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Author Topic: Regal to buy up National Amusements? John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 12-21-2009 11:20 AM                     Always looked at National Amusements as a class outfit. The Multiplex Hazlet 12 NJ is an older location, but has been kept up nicely. I was at the Fairfax 14 in Va recently, and that is also another well run location. If Rave bought these locations, then they are going to have to change the information found on their website. Hazlet does not have stadium seating and only one digital screen. Fairfax is also running 35MM. Wonder what their plans are for these and other locations they have acquired?  |  IP: Logged David Zylstra Master Film Handler Posts: 432 From: Novi, MI, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 12-21-2009 12:07 PM                     We noticed here in Michigan that Rentrak now lists the Showcase Ann Arbor as a Rave location.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 12-21-2009 03:52 PM                        This is a shame. Even though I was dissapointed with the way I was treated by N. A. after interviewing 3 times with them and then never hearing from them even to say thank you but no thank you I still feel they put on a first class show as far as corporate multi=plex theatres go. When I serviced N.A. theatres they always put in a top of the line package, great sound systems, and used a first class equipment dealer (Louis... ) That brings up another good thing about them they are (were?) loyal to the companies they did business with. They did not play games with going with a low bidder here and there or switiching companies every six months they did business the right way. IMO.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-21-2009 04:05 PM                        Well. I was lucky enough to experience working for what was once a great company - National Amusements. Most of the PROPER booth training I received was with that company. I am still friends with people that I worked with back in 1995 in Cincinnati. Most of the managers I worked with had been with the company for MANY years. They did, indeed, run a 1st class operation. My ONLY gripe was that they only popped their corn once a week. I could never get used to that. As a customer - it was always the best show in town. R.I.P.  |  IP: Logged Scott D. Neff Theatre Dork Posts: 919 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Oct 1999 posted 12-24-2009 04:17 AM                        I've noticed that in Rave's press release it states that Charles B. Moss Jr. (of Bow-Tie Cinemas) is involved with the newly formed company "Rave Cinemas LLC". Any guesses as to how this will play out? National Amusements in the Northeast to spin off to Bow Tie and the rest to Rave?  |  IP: Logged John Joseph Fink Film Handler Posts: 60 From: West Hartford, CT Registered: Feb 2006 posted 12-24-2009 07:27 AM                        I was thinking Rave and Bow Tie might combine operations at some point - perhaps turning the sites into either Rave Cinemas or Criterion Cinemas, keeping Criterion as a boutique label. National Amusements were heavily branded "Cinema De Lux" "Bridge: Cinema De Lux" "Level Level" "Director's Hall" "Showcase Cinemas" "Multiplex Cinemas", ect. Rave will have to adapt or (as AMC probably would have done) drop the special features that National had, I hear the Director's Halls are pretty successful so why sacrifice that extra $3 a ticket. Criterion could become that pointless label that big chains throw on anything remotely more mature than mainstream product - AMC Select, Regal Cinearts, ect. Now that Rave has acquired Showcase at Ritz Center, a theater opened by Ritz Theaters as an art theater, with an audience already hostel towards National for cutting back the art pictures, it should be interesting to see if Rave turns the place into a full on mainstream multiplex or keeps the art house illusion up.  |  IP: Logged Paul J. Neuhaus Expert Film Handler Posts: 126 From: Iraq.. Again! Registered: Jun 2005 posted 01-28-2010 01:14 PM                     quote: Dennis Benjamin My ONLY gripe was that they only popped their corn once a week. I could never get used to that. Why would you do that? Is that company wide?  |  IP: Logged Tony Ratcliff Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Madison, IN, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 01-28-2010 05:15 PM                     When I worked for NA is the 80s the popcorn was popped usually once a week in slow times, twice in the busy seasons. But the thing is - it never tasted like it. It was still much better tasting than the Loews cinema that appeared to pop daily! I doubt they can do that today. The quality of the corn is not as good, and I doubt they still use 100% coconut oil like back then. I've still never heard better sound in a theatre than at a Showcase, hands down. I only DREAM that my sound was that good.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 01-28-2010 05:18 PM                        I can only speak for Loews when they were around and the fact is that at the busy 20 or so screen complexes with the ability to do 10-15,000+ people with 15 stations at a main concession stand, and 2 or more satellite concession stands with up to 4 stations each and only 2 poppers in the kitchen it is impossible to keep up with the demand by popping fresh. It is a neccesity to pop and bag corn on the slower days to use during the busy days. However, we are talking maybe using popcorn today that was popped yesterday not a week ago.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-28-2010 09:36 PM                        General Cinema did the pop-once-per-week thing too. I never understood why. They did not seem to believe in popping the corn in front of the customers, since the popcorn machine(s) usually lived out of sight of the concession stand (often on the second floor or in a back room.).  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-29-2010 08:52 AM                        When I first started as an usher back in 1974, the theatre I worked in didn't have a popcorn popping machine. We would buy prebagged corn in bulk and store it upstairs in the break room. Not only was it a convenient mating place for horny ushers and usherettes, do to the usual staff turnover rates, there were times when the popcorn was there longer than most of the employees;>  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 01-29-2010 11:06 AM                        I have heard that popcorn a day old is better than fresh out of the popper because when the popcorn comes out of the popper it is chewy but after sitting for a day it becomes crunchy. I dunno just something I heard but I have had people complain about stale chewy popcorn when it was fresh from the machine  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 01-29-2010 03:17 PM                     That's true Sean. At least it is with the corn I pop at home. If you seal it so the air doesn't get to it it does crisp up. Back in the day when I worked for Fox West Coast Theatres none of the theatres popped their corn. It was popped in L.A. and sent out in huge sealed paper bags then put in a warmer at the local locations. I'm not sure why but I have a feeling Regal is going to implode one of these days. Probably either because they can't run an operation that big or Uncle Sam will jump on them because of the monoply thing.  |  IP: Logged Tony Ratcliff Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Madison, IN, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 01-29-2010 04:55 PM                     It is true about popcorn fresh out of the popper - it is a little chewy. It needs to sit a few minutes to be "just right". I've never been behind-the-scenes of a modern google-plex, so I'm curious how they keep up with the popcorn demand on a busy night.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-29-2010 06:25 PM                        Places that do behind-the-scenes popping are missing out on one of the best "promotional" aspects of popcorn, not to mention the wonderful aroma in the lobby. I don't even like to eat popcorn but I love the smell of it popping. When you walk into a movie theater it ought to smell like popcorn, not floor wax.  |  IP: Logged

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