Comments about AMC - Loews Merger to Close Soon

Showing 51 - 60 of 60 comments

pbubny
pbubny on January 18, 2006 at 9:14 am

To add a couple more, there are a few AMC sites in the Philly area that started out in life as Budco theatres in the ‘70s or '80s. AMC has a pretty good presence in the New Orleans area thanks to the acquisition of a local chain there a couple years ago, although some of the theatres have not yet reopened in the aftermath of Katrina.

Cineplex Odeon, pre Loews Cineplex, would have included Cineplex builds (e.g., the Universal Citywalk in L.A. and Wisconsin Avenue in DC) along with some older RKO and Century (no relation to the West Coast Century chain, AFAIK) sites. Some of those have closed or been sold off.

Speaking of GCC, anybody know if they made any acquisitions that were later absorbed as part of the AMC takeover?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on January 18, 2006 at 8:47 am

Sack Theatres, renamed USACinemas for a few years before Loews gobbled it up

And Loews Cineplex of course is the combination of Loews with Cineplex Odeon, which itself is a combination of (at least) two chains.

markinthedark
markinthedark on January 18, 2006 at 8:42 am

Very interesting. Anyone know the complete different assotment of brand builds that will now be under AMC? Here are the ones I know from living on the west coast:
AMC
General Cinema
SRO (Sterling Recreation Organization)
Cineplex Odeon
Magic Johnson
Loews Cineplex

feel free to keep adding…

pbubny
pbubny on January 18, 2006 at 8:34 am

With all of AMC’s M&A action over the past few years, one byproduct has certainly been a motley assortment of architectural and design styles in what are now all branded as AMC venues. I wonder what percentage of AMC-owned theatres are actually AMC builds and thus have a house “look,” given all the regional and national chains they’ve swallowed up over the years. I can’t imagine that AMC has an extensive, ongoing remodeling program to make its acquisitions look more like AMC theatres. The rebranding of Loews theatres will just continue this mishmash.

Michael R. Rambo Jr.
Michael R. Rambo Jr. on January 17, 2006 at 2:33 pm

In the area where I live, AMC picks up the Loews Cineplex Cherry Hill 24 Theatre, soon to be called AMC Cherry Hill 24 Theatre.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on January 17, 2006 at 10:44 am

I notice that Loew’s web site no longer contains promotions for LavaLife “Click at a Flick” (special showings for singles) or the free Thursday night (not-very-)classic film series.

markinthedark
markinthedark on January 17, 2006 at 5:56 am

Anyone know who might take over the Meridian 16 in Seattle that Loews must divest?

dave-bronx™
dave-bronx™ on January 17, 2006 at 5:49 am

They said they expect the sale of the divested theatres to take about 3 months – I can’t see them changing signs, etc., just for that short time – but then stranger things have happened….

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on January 16, 2006 at 8:11 am

Here’s a link to Loews annual reports from 1965 through 1984.

Although the Loews circuit of today is far from its glory days, it will still be sad to see the name disappear, especially in favor of something as non-descript as ‘AMC’.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on January 16, 2006 at 8:06 am

I assume the five Loews theatres they are required to divest, such as NYC’s E-Walk, will continue to be called ‘Loews’ until they are in fact sold. Anyone know for sure?