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Topic: What's the latest theatre to close or open you have heard about? (part 2)
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Geoff Jones
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 579
From: Broomfield, CO, USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 06-27-2019 09:55 AM
Alamo Drafthouse Westminster (Colorado) opens on Sunday 6/30. They're advertising discounted food for the first week during "staff training days."
This will be the fourth Drafthouse with a Big Show auditorium, which, according to their website, is equipped with Dolby Atmos, 4K projection, and a screen that is at least 66' wide.
Sadly, the website doesn't say anything about film. This theater could attract a decent following if it brought the occasional 70MM release to the Denver area.
I've always been a little mixed about Drafthouse's operation...
quote:
Hey, let's focus our brand on zero tolerance for any sort of interruptions to the movie!
Sweet, good idea! What else?
Oh, let's have waiters coming in and out of the auditorium every few minutes delivering food and drinks!
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Nevertheless, I'm excited to have a Drafthouse closer to my home for the sake of more revival showings, however...
I really wish they would put classic films on the biggest screen. Based on what they are doing at other "Big Show" locations, it looks doubtful. (Their Denton theater is showing Back to the Future next week on a tiny screen instead of their "Big Show" one. What's the point of leaving home for that?)
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Dennis Benjamin
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1445
From: Denton, MD
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-28-2019 06:33 AM
LINK
New Cinemas Now Open In West Ocean City
Jun 13,2019 by Special to the Dispatch
WEST OCEAN CITY – After a long hiatus, a new state-of-the-art movie theatre is now open at White Marlin Mall in West Ocean City.
“The new Flagship Premium Cinemas are modern, state of the art theaters unrivaled by any other in the greater Ocean City market,” said Paul Wenger, president of Flagship Premium Cinemas and Flagship Premium Cinemas at White Marlin Mall. “Our movie guests will find plush, power reclining chairs with ottomans and the latest in digital sound and projection. Our Flagship Premium Cinemas provide the latest in upscale amenities. These include reserved seating, ample free parking and an expanded menu that includes hot food and self-serve soda with free refills.”
Matt Mittenthal, vice-president and assistant director of asset management at Greenberg Gibbons Commercial, which operates the mall, said the addition of the movie theater fills in a void in the 200,000-square-foot open-air shopping destination.
“Paul’s vision and Flagship’s state-of-the-art concept are exactly what we have been missing in West Ocean City,” said Mittenthal whose firm opened White Marlin Mall in 1986. “We are excited to bring a cinema back to the community and we anticipate that this one will be a regional draw for our year-round residents and summer guests.”
Thirty new jobs were created with the opening of Flagship Premium Cinemas at White Marlin Mall. The lobby area of the new facility is pictured.
When customers enter Flagship Premium Cinemas, they receive a premium experience upon their arrival, Wenger said. The lobby area features a bar, named the “Pig and Whistle,” where moviegoers can enjoy up to two beer or wine drinks per person. Alcoholic beverages can only be enjoyed in the lobby area. Wenger said the cinemas’ beer and wine rules have been proven to please customers in another location. “
Customers can also order light fare and hot foods at the bar or the concession stand with the other movie theater staple items. Food items can be enjoyed in the lobby or while watching a movie at their assigned seats, he said.
Moviegoers can order Angus burgers, pizzas, chicken tenders, Mozzarella sticks, waffle fries, churros and premium hot dogs. There are also special promotions for pails of popcorn.
Flagship Cinemas and its sister company, Triton Entertainment Services, own and operate five movie theaters in Maryland, including three on the Eastern Shore in Easton, Cambridge and Chincoteague. They are pleased to be a part of West Ocean City.
“I think the market is really a great market because the rate of adaptation is a lot faster. People in many areas for the most part, when a new business comes to town, they are a little bit reluctant to go and try it out. Whereas with visitors to Ocean City, they are usually looking for the newest best thing.”
The movie theatre is located in the space previously occupied by Michaels that opened at its new site earlier this year.
“Basically what we’re trying to do is give you the same intimacy you have in your living room if you were sitting with your loved one watching a movie,” Wenger said. “We want to replicate that space and that environment, but in a shared space. Once you recline the seats nobody can see you. You can’t see anybody else. It’s almost like watching a movie in the privacy of your own home.”
The cinemas feature a Red Carpet Screening and Private Party Room. This is an event space dedicated to birthday parties, corporate parties, holiday parties and all other types of private events.
“We built our theatres to be really more of a cultural destination,” Wenger said.
There are special Red Carpet package plans available. Those interested are encouraged to contact the theatre manager at 443-664-8483.
Those who visit Flagship Premium Cinemas will notice the massive posters that adorn the hallways. Keeping fresh art in the theatre is a way to entertain and inform patrons of upcoming movies.
“We have built a space where we’re adding a lot of really cool art images that’s going to be inspiring as you walk through it,” Wenger said.
The theater has a special entrance and parking for those who choose to join the new Admirals Club. For a nominal yearly fee, theatregoers receive special benefits on an on-going basis. A dedicated Admiral’s Club brochure is available on site and online.
The new facility has electronic ticket machines, but customers can also reserve seats online before they arrive at the theater. For online service one can access: http://flagshipcinemas.com/gettickets.html.
According to Wenger, opening up the cinema in West Ocean City was a natural fit for his company.
“West Ocean City has developed into such a vibrant environment,” Wenger said. “It’s become a great shopping and dining destination and it really made sense for us to build a theater here. It’s the one element that’s been missing here. The whole area has experienced a re-emergence as the place to shop and dine. Besides that, there’s not a whole lot more to do as far as visual entertainment is concerned. So we are helping with that.”
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Geoff Jones
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 579
From: Broomfield, CO, USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 07-04-2019 08:49 AM
A little more about the Alamo Drafthouse in Westminster after seeing Spider-Man: Far from Home last night:
The Big Show screen (Auditorium 1) is constant height, has a very mild curve, and I'd put it somewhere between 66 and 70 feet wide. 245 seats.
The image was great. Bright, evenly focused, and I never saw any jaggy stair-steps or digital artifacts. I still don't know what projector is in there. One article says it's a Barco DP4K-45L, while the theater's website lists a Sony SRX 815 DS on the 2001 showtime page.
The Atmos installation sounds terrific, with very dynamic positioning all around the auditorium and deep bass. I was very impressed.
I never heard any sound from the adjacent auditorium, and Spider-Man: Far from Home has a few cool moments that are dead-silent. They played well in this auditorium.
The auditorium has a fairly gentle slope, and the front three rows are more-or-less flat, so anyone sitting there must look up a little more than I would like. Then there's a huge empty walk-through behind the third row (right in the sweet spot of the auditorium) that pushes the fourth row farther back than I would want to sit.
Auditorium lights were timed to come on during the credits, but dimmed during the two post-credits scenes, which was a nice showmanship touch.
I asked an employee if the theater is equipped with 35mm or 70MM. He had to ask a manager (sigh). The manager had to go ask someone in the office (pathetic). And the answer was: "nope." Very disappointing.
I peeked in another auditorium, and while I'm not positive, it looked like a constant width screen. ick.
They are showing at least some of their classics on the Big Show screen. 2001 and Metropolis are the first. Hopefully they will show many more.
This is Alamo's fourth "Big Show" auditorium. All in all, I'm pleased and excited to have another solid choice in the area besides my current go-to, Northfield.
Harkins Northfield Cine Capri:
+ Slightly bigger screen
+ Slightly better sight lines
+ More seats (~600) = more "crowd energy" and an easier shot getting a seat I like.
+ No waitstaff wandering the auditorium
Drafthouse Westminster Big Show:
+ Better Atmos
+ Hopefully more classic films
+ 15-30 minutes closer to me.
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