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The latest movie theater news and updates
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July 7, 2005
AMC & Cinemark Offers Money Back Guarantee To ‘Cinderella’ Moviegoers
AMC, since followed by Cinemark, is now offering a money back guarantee to moviegoers who see the new Ron Howard film “Cinderella Man.”
“Cinderella Man”, which stars Russell Crowe as a Depression-era boxer trying to make ends meet and revive his career, has stuggled to find success in this summer’s box office climate despite excellent reviews from critics. Some attribute this to Russell Crowe’s offscreen antics, the general downtown in ticket sales, poor marketing, bad timing, etc.
“It’s in competition with films with lots of special effects and big action this summer. This is a quiet film,” Falk said. “The whole effort was to focus attention on what is a beautiful film that deserves an audience but just hasn’t gotten one.”
So far, only 100 patrons have asked for actual refunds since the promotion started.
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July 6, 2005
NY Times: Advertisers Pour Money Into The Big Screen
A recent New York Times article took a look at the rising amount of advertising being shown at movie theaters.
A few interesting highlights:
• In 2004, ads in United States movie theaters grew 23 percent to $438 million, according to the Cinema Advertising Council.
• More than 27,000 of the total 37,000 movie screens in the United States run cinema advertising
• Off-screen promotions – including revenue from in-lobby promotions – rose 41 percent to $64 million.
• On-screen advertising revenues grew 20 percent last year to $374 million
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Gizmodo Asks “Is This The End Of Movies?”
Gizmodo has an interesting blog post about the so-called death of the movies.
“The Taipei Times — and the rest of the world — is bemoaning the death of the movie business. People stay at home, get Netflix, drink a beer or six, and watch Godzilla vs. Mothra for hours at a clip. No one goes to the movies anymore. Hundreds of ushers are out of work every day. Popcorn machines are idle. The movies themselves, of late, are dreck.
I think the real key is that people don’t like to go to movie theaters. As a result, new movies get seen at home, where it’s a bit harder to track box office receipts. I suspect that any movie that comes out now will get 30% of it’s receipts from the theaters. The rest comes from everything else: DVDs, rentals, TV, etc. We have so much to watch that we don’t want to go anywhere. We need to stay at home just to catch up, and we catch up long after the movie hits, and fades from, the theatre."
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July 5, 2005
York Square Cinemas To Close
NEW HAVEN, CT — According to this article in the New Haven Register, York Square Cinemas will close some time in July, citing its inability to play first run films with Showcase Cinemas.
“It’s not fun anymore,” said Peter Spodick. “It should be fun: you make people happy, charge a small price, make a week’s pay. But we’re not able to do it.”
The article also states that the Criterion Cinemas is “struggling to draw audiences”, which is not the case.
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Crocker Theatre Facade Salvaged
ELGIN, IL – The 82 year-old Crocker Theatre in downtown Elgin was razed last month to make way for condominiums and parking space, but its neo-classical style facade was removed prior to demolition, and will be partially reconstructed as a sort of screening wall separating a parking lot from public view along Grove Avenue.
At a cost of $60,000, a third of the price of the Crocker’s demolition cost, the facade was taken apart piece by piece and numbered and now sits in a storage building in the meantime. Not all of the facade will be used for the parking lot, but at this time it’s not known what will become of the rest of it.
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July 4, 2005
Happy July 4th
Cinema Treasures is taking today off to celebrate July 4th.
See you tomorrow!
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July 1, 2005
Dunsmuir’s California Theater Reopened June 26
DUNSMUIR, CA — The California Theater reopened on June 26th with live stage productions and silent films accompanied by the theater’s pipe organ (next year), banquets, weddings, etc. all are welcome at our newly reopened theater.
Silent movies and a Charlie Chaplin impersonator on Fri, July 8th. Silent movies (railroad oriented including the General) on Sat July 9 & Sun 10th. A theater organist is bringing in an electronic theater organ and playing it for those events.
The Pacific-West-Coast Battle of the bands (rock) semi-finals and finals will be held in the theater Dec 9th. & 10th. For entry info, contact Don Kirk .
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Looking For Box Office Software
I am looking for box office software to make reservations for my theater and to sell tickets. (it is a theater but not showing movies anymore) it is now a music hall. If you know of a inexpensive software that someone may have or don’t need anyone that has one could you contact me. I want an in-house program not an online software. Thanks.
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Rodgers Theatre In Danger
ANNA, IL — The following email was sent by Kurt Petrich:
“I am writing you today to ask for your assistance in preserving one of Anna’s most prized historic buildings, the Rodgers Theatre. The Rodgers is in danger of being razed at taxpayers expense for someone elses personal gain. There are councilmembers that are bending to the every whim of two local business owners and are completely ignoring the historic value of our building. This letter is to inform you of the importance of preserving the Rodgers Theatre.
To understand our small theatre’s importance, we must first understand its creator. Isaac Walter Rodgers was born just north of us near Neoga, IL in 1875. He was born with show-business in his blood and started his career early in his life traveling the Midwest with a phonograph machine. He opened his first movie house in New Orleans in 1896 where he charged 10 cent admission and the films were only about a minute long. He then purchased a gas powered projector and again traveled the Midwest showing his films at opera houses, churches, schools, or wherever else he could darken the house. Rodgers was the first man to try and trade films with other exhibitors, although he was laughed at and told that moving pictures were a “passing fancy” and that nothing would be heard of them in years to come.
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June 30, 2005
Concerns Over Historic Alameda Theater Project
ALAMEDA, CA — The following email was sent in by Jennifer V:
“City Officials are endorsing a development deal to partially rehabilitate the historic Alameda Theater, and attach a new 2-story 7-screen multiplex with a 6-story parking garage.
As details of the plans have been made available, many citizens are horrified to learn that the Alameda Theater will not be completely renovated: the balconies will be inaccessible, the exterior will not be painted, the main theater will house stadium seating, and a historical mural that was painted over will not be restored. Futhermore, at least 3 holes will be made to connect the old theater to the new cineplex.
Citizens for a MegaPlex-Free Alameda has been formed, and our website, www.stopalamedamegaplex.com has the latest artist rendering, as well as additional information about the project and our concerns. There are also links to petitions, letters, and flyers.