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Topic: Warren Theatres Sold to Regal

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-23-2017 12:21 PM

quote: Manny Montes
I think the cast member thing is just big companies trying to put the disney magic into their building, referring to them as being "on stage" or "putting on a show"

I'll bet you're right... I wish Disney had a way to copyright that phrase, since it actually means something with them.

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Scott Jentsch
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1061
From: New Berlin, WI, USA
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 05-23-2017 12:38 PM

And what of the two Oklahoma City locations that Warren is/was building?

It's difficult to tell from the news coverage and the announcements released so far what's happening there.

My guess is that he's going to open them under a new brand, starting his third act in the business. What other operation would take them over, if not Regal?

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Terry Monohan
Master Film Handler

Posts: 379
From: San Francisco CA USA
Registered: May 2014

posted 05-23-2017 05:04 PM

A sad day in the movie theatre world. Regal could care less about curtains and showmanship. You will walk into a Warren Theatre in the future when the curtains are broke and they will just stay open. How many Regal Theatres have you ever seen with curtains that open????

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Sam Graham
AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues.

Posts: 1431
From: Waukee, IA
Registered: Dec 2004

posted 05-24-2017 06:55 PM

quote: Scott Jentsch
My guess is that he's going to open them under a new brand, starting his third act in the business. What other operation would take them over, if not Regal?

That's basically what he's implying in his comments, though the branding part is unclear. The stories state he "sold seven theatres" to Regal, not the brand in whole. He did state the Warren brand will remain on the Wichita plexes, but didn't say anyting about Oklahoma.

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Lyle Romer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1400
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 05-25-2017 08:48 AM

quote: Mike Blakesley
I'll bet you're right... I wish Disney had a way to copyright that phrase, since it actually means something with them.

Agree. At Disney, you are in a theme park. The employees are part of the theme. The person that directs you into The Haunted Mansion is supposed to be a servant that lives/works at the Mansion. They are putting on a show, not just doing a job.

Essentially, the entire park is a giant set/stage.

At a movie theatre, you are going there to see a show. The cashier or usher is part of the experience but they aren't part of the movie.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 05-25-2017 08:46 PM

Even Disney will have a hard time trademarking a term like "Cast Member", especially because it's obviously a term being used for movie, theater productions, etc.

But yeah, calling all the staff at a cinema "cast member" is a little awkward. Even Disney doesn't call all their theme park employees "cast members", the employees of the "imagineering" division are usually called "imagineers". Imagineering is actually a Disney trademark, although they didn't invent the term themselves.

quote: Sam Graham
That's basically what he's implying in his comments, though the branding part is unclear. The stories state he "sold seven theatres" to Regal, not the brand in whole. He did state the Warren brand will remain on the Wichita plexes, but didn't say anyting about Oklahoma.

Even if Regal didn't acquire the Warren brand, it's unlikely they'll succeed in phasing it out before those new locations are up-and-running. In that light, it's probably unlikely they will open under the Warren brand.

Also, if he didn't sell the brand, he obviously didn't get the most out of the deal. The brand itself has a lot of value, especially because most will associate it with a high quality product, compared to the direct competition. Not selling the band would feel a bit like Coca Cola selling their business to Pepsi, while the Coca Cola Company keeping the name Coca Cola for themselves.

I'm curious about what those new locations will have in store. For some reason, just opening two new multiplexes without doing anything special after just having sold the core business feels odd.

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Manny Montes
Master Film Handler

Posts: 270
From: United States
Registered: Feb 2010

posted 05-31-2017 04:22 AM

I mean, it meant a lot for a small community, but outside of the 7 theaters they operated in the midwest and their communities you'd be hard pressed to find someone who knew what Warren Theaters is. I don't really think Regal would be interested in the brand considering in this case they're Coca-Cola and Warren is more like Cheerwine, they'll probably keep it as is like they did with the hollywood theaters, UA, etc... I think the only reason they rebranded the santikos locations was because it was only a partial purchase and Santikos is still around as a company.

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Sam Graham
AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues.

Posts: 1431
From: Waukee, IA
Registered: Dec 2004

posted 06-13-2017 06:42 PM

Warren's new company has a name...Warren Entertainment Group.

Aside from the still in development OKC plexes, he's considering developing restaurants. Possibly his own, possibly franchising chains. He plans to develop the pad sites in front of the Midwest City theatre himself.

So it sounds like he's really in this, not just planning to flip them.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 06-13-2017 08:24 PM

quote: Manny Montes
I mean, it meant a lot for a small community, but outside of the 7 theaters they operated in the midwest and their communities you'd be hard pressed to find someone who knew what Warren Theaters is. I don't really think Regal would be interested in the brand considering in this case they're Coca-Cola and Warren is more like Cheerwine, they'll probably keep it as is like they did with the hollywood theaters, UA, etc... I think the only reason they rebranded the santikos locations was because it was only a partial purchase and Santikos is still around as a company.

Yeah, it sure isn't a brand with a comparable value or impact like Coca-Cola or McDonald's, still it is a recognized brand within the community they're operating in. So, for the community, it might be an even more powerful brand as e.g. Coca-Cola.

Slapping on the generic Regal brand wouldn't really do the top-tier locations of the Warren brand any justice. So, if the Warren brand disappears on those locations, I guess it will be replaced by something new eventually. Maybe they're going to make it into a new boutique brand for their overall business for a broader roll-out throughout the country. Obvious just speculation, but you might presume there is a broader plan.

quote: Sam Graham
Warren's new company has a name...Warren Entertainment Group.

Given Regal's full name is Regal Entertainment Group, this obviously isn't at the least confusing. [Wink]

I don't think Regal will allow him to operate the new locations under the Warren name though. Although, sometimes those kind of deals are rather wicked. He could have sold the theaters for example, but not the right to the name or even the concept. He might even ask a licensing fee for it. A certain guy who is now president was known for pretty much similar tactics with many of his ventures, although not always entirely voluntary. [Razz]

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Buck Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 894
From: St. Joseph MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2010

posted 06-14-2017 08:36 PM

quote: Sam Graham
Warren Entertainment Group.

BRB VOMITING

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Jarod Reddig
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 513
From: Hays, Ks
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 06-18-2017 02:35 PM

Still sad about this news. My sister has lived in Wichita for almost 20 years and a visit to a Warren Theater was always part of the trip. My wife and I make the 3 hr trip once a month. Warren Theaters were special as they did everything about as good as possible. Only theater I know of that still uses masking and curtains; although two years ago i snuck into the projection hall of the Warren East and it was a MESS! I couldn't believe it! Trash and junk piled everywhere. I prefer Warren West that had the IMAX. Prolly seen over 100 movies there.

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Sam Graham
AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues.

Posts: 1431
From: Waukee, IA
Registered: Dec 2004

posted 07-28-2017 03:32 PM

Regarding the Warren Theatres brand, The Warren Theatres domain now takes you to a page that shows two links...one to Warren Theatres for current developments, and one to Regal Cinemas "for existing Warren locations."

The Warren link takes you to a notice that reads "We're not done yet, folks!

Warren Theatres LLC has entered the next chapter in our storied history, and we are planning on developing future Warren Theatre locations.

Our mission is to be the best-in-market theatre offering the public with the best in cinematic sight and sound wrapped in a package of opulence, comfort and security. We have a demonstrated record of success as a regional draw for movie-goers across a wide demographic."

So yes it appears they will still be going by Warren Theatres.

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