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Author Topic: Where would you put a theatre if you could? Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 01-24-2004 02:39 PM                     Scott -- You should move down here and you and me will open a drive-in! My idea for a theater: An 8-screen, first-run, palace-multiplex. People would come in through the main entrance of the building whose interior would be made to look like a 1930's city, complete with cars on the street and sidewalks. The cieling would be painted to look like the sky and would change based on what time it was with lighting effects. Each auditorium would be its own single-screen "theater" complete with outer facade, marquee, its own box office, lobby, and concession stand. These would range from 1200-seat palace size to 150 seat "neighborhood" cinemas. Along the "street" between the theaters could be things like coffee shops, bookstores, etc. Maybe even have little apartments above the theaters so the projectionists could live there... or maybe that's a bad idea... The front/main entrance to the building would also feature a box office, for slow days when you can't staff 8 box people or for busy days to handle the extra people. Booths would all be connected by hallways to avoid the nonsense of moving prints "across the street" Two or three largest houses would be setup for 70mm and changeover, so we could add a screen for a busy movie with one print and stagger showtimes. The best equipment, of course. Picture a building the size of a couple soundstages and you'll get the idea! Forced-perspective, of course... =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-24-2004 05:26 PM                        quote: Each auditorium would be its own single-screen "theater" complete with outer facade, marquee, its own box office, lobby, and concession stand. These would range from 1200-seat palace size to 150 seat "neighborhood" cinemas. Along the "street" between the theaters could be things like coffee shops, bookstores, etc. That's sort-of been done in SLC, Utah at the Jordan Commons 18. The screen are in groups of 3 with each group having a neon marquee under which goes a hallway leading to the theatre doors. The main hallway is a street scene like you envision. It's really cool. (No bookstores, though...)  |  IP: Logged Douglas Carmichael Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Naperville, IL, USA Registered: Oct 2003 posted 01-24-2004 06:01 PM                    My dream theater would have 2 auditoria within it: * One a IMAX GT E3D flat large-format film auditorium w/DTAC, 2 QTRUs, and PLC control. (A Barco XLM H25 27K lumen DLP on either a ViewScape or Teranex processor would handle video sources and the preshow.) The ViewScape would be used for multisource special event/business presentations and the Teranex would be used for high-quality single-source video screenings. * Martin lighting on a MA Lighting GrandMA replay unit would also be used in the preshow and for special events. (Adam, what are the auditorium size numbers for the GT and SR?) * One large (60-80ft dome) E&S Digistar 3 interactive digital theater system with a Crest x001-powered Sound Physics Labs rig for sound. (Clark Synthesis Platinum tactile transducers would be in each seat in both theaters.) * An AVI Omniscan laser projection system would be in the Digistar3 dome as well. * Auxiliary audio sources in the IMAX theater would be handled by a Yamaha DM1000 digital mixer in the DTAC rack interfaced through both a 6-channel input on the IDAC interface and through several dry contact/GPI I/Os. (For example, one cue in the showlist would set the mixer to a scene for 'announcements+nonsync', and when I fade the CD faders on the mixer, it would send a GPI pulse to DTAC which would then start the film.) * Another DM1k (or 01V96) mixer would be in the Digistar3 theater (A DM2k if the budget allowed.) * AMX control systems would be in both auditoria to 'tie it all together.' As for content ... I'd show the usual 'edutainment' large-format mix during the day (with the occasional DMRd features to pull in the crowds.) There'd also be special events like gaming competitions, electronic art exhibits, and business presentations as well. --Douglas  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-25-2004 12:18 AM                        I'm surprised that most of the people here are suggesting multiplexes. Are people shying away from single-screen theatres because they genuinely would prefer to own/operate multiplexes, or because they have some notion that single-screen houses aren't viable businesses?  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 01-25-2004 02:53 AM                        Multiplexes are less work. People are lazy.  |  IP: Logged Ian Price Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1714 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-25-2004 12:08 PM                     I've worked 5-single screen theatres and 4-multi screen theatres. If I could make the rules the distributors use to give us prints, a single screen would be nice. But since distributors make you keep a print or make you keep a print clean, a multiplex just gives you more options. I want the minimum quantity of screens to make sure that most weeks we see a new film opening.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-25-2004 01:14 PM                     Lawton, OK My town is overscreened, although the Carmike 8-plex is the only one worth entering. The only other place I see potential is perhaps a really nice theater on the Cameron University campus. I would not design this theater as some big google-plex. I'm thinking maybe three to six screens tops. However, one of the theaters would be a really nice "premire-style" theater with over 1,200 seats and be capable of showing revivals in 70mm. Seating would be arragned in a "relaxed" (not very steep) stadium seating configuration. Audio quality would be better that way. A balcony would be nice, but insurance costs would probably make that impractical. I would want the type of movies shown in this small multiplex to be a mix of indie and mainstream films. The big theater would be great for prints of epic movies of the past and perhaps for limited engagements of current "big" releases. Oklahoma City The Bricktown section of downtown Oklahoma City is finally getting a modern, stadium seated theater (a 16-plex being built by Harkins, which boasts the new site will have the largest theatrical screen in OK). However, there is still no IMAX-branded 15/70 theater in OKC. I was really hoping for an IMAX 3D theater in Bricktown. Outside of that, OKC is pretty much up to snuff on having enough stadium seated theaters. However, someone really needs to get through to those AMC guys about their very poorly designed surround arrays. The speakers go on the walls and not in the ceiling! Aarrrggh! Wichita Falls, TX This is a sizeable market just dying for a decent theater. The Carmike 10 in Sikes Senter mall just Sucks. It was a conversion job of a former tiny six-plex done in 1996, with no stadium seating well after the stadium seating craze had begun. There are two former THX screens that are okay. The other eight are tee-ninenie-tiny shoeboxes with fixed 1.85:1 screens that chop off anything in 'scope. That sucks ass. There should be an outright ban on that shit. Another company could literally take all of the Wichita Falls movie-going market in one fell swoop by building a good 20-plex either along Kell Freeway or Kemp near the mall. The task would be very similar to the manner how Cinemark moved into the Colorado Springs market and caught a very complacent Carmike off guard. Dallas There's always room for a 40-plex somewhere.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 01-25-2004 04:20 PM                        I will do my serious post now: I would like to build a 6 plex in a town with no competition and about 30,000 residents. It would have digital sound and stadium seating - and we would offer something the big boys can't - personalized, courteous, customer service. I would own it and I would be there every Friday and Saturday night. As long as the theatre made enough to pay the bills, I'd be happy. As far as location, as long as the weather was mild - I would also be happy.  |  IP: Logged Scott Jentsch Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1061 From: New Berlin, WI, USA Registered: Apr 2003 posted 01-26-2004 10:26 AM                        Thomas Procyk wrote: quote: My idea for a theater: An 8-screen, first-run, palace-multiplex. People would come in through the main entrance of the building whose interior would be made to look like a 1930's city, complete with cars on the street and sidewalks. The cieling would be painted to look like the sky and would change based on what time it was with lighting effects. Forget the drive-in, I want to see this theater see the light of day! I can't imagine how much space something like this would take up, but it would be so cool as to be just what this area could use to create a positive impression!  |  IP: Logged Gary Crawford Expert Film Handler Posts: 200 From: Neptune NJ USA Registered: Nov 2003 posted 01-27-2004 01:36 PM                     Having worked in this biz before the multies came around, I have a thing for big old singles. Really really overdone like the(original, REAL) Roxy in NYC was. Would like to restore an old 1,200 or bigger place with a balcony and run it like they used to. Remember when ushers "ushed" people to their seats? It would have to be a hobby theatre of course, as I really doubt it could meet overhead. When I win the Mega... Good news...the people who run Wall Twp Speedway (formerly Wall Stadium) a stock car track in Central NJ is just about to finish wading through the red tape involved in establishing a DRIVE-IN in their huge parking lot. 600 or so cars, will run Sunday thru Friday (Saturday night is race night) and are looking to run family-friendly double features, probably sub-run. My question...in today's cars (big head rests, etc) how can anyone in the back seat see a drive-in screen? Still good to hear it will happen. I wish them luck.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 01-27-2004 04:11 PM                        Gary, you mean some people actually watch the movie at a drive-in?  |  IP: Logged Robert D. LaValley Film Handler Posts: 58 From: Florida Registered: Aug 2003 posted 01-28-2004 12:38 AM                     I just talked to this girl that use to work at a drive in, in the late 70's. she used to get on the intercom towards then end of the night and say "if you are watching the movie please flash your lights becuase I really would like to go home. " and if no one flashed she would close up and head out... *laughs* (I know it was off topic but the above comment just reminded me of that)  |  IP: Logged Kamakshipalya Dhananjay Expert Film Handler Posts: 190 From: Bangalore, India Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-28-2004 12:59 AM                     Nobody wants to venture out ! Say to come and build in India or China ? There are less than 180 Multiplex screens in India and the rest are all single screens and huge movie theatres. I think India and China will be the biggest movie markets in the years ahead. The market and need for Multiplexes is exploding in India and I think overseas investors or Multiplex operators need to look at India should they want to expand.  |  IP: Logged Edward Jurich Master Film Handler Posts: 305 From: Las Vegas USA Registered: Jul 2003 posted 01-30-2004 11:19 AM                     It might be fun to open a small single or twin right next to say an AMC multi-plex. Charge .50 less admission and less for concessions.  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-30-2004 12:39 PM                     "My question...in today's cars (big head rests, etc) how can anyone in the back seat see a drive-in screen?" Hardly anyone stays in their cars anymore, they all bring lawn chairs and sit in front of their cars. Or come in a truck, back the truck in, and sit in the bed. Some with couchs in the bed.  |  IP: Logged

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