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Author Topic: Sub-Runs/Dollar Houses Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-19-2007 11:14 AM                        I wasn't sure whether to post this here or in the "theatres opening/closing" thread, but a former Carmike location in Billings Montana is being reopened next week. Article from the Billings Gazette follows, and I suspect there is a Film-Techer among the comments at the end of the article on the website. Link Laurel couple to reopen theater with bargain films, new approach By LANCE BENZEL Of The Gazette Staff Coming soon to a theater near you: independent films and second-run blockbusters, screened at family-friendly prices with concessions including pizza, beer and espresso. That's the vision for Funhouse Theatre in Billings, a new production from Riley and Vickie Cooke, the people who brought you Amusement Park Drive-In near Laurel. The venture is set to open Monday, albeit in a less ambitious form, at the old home of Cine-7 Theatres at 925 Broadwater Ave., which Carmike Cinemas shuttered without advance notice in May. Funhouse Theatre will start out offering second-run films on all seven screens, with ticket prices at $2. In two weeks, plans call for setting aside two screens for small-budget and foreign films at $5 a ticket. The owners are seeking a cabaret license so draught beer can be served at select screenings. Other goals include showing classic films from time to time and reserving screens for special events, such as major sports events or ultimate fighting exhibitions. "This is going to be evolution from the word go," said Riley Cooke, who got into the cinema business for the first time when the couple opened the drive-in in 2005. "We don't know anything about this industry. We're just going to do our thing and see what happens." It would mark the first time in recent memory that small-budget films will be available to theatergoers in Billings on a consistent basis. The couple has been warned it's a risky prospect: Art-house films may be lauded by critics, but they don't always pack the house. "Carmike's tried it off and on, and my booker swears that if it worked, theaters all over the country would be doing it," Riley Cooke said. "There's a lot of things I don't agree with my booker on." In his view, the rules in the industry are made to be broken. For example, Cooke said he will cut prices for standard concession fare such as soda, popcorn and candy. He stood in the lobby of the theater and gestured to the old Cine-7 concession sign, which advertised nachos for $5.70 and a small bucket of popcorn for $3.45. "Let's get back to reality," he said. "It's about repeat customers. It's not about hitting them hard once. It's like at the drive-in: People are coming not because of nostalgia but because of our value. Nostalgia only gets you there once. Providing a value, that's what gets them coming back." Renovation of the theater has been a family affair. The Cookes tapped professionals to clean the carpets and revamp air conditioning and heating units, but they did much of the other work themselves, with the help of their daughters Jenny, 14, and Annie, 9. They want to provide a clean, family-friendly environment, even if they are successful in obtaining a cabaret license, which may prove difficult. "We're not going to have this be a bar atmosphere," he said. "And it's not going to be dollar-store babysitter. There's not going to be any rowdy kids in here." The building has been a movie theater since 1971, when Jerry Carisch of Bozeman converted it from a Safeway grocery store. Carisch, who still owns the property and is leasing it to the Cookes, believes the family has a good chance of building an audience in Billings. "Riley has a challenge in front of him, but he's a showman, so it will be a well-run operation," he said. Published on Thursday, July 19, 2007.  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 07-19-2007 11:29 AM                    I hope they plan on putting reel to reel projection in for when they want to run those classic films. Some of those titles come with the you must run it on 20 min. reels or you do not run it at all.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 07-20-2007 04:06 AM                     Hey Mike - What was the name of that 7plex in Billings long time ago when T.O.I, then Excellence Theatres had it before the soak-up of Excellence by Carmike in 1991? Has it always been the Cine-7 name? I do believe that Verl Clark, the booker was the mgr of this theatre back then, but can't remember now...but, I did work for both TOI and EXCELLENCE when they were the 'partying company' Hope that family does exceptionally well with their venture and get an establishment as a true "indie"..  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-20-2007 12:54 PM                        It started as Cine 3, then they twinned the big auditorium and renamed it Cine 4, then they added onto the building and made it the Cine 7. I think all that took place before the Carmike takeover. I think they'll do OK with the subruns because there's definitely an audience for that in Billings already. They won't do great with the arthouse product unless they spruce up that place, it's a dump now. Carmike totally let it go for the past 10 years at least. I think Verl Clark is the booker mentioned in that article and he is our booker as well (well, a guy who works for him books for us).  |  IP: Logged

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