day- had a grade point average of C’s or lower. They were also the ones to most likely report that they were bored or sad, or that they got into trouble, did not get along well with their parents and were not happy at school,” NY Times reported in a 2010 publication article titled IfYour Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online. 

Although the study did not determine if over usage of media devices directly contributed to the mental detriment of kids between the ages of 8 and 18, the study did; however, draw a strong correlation between academic success and technology use. Transitioning your kids out of this 8 hour habit may be very difficult but also may be necessary for your child’s academic success.  It is unrealistic for parents to try and eliminate all outlets of media but it is suggested that parents limit their child’s use of media devices.

Finding the Balance               

Every parent wants what’s best for their son or daughter and would do just about anything to make them happy. It is important for parents to realize that cutting back on your child’s media use could result in initial defiant behavior and rebellion but it won’t be like that forever.  Parents should first communicate with their child about the importance of academic success and help them understand why you are limiting their media use. Next, parents should seek input from their child. Ask them what they think they need to do in order to succeed this school year and what you can do to help them achieve their goals. Like with anything, the best way to start a new routine first starts with open communication then establishing goals, setting a plan, recognizing milestones, and most importantly-patience. 

The Football Fanatic

For the football fanatic, football is a lifestyle. There is a reason why football games are on every day of the week. Just like taking daily doses of vitamins, football games are considered by many to be vitamins for the soul. Unlike the fair weather fans, the football enthusiasts know months before hand, exactly when their favorite team is playing, who they are playing and where.  The football fanatic is aware of every player on the team, making note of every trade and pick-up and every injury that has taken place. To the football fanatic, the big game is not just a two hour show that just happens to be on, the big game is equivalent to a religious practice and those two hours are two hours of worship.

For the football fanatic, the home entertainment center is the “altar” of worship, a safe haven that is decorated with favorite team memorabilia. Signed footballs, posters of favorite all-star players, and jerseys are just a few reminders to showcase team spirit. Unlike the fair weather fan that places a Raider jersey in the same drawer with a Broncos jersey, the football fanatic would never think of such debauchery.  Everything in the football fanatic’s home stays faithful to their team including their furniture.  Game day seating is essential for the football fanatic and essential for any football fanatic’s home theater. 

TheaterSeatStore.com offers affordable, comfortable and 100 percent customizable NFL, NHL, NBA, and NCAA furniture