This is topic New Marcus Theatres Website in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by John Scott (Member # 520) on 10-05-2000, 11:08 AM:
Our circut just launched a new website this week. Personally I think it is infinitely better than the old one...
http://www.marcustheatres.com
One thing though that I thought that some of you might get a kick out of is the "Projection Booth" movie that is on the site to explain to customers how movies are threaded up. This was filmed at the new Marcus Theatre in Oakdale, MN.
http://www.marcustheatres.com/booth.cfm
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-05-2000, 11:39 AM:
Not to be picky here, but that projectionist was threading the film horribly wrong. Just take a look at the major mistakes he is making when he threads that Strong platter. 
Posted by Lance C. McFetridge (Member # 95) on 10-05-2000, 01:22 PM:
Whew!!!
Not exactly how I was taught to thread a platter. Lets see who can pick out all the errors. But, It is a nice website.
lance
Posted by Sean M. Grimes (Member # 445) on 10-05-2000, 05:24 PM:
If I ever ever saw someone crank the framing nob on startup that much I would friggin bitch-slap them down the stairs. (:
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 10-05-2000, 05:54 PM:
Very nice site. I like the layout of it. 
Posted by Tom Kroening (Member # 201) on 10-05-2000, 06:22 PM:
DAMN!! That one was hard to watch. If you really want to be picky....1. I wouldn't pull the end of the leader out of the center, its much easier to leave it in there to ensure you never go over a peg. Just line the knob up with the control arm then pull the ring out!
2. You go on top of the first roller and down, not under it and up.
3. He missed the top right roller that you use only when rewinding to the top platter.
4. Did he say "sensor ring?" What is that? Does he mean auto rewind roller?
5. That framing knob turn was bad... bad bad bad. I can hear the film slapping all the way down here.
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-05-2000, 07:01 PM:
I'm not sure if anyone really wanted a critique of the web site, but here goes (I'm using Lynx 2.8.2 and Netscape 4.74 under Solaris, for what it's worth):
First, the "what's playing where" information is easily visible (good) at the top of the page. This is something that way too many theatre web sites don't seem to get, as they make it difficult for people to find the showtimes. Unfortunately, the "submit" form action doesn't work in Lynx (actually it does on some pages, just not the main page). It's nice to be able to search by both theatre and film title. It's good to be able to get showtimes for future dates, although I can't get this to work in Lynx or Netscape (with Java/Javascript disabled).
The animated thing is annoying, but that's a personal bias against animated stuff on web pages in general. Overall layout is a tad cluttered, but usable. Everything looks pretty horrible in Lynx, however, and is mostly unusable with that browser (hint: defining ALT= text for the images would be a good start).
The projection booth thing is cool (poor threading, framing, and showing the countdown on screen notwithstanding). More (and bigger) pictures of booth equipment would be nice, and maybe a brief explanation of different types of sound systems, Academy format vs. flat vs. scope, etc. It would also be nice to see pictures of the various theatres under the "showtimes" section. For the truly geeky (like most of us here), it would be nice to get a full rundown of the stats for each auditorium in each theatre: seating capacity, seating layout, screen sizes (for each format), picture format capabilities (16mm? 1.66? academy?), sound capabilities, etc.
The dinner reservation option is interesting, though it doesn't seem to work yet. Regarding the "advertise with us" option, it mentions NCN and Movie Tunes...no further comments are needed. More historical photos would be great for the "About Marcus Theatres" section.
There's lots of invalid HTML code here, BTW...I'd suggest that the site designers ditch MS Frontpage ASAP. Overall, it's a decent effort. It's too bad that none of the chains (and precious few independents) has a really good web site with lots of historical and technical data. I want more photos! Old and new news clippings! Stats for individual auditoria within complexes! Oh, well...maybe someday...
Posted by Greg Pauley (Member # 503) on 10-05-2000, 08:53 PM:
Scott:
Check out our site listed below and goto the Park Place Stadium Cinemas page. There you can take a digital tour thru the front door all the way to the booth and equipment. Also, we have a live streaming webcan where if you look close you might see a member of this forum "Russ Kress" loafing-I mean walking around in the lobby. I hope to do a tour of the Keith Albee Theatre, a 3000 seat theatre designed by Thomas Lamb in 1927/28 at a cost of 1.5 million. I think everyone on this forum would really like to see this theatre. Our site is not in the same league as Marcus, but not bad for our first version.
www.ourshowtimes.com
Posted by Charles Lubner (Member # 157) on 10-05-2000, 08:54 PM:
I agree, I would love to see more historical photos of older theatres on the history section of the website. Being a Marcus employee for 3 years now, I was also surprised they don't have any links to their other divisions. The Marcus Corporation, the parent company of Marcus Theatres, also owns Baymont Inns & Suites, a midpriced lodging chain, Marcus Hotels & Resorts, specializing in luxury hotels and restorts, and 30 KFC restaurants. The other divisions have offset lower revenues this year, and have kept kept the stock (NYSE:MCS) in the double digits, unlike the sewer level prices of Carmike, GCC and AMC.Having met Ben Marcus on several occasions, it would be nice to see a biography of his life and a timeline of the company. The Marcus Corporation is unique in the fact that the CEO, Steve Marcus, is the son of the founder of the company, and his son also serves in a vice presidential capacity in the hotel division. Having kept the company family run has prevented so much of the irrational overbuilding and lousy management so many other chains face right now.
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-05-2000, 10:03 PM:
Well, the lighting in the booth was pretty poor. I wouldn't want to try to thread up there. I guess they HAVE to leave the 150.00 red led burning in the sound head on so they can see what to do......
Mark
Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 10-06-2000, 09:06 AM:
Well, its a nice looking site, but its loaded with incorrect information. My local Marcus is listed as being "traditional" seating, and all are stadium. It also says all are analog, when in fact all are digital.
Only one of the IMAX films are listed on the standard listing.But what is most annoying is the Cyberworld, which opens today, is NOT listed on the IMAX page, and no showtimes are given. I'm trying to work it into my schedule later today, and I have no idea of when to go. For a few days this week, they even listed a film that has never played there!
Let's hope this is just opening jitters...this is my favorite theater in the area, and I would use this page frequently IF the information is accurate.
Mark L.
------------------
"As a moral to young men who come down to the city, don't go round breaking people's tambourines."
Posted by Mark Huff (Member # 480) on 10-06-2000, 10:07 AM:
First off does anyone notice that the Narrator says that the projectionist secures the film on the take up platter? Last time I was training someone I called it the payout platter. Also he refers to the Takeup platter as the Takedown platter. Who was the Mastermind of this project? Looks like more practice was needed before this video was produced.
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 10-06-2000, 11:52 AM:
Reminds me of the "Kodak" photo of the operator threading the platter backwards and giving the guy a beard... It probably the ad agency doing all the posing, etc.
Posted by John Scott (Member # 520) on 10-07-2000, 12:04 AM:
Mark L---I believe the problem with the incorrect showtimes and the theatres not showing the proper seating and sound formats is being worked on, and won't be working right until internet ticketing goes live within the next week.
Or at least that is what I have heard.
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-08-2000, 02:03 PM:
Ya gotta love ad agencies and marketing folks! The actual technology takes a backseat to what "concept" you are trying to sell. So you get "digital beards" and frames that are 6 perforations high in the ads.------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com