Our first clue that they would be closing came when our film delivery guy (non-TES films) told us that they had no scheduled print deliveries/pick-ups scheduled after a certain date.

Theatre management was notified a few days later, but instructed not to tell the staff.

They were scheduled to close both Charleston area locations (a nine-plex and a triple) at the close of business on the following Thursday, but when the local press broke the story, they closed them a few days early.

By the way, UA has one upped GCC. Out here they closed a 6 plex without even telling the owners of the mall. They came in on Monday to see that there was noone at the theatre, and the lobby emptied of any equipment.

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Here's the story:
http://www.portland.com/business/stories/001005cinema.shtml

Thursday, October 5, 2000

Troubled chain to keep theater open for now

By RAY ROUTHIER, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2000 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

SOUTH PORTLAND — Maine Mall Cinema will stay open for now, despite financial trouble that caused its parent company to close 25 other theaters last week.

General Cinema, based in Newton, Mass., closed theaters in nine states, said Brian Callaghan, director of communications for the company. The closings came two weeks after General Cinema revealed in a federal regulatory filing that it is considering selling off assets and may seek bankruptcy protection.

As of July 31, the company listed total assets of $64 million and liabilities of $163 million.

On Wednesday, Callaghan said the company had not decided to file for bankruptcy protection or close more theaters, but he said both are possible.

"These are very competitive times in the movie theater industry, and we're looking at selling theaters, closing some, renegotiating leases, and keeping the option of bankruptcy open as well," Callaghan said.

Maine Mall Cinema, a seven-screen theater across from the Maine Mall, has been operated by General Cinema since 1975. It's one of three first-run theaters in Greater Portland, along with Hoyt's theaters in Falmouth and South Portland.

Maine Mall Cinema is the only General Cinema theater in Maine, Callaghan said.

The closings of General Cinema theaters last week left the chain with 105 theaters, Callaghan said. The company remains one of the 10 largest theater chains in the country.

The chain has closed theaters in Georgia, Tennessee, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio and Washington. Callaghan said it now will focus on the financial health of its theaters in the Northeast and Midwest.

There is no plan now to close or sell Maine Mall Cinema, Callaghan said, but he would not speculate on its future.

As a cost-saving measure in Greater Portland, Callaghan said, General Cinema has stopped buying ads in the Press Herald for Maine Mall Cinema's movie lineup. The chain has stopped buying ads in other newspapers in other cities, relying on customers to call the theaters or get movie times on the Internet.

General Cinema is one of several theater chains experiencing financial difficulty after a period in which chains have expanded quickly, building many 12-, 14-, and even 20-screen megaplexes. Two chains bigger than General Cinema, Carmike and United Artists, have filed for bankruptcy protection in the past few months. Julia McCue, library assistant, contributed research to this story.

Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at: rrouthier@pressherald.com

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The Pacific Place 11 and the Cinerama in Seattle are quite safe from any closures. The Pacific Place is only two years old and the Cinerama is owned by Paul Allen (the Microsoft Paul Allen) and only operated by GCC. Even if GCC pulled out it would stay open. With Allen's 20% stake in Dreamworks first runs wouldn't be too much trouble.

And now we're left high and dry, 1,000 miles from our nearest relatives, stranded in one of the most expensive places you can imagine to live. There's no getting a McDonald's job to survive, either; that won't even pay the electric bill down here.

I have to hand it to Bruce Schroeder, he sure went to bat for me. He really tried his best to hang onto me. It was a pleasure working for him. There are none better.

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Better Projection Pays!

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I believe I've had it with this business. I'm going to consider another line of work. I think we're just going to head north with nowhere to go, about Wednesday, and just lug everything into a storage rental when we get there.

Nothing's left down here.

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Better Projection Pays!

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And thanks, Mark, for the great tip! I should talk to her on Monday.

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Better Projection Pays!