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Author Topic: Dollar Theaters, Good idea or bad Idea. John Hegel Expert Film Handler Posts: 166 From: Lake Mills, Iowa Registered: Sep 2000 posted 02-08-2004 11:09 PM                        I am looking at opening a second run $2 house (single screen) in a population of 20,000 people. The only competition is a small 7-screen mall theater that is said to have 115,000 people through their doors in a year at $6.50 per ticket. My question is; if I put on the best show in town, will I be able to get 51,000 of those customers? Thanks for you input, John  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 02-09-2004 12:39 AM                        We have two of those "discount houses" in our area, and both are struggling. As is the case in many other markets, the film companies are saturating with many more prints than was the case in past years. The public has also become saturated with 160 crappy pictures for every decent one. A show burns through the market in 2 to 4 weeks, then it's gone. That leaves very little for the discounters to scrape from the bottom. Our discounters have reasonable, though not great performances, yet they can't hardly give their product away.  |  IP: Logged Evans A Criswell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1579 From: Huntsville, AL, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 02-09-2004 12:39 PM                        Most of the dollar theatres that have existed in my area have been terrible except one -- the Gateway 4 in Decatur, which was run by Regal Cinemas until its closing in May 2000. It was an old single-screen from 1967 that had been twinned and quadded. Evan after that, all of its auditoriums were still slightly wider than the smallest ones at other theatres. (3 were 36 feet wide and 1 was 29 feet, compared to the standard 28 feet at Regal/Cobb locations for smaller auditoriums). The presentation at the Gateway was better than many first runs that were operating at the time. It was obvious that effort was put into keeping things running well. And admission was only $1, which only went up to $1.50 months the place closed. It was a true bargain. In mid 2000, Regal seemed to get out of the 2nd-run theatre business. The only Regal 2nd-run I know of near here is the Hamilton 10-17 in Chattanooga. Typically, Regal hasn't built any 2nd-run theatres, but have taken over other theatres that were or became 2nd-run later. One anomaly is the Regal Nippers Corner 10 in Nashville, which was opened by Regal as a 2nd-run in 1992 and may have become first-run later. I'd like to know the story behind that one. I wonder if Regal took over the theatre from another company (Litchfield?) before the theatre opened, or if Regal built it intending it to be a 2nd-run theatre from the start. Inquiring minds want to know! Can anyone familiar with the Nashville theatre market from that period answer that one?  |  IP: Logged Sam Johnson II Film Handler Posts: 25 From: Waynesburg, KY, USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-10-2004 10:19 PM                     The theater I work for is a first-run bargain theater, with tickets being either $1 or $3. We do pretty good business (I don't know what it's like compared to other theaters, since this is the only theater I've ever worked for) considering the closest other theater is about an hour away. However, another theater is going to be opening across town in a few months, and it will be interesting to see what that will do to our business, and what kind of business they'll get.  |  IP: Logged Mike Pennell Expert Film Handler Posts: 150 From: Tucson, AZ, USA Registered: Apr 2003 posted 02-11-2004 09:43 PM                     matthew, I think chris was innocently pointing out the design on the marquee of the theatre on your homepage  |  IP: Logged Tom Wienholt Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: Towson, MD, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 02-11-2004 09:58 PM                     quote: As is the case in many other markets, the film companies are saturating with many more prints than was the case in past years. The public has also become saturated with 160 crappy pictures for every decent one. A show burns through the market in 2 to 4 weeks, then it's gone. This is exactly what allows second run to be successful. Basically, there are so many crappy movies being released that many people just wait until it goes discount to see it instead of paying full price to see it first-run. Also, because so many movies are released, people don't always have a chance to see every movie they may want to in a first-run theatre. So, they are forced to see it at a discount theatre or wait until it comes out on video. Another reason that discounts are successful is that many of the people that are regulars don't really care what movie they see. Basically, it is cheap entertainment so they will decide what movie interests them once they get to the box office.  |  IP: Logged Matthew Stevens Film Handler Posts: 37 From: Colorado Springs, Co Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-13-2004 09:22 PM                        OH Good, I wasn't sure what he was talking about. I didn't know he checked out my theater website. Come to think of it. It does look like that. I hope you didn't take it the wrong way.  |  IP: Logged Matthew Stevens Film Handler Posts: 37 From: Colorado Springs, Co Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-13-2004 09:24 PM                        Chris- OH Good, I wasn't sure what he was talking about. I didn't know he checked out my theater website. Come to think of it. It does look like that. I hope you didn't take it the wrong way. Everyone- But you don't understand how crappy this dollar theater is, I'm mean basic stuff they don't even fix.  |  IP: Logged Matt Zeiner Expert Film Handler Posts: 146 From: Windsor, CT USA Registered: Sep 2003 posted 02-14-2004 12:28 AM                     quote: Everyone- But you don't understand how crappy this dollar theater is, I'm mean basic stuff they don't even fix. I have a first run customer who has had an auditorium in each of 2 locations with no heat for 2 weeks...I don't know that the hand-written disclaimer on the door suffices...I don't know why, but people still buy tickets In fact, I think I have a few customers that honestly beleive they can get by with rubber band repairs, no maintenance, crappy presentations, stale popcorn, and stupid help. Even worse for everybody, they do.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 02-14-2004 01:39 AM                        I saw a discount house recently that had finally replaced their heater after something like a month with nothing... except space heaters in the booth. People still went there too, though it was in the 50's there. As for discount theatres in general; I'd bet the only ones that really do well overall are independently owned. The chains around here got out after learning the hard way that the patron's regard for your product is generally connected to how much he invested in it. An indie can compensate for that somewhat... but the chains here, if they were motivated in the first place (doubtful), did not.  |  IP: Logged

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