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Topic: What's the latest theatre to close or open you have heard about?
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Ron Keillor
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 166
From: Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 08-01-2005 11:14 PM
Publish Date: 28-Jul-2005
Leonard Schein, the cofounder of the Fifth Avenue Cinemas, has submitted a bid to buy back the Burrard Street multiplex. Schein, a veteran Vancouver movie-house owner, and former partner Tom Lightburn opened the theatre in 1996, featuring first-run, non-Hollywood films. In 1998, Alliance Atlantis Cinemas—then part-owned by Famous Players—bought the company and retained Schein as CEO until he left in 2001.
Cineplex Galaxy and Movie Distribution Ltd. are now co-owners of Alliance Atlantis Cinemas, which also has three theatres in Toronto and one in Victoria. On July 22, Cineplex Galaxy announced that the two partners are soliciting offers for Alliance Atlantis Cinemas. Movie Distribution Ltd. reported in its 2004 annual report that the chain of five theatres generated a $2.6-million profit last year on $15 million in revenue.
Schein told the Straight that his recent bid includes the four other theatres in addition to the Fifth Avenue Cinemas. "Certainly with the Fifth Avenue, I would like to get it back to showing non-Hollywood films," Schein said. "I am very disappointed to see that it is playing films like Batman and War of the Worlds, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Wedding Crashers."
Schein, founder of the Vancouver International Film Festival, has previously owned the Ridge, the Vancouver East Cinema, the Varsity, and the Starlight. He owns the Park Theatre for a second time after taking it over earlier this year.
This year, Cineplex Galaxy became Canada's largest theatre exhibition company after taking possession of Famous Players in a $500-million deal with New York–based Viacom Inc. On May 27, Cineplex Galaxy signed a consent agreement with the federal Competition Bureau, agreeing to sell 34 theatres with a total of 282 screens. These theatres are in addition to the five owned by Alliance Atlantis Cinemas.
Pat Marshall, vice president of communications and investor relations with Cineplex Galaxy, told the Straight that both parties have agreed to keep the names of specific theatres secret until the divestiture process is completed. After the sales are completed, Cineplex Galaxy will operate 132 theatres and 1,278 screens in Canada.
Two other potential buyers, Kansas City–based AMC Entertainment and Calgary-based Landmark Cinemas, declined to comment if they have submitted bids for any of the assets owned by Alliance Atlantis.
Http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=11813
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Robert Burtcher
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 194
From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted 08-04-2005 05:01 PM
quote:
This news is also surprising because it seemed like THX was on the verge of disappearing from Oklahoma. Currently, there are only two THX certified screens in the state - one here in Lawton (at the Carmike 8) and another in Cordele, OK (the Washita Theater). Cordele could be the smallest town in the world with a THX theater. And that makes it all the more pathetic that many larger, much better funded theaters in bigger cities aren't using it.
I agree... It's nice that Warren will bring THX back to Oklahoma. At Dickinson Penn Square 10, we used to have Auditorium 10 THX certified several years ago, but from what I'm told, our techs decided that the audio equipment was too old (Dolby CP200 and the like, IIRC) and didn't want to spend the money to get new equipment that was THX certified.
quote: Bobby Henderson
This new 20-plex would stand to beat the tar out of the Wallace/Hollywood Spotlight 14 down I-35 in Norman.
The Hollywood Spotlight 14 WILL have the tar beaten out of them. I'd put money on it. Last time I was in there (about a year ago), the presentation was not good at all... Sound was wonky and the picture was out of focus and projected too far on the masking. Management didn't seem to care very much about it, either, although they did adjust the focus. But anyway. :-P
For the record, I'm gonna be visiting Moore when this new Warren opens... From the way it sounds, I think it's going to set the standard for Oklahoma... Well, Oklahoma City, at least. ![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif)
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Robert Burtcher
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 194
From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted 08-09-2005 03:48 AM
We still have the CP200 and it's accompanying equipment in the storeroom upstairs in Booth, and projector 10 is still a Cinemeccanica Victoria 8, capable of showing 70mm prints. As far as I am aware, however, a 70mm print has not been booked at this theatre since it was operated by General Cinemas. With some new info from coworkers, now I'm not sure why the CP200 was removed... I'll ask around at work and see if I can get a good answer.
Penn Square 10 was acquired by Dickinson Theatres of Overland Park, KS directly from General Cinemas, according to my manager. [EDIT: I misunderstood the information I was given. Penn Square 10 WAS operated by Hollywood Theatres for a period of time before Dickinson Theatres acquired it.] From what I am told, Dickinson Theatres had little interest in maintaining the THX certification because of the licensing fees.
As it stands now, our four Stadium Seating auditoriums (3, 6, 9, and 10) have DTS players and Dolby CP55 cinema processors. The rest of our houses are running on optical audio. If we ever had a Dolby Digital unit, it likely would have been installed in 10; however, as far as I am aware, we never have had a Dolby Digital unit. All projectors are Cinemeccanica Victoria 5s, except for projector 10, which is a Cinemeccanica Victoria 8.
And a word of caution... if you ever visit this theatre, do your best to stay out of houses 2, 4, and 8. 2 and 4 have noticeable (to me) distortion in the audio that I can't get any of the managers or projectionists to hear, and the audio in 8 has been running in bypass mode for longer than I have been employed here (3 months now). I wish I was a booth tech so I could fix this ![[bs]](graemlins/bs.gif) ...
[Edited for clarity, 8/19/2005 04:20am GMT -06:00]
[ 08-19-2005, 04:20 AM: Message edited by: Robert Burtcher ]
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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted 08-10-2005 08:59 AM
Rave Polaris 18 -- Opened August 5, 2005
I visited this theatre on 8/8 to see MARCH OF THE PENGUINS. With my ticket, I was given a sheet with the theatre policies concerning cell phones, etc. Nice to see this in writing. Floor staff was VERY polite and friendly. Almost every employee we came across welcomed us to the theatre, or said "thank you" when we left. Ticket taker reminded us to turn off cell phones.
Theatre was fairly small (under 150 seats) with about a 32' screen. Seats were among the most comfortable I've ever been in, and there was more than enough leg room (as a 6'3" guy, that is muchly appreciated!)
The room was a bit warm, but not uncomfortable. Slides were mostly from local businesses. The room was very quiet.
Projection was clean and clear. Print looked perfect (3rd day of run.) The sound (DTS) setup was one of the best I've ever heard. I don't rate a system by how powerful it is (the BOOM factor) but by is clarity and musicality. The sound was sweet and warm. Often, systems are set up to emphasize the lower sounds. This is especially apparent in male narrations, where the lower overtones tend to boom on a poorly setup system. Morgan Freeman's voice was exceptionally clear with no boominess. The musical instruments were especially well reproduced. Sound here beats the local THX 8-plex (which sounds very dry and clinical) and anything I've ever heard at AMC (which tends to be very boomy, especially on the Torus screens). It almost matches the original THX theatre locally that was THX when THX really meant something.
This is an excellent facillity in an excellent area. I especially liked the glass poster wall outside the main door.
I look forward to seeing something soon in one of the larger rooms. I just can't bring myself to see "DUKES OF HAZAARD."
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Paul Goulet
Master Film Handler
Posts: 347
From: Rhode Island
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-15-2005 08:52 AM
Rachel,
Whether I "knew" or "didn't Know" wouldn't have made a difference any ways.(by the way, I did "know")The main reason that Tri-Boro is closing isn't because the Showcase opened down the street (it has been open for at least the last 9 years) and it isn't because people are not going to the movies like they used to, it is because the company would not spend ANY money on ANY repairs on the building. The roof is leaking, the place is basically falling to pieces.. When I was working there we knew that no money was being spent on the building..and that no money would ever be spent on the building.. we did however have a VERY strong area customer base.. and we knew that in order for the place to be kept open we had to try and keep that base of people. That's why we started having "Rocky Horror" and Bargain nights (two instead of just the one we started with)..But when people walk into a theater and see the condition of it and knowing that for a dollar or two more, they could easily go down the street to Showcase with the nice highback seats and the cupholders, they are obviously going to go there instead. The main thing that kept the local people from coming back to TBC was the cheaper then other places price..But when you go to watch a movie and you are able to see the sky from your seat or be afraid you might get hit by ceiling tiles falling down, your going to go somewhere else. Which bring me back to:
quote: Rachel Gilardi
(as Paul G. apparently already knew ).
Anyone going to TBC in the last 9 years, could tell that money wasn't being spent on the building, and all the Managers before me (Jim Quinn, Paul Moran, David Fuller, & myself) knew eventually the place would be doomed to close. I'm not blaming you for the closing because I know, just like all the other TBC managers before you, we all tried our best to keep it open and running, unfortnetly for you, you had to be the one there when it closed..
R.I.P TriBoro Cinemas (1967-2005) ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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