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Author Topic: Opening on Christmas Day Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 11-25-2015 08:54 AM                     quote: We couldn't even call for a replacement reel since the studios were closed, Ah, yes- - one of the other joys of Holiday movie openings. Several years ago, I recall the theater I was at opened "Gran Torino" (35mm) several days before Christmas. But the lab work on one of the middle reels really sucked. It had color shifts, edge-light flashes, and one section about 45 seconds long that was just solid green. We ran the movie like that for two days(although I did cut out the worst sections)and the earliest they could get me a replacement reel was on Christmas friggin' morning. Wouldnt'cha know, that year I had decided I wasn't working Christmas. But thanks to the lab screw-up, I had to go down and sit at the theater EARLY Christmas morning, waiting for the courier, who of course was several hours late, to deliver the reel. Ruined my entire day. < insert sad violin solo here>  |  IP: Logged Stephan Shelley Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 854 From: castro valley, CA, usa Registered: Nov 2014 posted 11-25-2015 01:25 PM                     Very busy late afternoon and evening on Christmas day at Grand Lake. Also black Friday is very busy if we have a kids movie like Good Dinosaur.  |  IP: Logged John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 12-19-2015 10:55 AM                     Don't think I'll ever forget Christmas Day 1970. I was working as a relief projectionist at the Lyric Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ, running "I Never Sand For My Father". The zipper changeovers had been burned out the previous week, so had to stand between the Century projectors and grip the dowser handles on the Peerless Magnarcs to make the changeovers. What fun.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 12-19-2015 11:09 AM                     I remember Christmas day about the same time. I was working the KB Apex where they were opening the revival of Chaplain's "Modern Times". I didn't expect to see a large crowd, however, the first show had about 3/4 house and the remaining 4 shows sold out (1026 seats).  |  IP: Logged Andrew Thomas Master Film Handler Posts: 273 From: Pearland, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2012 posted 12-21-2015 12:44 AM                     We opened our theater on Christmas Day 2013. Christmas Day 2014 was indeed like a good Saturday. I think Christmas Day 2015, our second anniversary, will be an outstanding day.  |  IP: Logged Lance C. McFetridge Expert Film Handler Posts: 135 From: Penn Yan, New York Registered: Jul 99 posted 12-21-2015 10:00 AM                     We have matinees on Christmas Eve only and evening shows on Christmas Day only. People are ready to get out of the house and have supported us well over the years on the holidays. Lance  |  IP: Logged Ram Melegrito Film Handler Posts: 12 From: Mandaluyong City, Philippines Registered: Dec 2014 posted 12-23-2015 12:40 AM                     Christmas day is chaos here.  |  IP: Logged Steve Matz Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 672 From: Billings, Montana, USA Registered: Sep 2003 posted 12-23-2015 02:19 AM                     I have never gone to a Movie on Christmas Day. However if a Theater was showing "A Christmas Story"-1983 I'm pretty sure I would go just because I would like to experience it on a Full size screen. Since it was in and out of theaters so quickly in 83, I would bet most people have only seen it over the years on Ted Turner's TNT Channel, when they show it 24hrs non-stop starting on Christmas Eve through Christmas Day. I would probably say it's my Favorite Christmas Time Film. Everyone seems to think "It's a Wonderful Life" was their favorite Holiday Film but when " A Christmas Story" came out, they decided this was their Favorite. It pretty much has a following much like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" I'm sure our Carmike's wouldn't show it because it probably wouldn't generate enough revenue for their Greedy Bank Account but I think there are a lot of people like me that have only seen it on the small screen and are curious what it would look and sound like in a Movie Theater Peter Billingsley- Ralphie 1983 and Today(44yrs old)  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 12-24-2015 07:55 PM                        Definitely a British / American cultural difference. More or less the entire UK shuts down on Christmas Day, apart from emergency services. In some rural villages, the pub might open for a couple of hours after church gets out but before Christmas dinner, but that's really about it. A lot of the UK stays shut on Boxing Day (what the Brits call December 26), too, but that changed a lot during the first 40 years of my life living in Britain. When I was a child in the '70s and '80s, there was absolutely no public transport and almost no shops opening, apart from convenience stores. By the '00s, there were quite a few trains and buses running and the sales were like Black Friday here. In 22 years of working in UK cinemas (on and off), I never worked in one or knew of one that opened for business on Christmas Day itself. Boxing Day was usually pretty busy, though, and often the regular program was replaced with more kid-friendly movies, especially in cinemas that only had a small number of screens (e.g. the high street picture palace conversions to 3-plexes).  |  IP: Logged Mark Ogden Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 943 From: Little Falls, N.J. Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-24-2015 08:32 PM                     As I pointed out years ago, tomorrow is of course All Good Jews Go to the Movies Day. Your professionalism on this most holiest of days is deeply appreciated. Also, you should thank your mothers for the chicken soup.  |  IP: Logged Manny Montes Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: United States Registered: Feb 2010 posted 12-29-2015 11:58 AM                     Michael, Just curious on how you did opening for Christmas?  |  IP: Logged Michael Brown Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1522 From: Bradford, England Registered: May 2001 posted 12-30-2015 01:19 PM                     Pretty busy - but only really busy for Bollywood titles. In particular the Shah Rukh Khan blockbuster Diwale - which has been giving us strong numbers all week anyway and didn't decline any on Christmas Day. If there is strong Bollywood product out then it would make sense to open on Christmas Day.  |  IP: Logged Manny Montes Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: United States Registered: Feb 2010 posted 12-30-2015 11:50 PM                     Yep, I also play bollywood product and it is always killer during the holidays. We have people drive 2 hours to come see it. Dilwale has continued to sell out.  |  IP: Logged

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