There's a small, neighborhood theater in Alameda, California that has been doing fairly well.
For DIY filmmakers, finding a exhibition venue is among the toughest challenges -- even for a single show. This very local, very meager approach to theatrical is an interesting direction, in counterpoint to the mega-super-fifty-screen-with-IMAX emporium trend.
Notice how the theater started small and is basically just run out of large room with some couches. The couches dampen the echoes (the bane of non-traditional screening venues) and everyone feels at home, while enjoying a community night out with neighbors.
So, if you're frustrated with the indifference of theater owners toward your film, maybe you should consider starting your own theater.