Nonprofit arthouses often offer way less expensive refreshments than the chains.
I do wish those who keep blogging on this website about the pleasures of watching all their movies at home would concentrate instead on providing their recollections of when they did attend movie theaters in the past. There’s plenty of magic moviegoing at the remaining historic cinemas throughout this nation. Well run stadium seated megaplexes aren’t so bad either, if they show a decent print, though I would like them to expel cell phone users/texters (white light rays) and lower concession prices.
If one looks around there are many ways to get discount tickets to movies. The Entertainment book offers AMC discount tickets for $6.50 (Silver you have to wait 10 days to use) or Gold @ 8.50. Clearview has discount tickets for $7.00 and $8.00. In fact if your are a Cablevision subscriber to the tipple play in the NY metro area you can go to the movies for FREE on TUESDAY! This INCLUDES the Ziegfeild in NYC. Other times it is $7.00 VS $12.50 at the Ziegfeild and the other NYC Clearview locations.
Regal,City Cinema’s and UA also offer discount tickets. I am sure I am leaving out some chains.
I do not think prjection is better now. “The Sound Of Music” played at North Star Cinema first run for 88 weeks! There was not one film break, or any snafus during the nearly two year run. The film was scratch-free when returned to Fox. Ashcraft carbon arc lamps put a beautiful light through the 70mm film ruunning through Century JJ projectors. Altec amplifiers powering Voice Of The Theatre speakers added to the enjoyment.
Today’s modern seats ARE better than the Griggs Pushbacks that were in that theatre, though!
The professionalism, and showmanship exhibited in the good old days made for a better presentation. Movies that were well written and acted did not need enhancements like special effects or noise to make people enjoy them.
Theater projection is far superior to 25 years ago and sound is amazing…Maybe no curtains but the far better seats than the 70s —80 s more than make up for it. Been in the biz since 1981.
PS. I forgot to mention that I was a projectionist for 23 years (1973-1996) when I left the business in 1996 after seeing the direction the movie business was heading. Computerized automation made the theatre projectionist obsolete. They had become maintenance people who drove between multiplexes just to keep things in order, too busy doing that to be in the booth for a complete showing. The exhibitors just don’t give a damn about anything anymore except for the almighty dollar.
Now that I have a DVD/VHS player and new 63 inch TV I can enjoy movies in the comfort of my home without paying those high prices for a movie theatre ticket, drinks and popcorn, then putting up with rude patrons who misbehave during a movie.
Digital projection or not, movie theaters need to take a page from the 50s and give audiences what on-demand or DVD can’t give you at home, a giant movie on a giant screen, complete with ushers, curtain tabs and the like. Movie theaters will never go away, as there are still to many people in this world who are social. And even with the flaws of theaters today, I am a movie/theater buff, and I won’t give up on them.
With this talk from the studios, filmmakers need to pull out those 65mm cameras and shoot important tentpole releases with them. 65mm can only make digital look better than what it really is.
Movie theaters aren’t going nowhere folks. But expect anarchy from filmmakers, because I doubt Chris Nolan wants people to see “Inception”, or the next Batman first run in a damn living room.
No one hates the state of the theatre business more than I do. It is a fact, however that the big chains treat the patrons with a “get ‘em in, get 'em out, and soak them for every penny they have with them” attitude. Former good movie patrons have responded in kind by purchasing home entertainment systems, and now enjoy their favorite movies at home.
Many of today’s moviegoers are unkempt slobs with no manners. Few theatres have ushers to keep these unruly patrons from ruining the show for others. I would LOVE to have a single screen theatre in my city that still relied on showmanship, and good screen presentation to patronize. The smallest theatre San Antonio has is a nineplex downtown, owned by one of the Big 3 theatre chains.
I wish I was wrong, but an old showman like me that is totally turned off by, and finds NO magic or enchantment in any theatre now in operation in my city is a downright shame. We have the big chains that have pushed out independents, and small circuits to blame for it.
Oh, and for peole who complain about the technology changes, I’ll offer this: lenses and screens have never been better than they are today. The quality of the average theatre sound system in 1960 does not even compare to the quality of the average theatre sound system today. Modern theatre seats (even the high-back variety, of which I am not a fan) are significantly more comfortable than anything that has been commonly available in the past. The very best theatres of the past were probably better than the very best today, but I have no doubt that the “average” experience has improved significantly.
It is sad that the major chains are ruining things with on-screen advertising and poor management, but that is not an issue with the technology.
People like to get out of the house (which explains why restaurants are still in business). Even in this age of the $10 movie ticket, the cinema still provides the least-expensive form of out-of-home entertainment. Compared with the price of attending, say, professional sporting events, movies are still a bargain.
Honestly, I think that some competition (from television or somewhere else) would be good for this industry. It might encourage theatres to provide their customers with something more than seats and a screen, and actually try to make the moviegoing experience special again.
It is sad that so many people here seem to go to crappy theatres. There are (still!) some very good theatres and theatre owners, and we should all seek out and patronize those venues.
I agree that the movie going experience is not what it once was. The lack of showmanship is tough, the chains have dumbed down the experience, and the magic is gone in many ways. But audiences don’t know how to handle even a good experience! When we double-curtain a show, or the operator closes the curtains between previews and the feature, people are confused and shout and think we are screwing up. I’ve even had customers think that the orchestral intermission music played before the show to a closed curtain is the movie playing without picture! When, as required, the ushers at my theaters patrol and are aggressive on talking and cellphone use, we get more complaints from these patrons than we do from the non-offenders. People, by and large, suck.
However, folks have been predicting the end of theatrical exhibition since the 50’s, and it hasn’t died, despite lousy operators, lousy movies, lousy technology like digital intermediates and presentations, and lousy audience behavior. People still like to sit in that darkened room and be immersed in a movie. And brother, when they actually fire on all cylinders and make a good movie, that experience, even in the crappiest theaters, is still something magical.
If you had a family and you all went to an evening show, add up the total cost: admission for each family member, food for each person and the gas to get there and back. I bet you’ve thrown $100 down the drain to go out to a show.
It just plain costs TOO much to go out to a movie today.
Stay home and watch it on tv. You can mute/edit out the commercials too!
When I started in the theatre business in 1968, bargain matinee tickets were 60 cents, subsequent shows before 6 PM were $1, and after 6:00 were $1.75, and we had the highest ticket prices in town!
Concession items were: Popcorn 25 cents for a plain box, 30 cents buttered, 50 cent buttered medium, and $1 for a buttered tub. Sodas were 25 cents, 35 cents, and 50 cents. Candy ranged from 5 cents to 40 cents, with the vast majority at 15 cents.
Major oil gasoline was 31.9 regular, and 35.9 premium. Gas wars would see regular gas as low as 18.9
The trend of going to the movies is about to become reality……
REASON: The way prices these days for going to a show is RIDICIOUS!!!!
$10.00 for admission and an additional $6.00 for popcorn and drinks??????
I remember back in the day when a bargain matinee was around $3.00 and the evening admission was no more than $6.00….and a thing of popcorn was less than $2.00!!!
Today’s high definition large screen TVs at more affordable prices, more and more movies being released on DVD earlier all the time, and the film company’s plan on offering films at home day and date with theatres will definitely do the independents in.
Between the rudeness and lack of class of the modern moviegoer, the exorbitant prices of tickets and concessions, the fact that today’s movies cannot stand alone on good writing and acting, but need special effects and gimmicks built in, and theatres have to invest heavily to effectively show the special effects, I see few theatres surviving.
I certainly must say, outafocus has hit the nail right on the head. As a projectionist for the past 34 years, I have worked for both independants and major chains alike. I hate what the business is today, even compared to just 25 years ago. The indy owner I work for now, a very decent gentlemen, still is like everyone else. He says he has to do it to stay afloat. If the theatre 3 towns over raises prices, he has too, if they run a movie on 2 or 3 screens, we run it on 2 or 3 screens. And if I ever do mention how I would love to be involved with an old theatre showing movies reel to reel with maybe even carbon arcs, I get a look like what planet are you on. Its just the sad truth , but society doesnt know the difference, and doesnt even care.
People have no clue what it cost to run a movie theater…..My single screen (yes 1 screen) needs to take in $63,000 per month to break even..I am not in a top 10 city.
Nonprofit arthouses often offer way less expensive refreshments than the chains.
I do wish those who keep blogging on this website about the pleasures of watching all their movies at home would concentrate instead on providing their recollections of when they did attend movie theaters in the past. There’s plenty of magic moviegoing at the remaining historic cinemas throughout this nation. Well run stadium seated megaplexes aren’t so bad either, if they show a decent print, though I would like them to expel cell phone users/texters (white light rays) and lower concession prices.
If one looks around there are many ways to get discount tickets to movies. The Entertainment book offers AMC discount tickets for $6.50 (Silver you have to wait 10 days to use) or Gold @ 8.50. Clearview has discount tickets for $7.00 and $8.00. In fact if your are a Cablevision subscriber to the tipple play in the NY metro area you can go to the movies for FREE on TUESDAY! This INCLUDES the Ziegfeild in NYC. Other times it is $7.00 VS $12.50 at the Ziegfeild and the other NYC Clearview locations.
Regal,City Cinema’s and UA also offer discount tickets. I am sure I am leaving out some chains.
I do not think prjection is better now. “The Sound Of Music” played at North Star Cinema first run for 88 weeks! There was not one film break, or any snafus during the nearly two year run. The film was scratch-free when returned to Fox. Ashcraft carbon arc lamps put a beautiful light through the 70mm film ruunning through Century JJ projectors. Altec amplifiers powering Voice Of The Theatre speakers added to the enjoyment.
Today’s modern seats ARE better than the Griggs Pushbacks that were in that theatre, though!
The professionalism, and showmanship exhibited in the good old days made for a better presentation. Movies that were well written and acted did not need enhancements like special effects or noise to make people enjoy them.
Chains sucked than and most suck now—– very little change in 30 years.
Theater projection is far superior to 25 years ago and sound is amazing…Maybe no curtains but the far better seats than the 70s —80 s more than make up for it. Been in the biz since 1981.
PS. I forgot to mention that I was a projectionist for 23 years (1973-1996) when I left the business in 1996 after seeing the direction the movie business was heading. Computerized automation made the theatre projectionist obsolete. They had become maintenance people who drove between multiplexes just to keep things in order, too busy doing that to be in the booth for a complete showing. The exhibitors just don’t give a damn about anything anymore except for the almighty dollar.
Now that I have a DVD/VHS player and new 63 inch TV I can enjoy movies in the comfort of my home without paying those high prices for a movie theatre ticket, drinks and popcorn, then putting up with rude patrons who misbehave during a movie.
Digital projection or not, movie theaters need to take a page from the 50s and give audiences what on-demand or DVD can’t give you at home, a giant movie on a giant screen, complete with ushers, curtain tabs and the like. Movie theaters will never go away, as there are still to many people in this world who are social. And even with the flaws of theaters today, I am a movie/theater buff, and I won’t give up on them.
With this talk from the studios, filmmakers need to pull out those 65mm cameras and shoot important tentpole releases with them. 65mm can only make digital look better than what it really is.
Movie theaters aren’t going nowhere folks. But expect anarchy from filmmakers, because I doubt Chris Nolan wants people to see “Inception”, or the next Batman first run in a damn living room.
No one hates the state of the theatre business more than I do. It is a fact, however that the big chains treat the patrons with a “get ‘em in, get 'em out, and soak them for every penny they have with them” attitude. Former good movie patrons have responded in kind by purchasing home entertainment systems, and now enjoy their favorite movies at home.
Many of today’s moviegoers are unkempt slobs with no manners. Few theatres have ushers to keep these unruly patrons from ruining the show for others. I would LOVE to have a single screen theatre in my city that still relied on showmanship, and good screen presentation to patronize. The smallest theatre San Antonio has is a nineplex downtown, owned by one of the Big 3 theatre chains.
I wish I was wrong, but an old showman like me that is totally turned off by, and finds NO magic or enchantment in any theatre now in operation in my city is a downright shame. We have the big chains that have pushed out independents, and small circuits to blame for it.
Oh, and for peole who complain about the technology changes, I’ll offer this: lenses and screens have never been better than they are today. The quality of the average theatre sound system in 1960 does not even compare to the quality of the average theatre sound system today. Modern theatre seats (even the high-back variety, of which I am not a fan) are significantly more comfortable than anything that has been commonly available in the past. The very best theatres of the past were probably better than the very best today, but I have no doubt that the “average” experience has improved significantly.
It is sad that the major chains are ruining things with on-screen advertising and poor management, but that is not an issue with the technology.
What Ian said (hi, Ian!).
People like to get out of the house (which explains why restaurants are still in business). Even in this age of the $10 movie ticket, the cinema still provides the least-expensive form of out-of-home entertainment. Compared with the price of attending, say, professional sporting events, movies are still a bargain.
Honestly, I think that some competition (from television or somewhere else) would be good for this industry. It might encourage theatres to provide their customers with something more than seats and a screen, and actually try to make the moviegoing experience special again.
It is sad that so many people here seem to go to crappy theatres. There are (still!) some very good theatres and theatre owners, and we should all seek out and patronize those venues.
You have echoed my exact thoughts Ian M. Judge.
I agree that the movie going experience is not what it once was. The lack of showmanship is tough, the chains have dumbed down the experience, and the magic is gone in many ways. But audiences don’t know how to handle even a good experience! When we double-curtain a show, or the operator closes the curtains between previews and the feature, people are confused and shout and think we are screwing up. I’ve even had customers think that the orchestral intermission music played before the show to a closed curtain is the movie playing without picture! When, as required, the ushers at my theaters patrol and are aggressive on talking and cellphone use, we get more complaints from these patrons than we do from the non-offenders. People, by and large, suck.
However, folks have been predicting the end of theatrical exhibition since the 50’s, and it hasn’t died, despite lousy operators, lousy movies, lousy technology like digital intermediates and presentations, and lousy audience behavior. People still like to sit in that darkened room and be immersed in a movie. And brother, when they actually fire on all cylinders and make a good movie, that experience, even in the crappiest theaters, is still something magical.
These are the people on Cinema Treasures——
If you had a family and you all went to an evening show, add up the total cost: admission for each family member, food for each person and the gas to get there and back. I bet you’ve thrown $100 down the drain to go out to a show.
It just plain costs TOO much to go out to a movie today.
Stay home and watch it on tv. You can mute/edit out the commercials too!
When I started in the theatre business in 1968, bargain matinee tickets were 60 cents, subsequent shows before 6 PM were $1, and after 6:00 were $1.75, and we had the highest ticket prices in town!
Concession items were: Popcorn 25 cents for a plain box, 30 cents buttered, 50 cent buttered medium, and $1 for a buttered tub. Sodas were 25 cents, 35 cents, and 50 cents. Candy ranged from 5 cents to 40 cents, with the vast majority at 15 cents.
Major oil gasoline was 31.9 regular, and 35.9 premium. Gas wars would see regular gas as low as 18.9
I REMEMBER WHEN TICKETS WERE $ 3.00 AND $6.00 GAS WAS .99 CENTS…..
MOVIES ARE CHEAP —NAME 2 THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR 2 HOURS THAT COST $10.00—-NOTHING! A few cheap people want to bitch those will be the ones hone alone!
The trend of going to the movies is about to become reality……
REASON: The way prices these days for going to a show is RIDICIOUS!!!!
$10.00 for admission and an additional $6.00 for popcorn and drinks??????
I remember back in the day when a bargain matinee was around $3.00 and the evening admission was no more than $6.00….and a thing of popcorn was less than $2.00!!!
Today’s high definition large screen TVs at more affordable prices, more and more movies being released on DVD earlier all the time, and the film company’s plan on offering films at home day and date with theatres will definitely do the independents in.
Between the rudeness and lack of class of the modern moviegoer, the exorbitant prices of tickets and concessions, the fact that today’s movies cannot stand alone on good writing and acting, but need special effects and gimmicks built in, and theatres have to invest heavily to effectively show the special effects, I see few theatres surviving.
I certainly must say, outafocus has hit the nail right on the head. As a projectionist for the past 34 years, I have worked for both independants and major chains alike. I hate what the business is today, even compared to just 25 years ago. The indy owner I work for now, a very decent gentlemen, still is like everyone else. He says he has to do it to stay afloat. If the theatre 3 towns over raises prices, he has too, if they run a movie on 2 or 3 screens, we run it on 2 or 3 screens. And if I ever do mention how I would love to be involved with an old theatre showing movies reel to reel with maybe even carbon arcs, I get a look like what planet are you on. Its just the sad truth , but society doesnt know the difference, and doesnt even care.
I HAVE 2 THEATERS IN CHARLESTON SC
Longislandmovies where is your theatre I would love to come and see a film there!
People have no clue what it cost to run a movie theater…..My single screen (yes 1 screen) needs to take in $63,000 per month to break even..I am not in a top 10 city.
NO CHANGE IN MOVIE GOING—-PEOPLE WANT TO GO OUT…