Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Sony/Loews closing 112 sites?

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Posted by Larry Shaw (Member # 388) on 01-23-2001, 02:18 PM:

Thats the rumor I just heard.....anyone know anything?

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 01-23-2001, 02:35 PM:

I heard that Loews is going to close the Cheri theatre in boston. This is a 4 screen classic movie theatre complete with a chandilier and everything. This theatre used to be operated by Sack Cinemas until Loews bough them out. It is a shame that they are going to close this location I alays liked it.

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I love to smoke I smoke seventhousand packs a day and I'm never F*&ing quittin!-- Denis Leary

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-23-2001, 03:14 PM:

I'm surprised that _anyone_ would think that the Cheri was decent. Admittedly, the "big" house (#1) has something like 700 seats and is the place to go for "big" movies on opening night which must be seen with a large crowd. Otherwise, that theatre was kind of a dump. Even the big house had a smallish screen and no curtains and the interior didn't seem to get the maintenance that it should have...

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 01-23-2001, 03:32 PM:

Scott,
Maybe I mispoke, I like the Cheri and I think that a lot could be done with it. My current boss is a former manager of that location and he told me that Loews told him not to fix anything unless it had to be fixed and that they didnt care. Maybe it will be a good thing if Loews closes the Cheri then maybe someone else will buy it and put some $$$ and work into it.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-23-2001, 05:19 PM:

I liked the Cheri. It was where I used to go in my college days. That's the one that has the "wing" on the right hand side of the auditorium, right? I thought that was cool. We used to sneak in beers and stuff and go hide back there.

I could imagine that somebody else might take over the place but you gotta' remember there's a big indoor mall pretty much right across the street from there. There's another theatre in there. They might figure there's too much competition. I dunno...

Posted by Scott Madsen (Member # 167) on 01-23-2001, 06:38 PM:

It's true. They are closing 112 sites/675 screens..23% of screen count.

Posted by Colin Wiseley (Member # 247) on 01-23-2001, 06:59 PM:

Hey, anyone know where all of the equipment goes when a chain closes a lot of theaters all at one time like this. It seems like a good time for great deals on equipment for parts and home theater.

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Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg, VA
www.thelyric.com

Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 01-23-2001, 07:52 PM:

I am afraid it is true! I got closure notice on all 20 screens in Boise ID, (3 6-plexes, 1, twin-that closed three weeks ago) Most of the older CO (Cineplex Odeon) theatres have equipment that was financed and is still collateral to CCFC (Coca Cola Finance Co.)Thus most equipment and other FF&Es that CCFC financed will stay at this time. I do not know what will happen after these sites are vacated, I would suppose in some markets,
theatres will be available for lease. However, at this point, I can say that with the loss of these screens in my area, the year 2001 is going to be a little more depressing! I feel bad for the many fine employees that will be on the streets soon!
According to the Sacramento Bee in Cal. today, this size-down is tho attempt to prevent bankruptcy by Loews/Cineplex.

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John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-23-2001, 07:56 PM:

That depends on a lot of things...

Some companies I know often "reabsorb" old equipment by taking old, junky equipment out and replacing it with the stuff from the shut-down theatre. Other times it's either junked or sold off to someone who's willing to pay for it and cart it away.

Depends on who you know, the people involved in the company, what mood they are in and why they are closing the place down.

ie: If they are closing down but don't want competition, they might junk everything. (As we have seen before.)

Essentially, you gotta' know who to know and when to ask. Mostly a luck thing...

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 01-23-2001, 09:11 PM:

On local tv channel 7 today on the 5 oclock news they said that any Cineplex theater older than 15 years would be closed.

Posted by Dave Bird (Member # 490) on 01-24-2001, 07:01 AM:

Any of our Canadian members know what C/O is doing up here with closings?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-24-2001, 08:13 AM:

Sean--I agree that the Cheri has "potential." I just think that in its current form the physical building has suffered from lack of maintenance. There's a card in the lobby somewhere that explains where the lobby chandelier came from (some Loews theatre in New York, I think). I do like the marquee at the Cheri, although there are often lots of burned-out lightbulbs on it.

Most of the theatres in the Boston area are pretty lousy. The one with the most potential to be made into something nice is probably the LCE Harvard Square theatre (aka University Theatre). Since the #1 (original) screen is still intact, the balcony (since made into two screens) could be restored to its original form pretty easily and the two "backstage" shoebox screens could be restored to storage closets.

Not like this will ever happen, though...the thought of converting a 5-screen theatre back into a single is probably enough to send chills up the spine of the accountant types. (Not that there's anything wrong with accountants, but they often seem to fail to recognize actions which will increase profitability over the long term in favor of short-term growth.)

The LCE Copley Square theatre (across from the Cheri) is a _real_ dump...it's more like a collection of screening rooms than a theatre...

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-24-2001, 05:20 PM:

So far the canadian closeing are older obsolete complexes which makes sense you can't in this day and age expect a older slopped floor theatre to be competative against a more efficient large plex

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 01-24-2001, 05:40 PM:

Confirmed: http://biz.yahoo.com/apf/010123/united_art.html

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-24-2001, 05:41 PM:

Also confirmed by today's Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37542-2001Jan23.html

Posted by Dave Bird (Member # 490) on 01-24-2001, 06:59 PM:

I'm curious, Gordon, what they'll do up here with their outdoors. They still run a fair number, admittedly most in Quebec, but some are fairly new, not on valuable land yet, must be doing a good buck, or at least paying the taxes. Wonder what they'll do?

Posted by Kevin Crawford (Member # 469) on 01-25-2001, 12:34 AM:

I know that when GCC closed in Oct. at least in the Dublin location, they were leaving everything intact in the theatre. I believe that they were doing this in all of the locations that they vacated that month.

I would think that if Coke financed the equipment, it would go back to them should a bankruptcy occur.

Posted by Gordon Bachlund (Member # 124) on 01-25-2001, 07:31 AM:

This morning's VARIETY notes that AMC is curtailing its expansion plans and intends to close 20% of its screens over the next two years.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-25-2001, 07:48 AM:

Here's the full text of the Loews-Cineplex press release from a few days ago:
CLICK HERE

Loews has a well-run 12-plex in Rochester (Webster NY) that would be a shame if it closed. Unfortunately, stadium seating is the "in thing" and many good conventional auditorium theatres are struggling. In the last few years, Loews has closed a 2-plex (Ridge Road), a 4-plex (Southtown) and a 3-plex (Pittsford) in Rochester.

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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 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Larry Myers (Member # 738) on 01-25-2001, 09:23 AM:

Hi

The Pittsford/Rochester 3-plex theater was a real loss since the back building was more or less reserved for 70mm shows.

Just went to see Castaway at Marketplace/Rochester. The picture was way out of focus and scratched. Just goes to show how bad off the industry really is when problems even surface around the film manufactures home turf.

Larry

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-25-2001, 12:02 PM:

Larry:

Yes, I remember the many excellent 70mm presentations at the Loews Pittsford 3 in the years when Jim Doty (manager) and Paul Hartman (projectionist) reigned. (AFAIK, "Far and Away" was their last 70mm show). And I'm even old enough to remember how great the front theatre was before it was twinned. Where is Frank Coniglio when you need him most?

As to your unfortunate experience with "Castaway", IMHO it shows that one person (no matter how dedicated) is stretched too far when running an 18-plex, so that simple things like checking focus don't get done, routine maintenance gets neglected, and make-up and threading get rushed.

BTW, I've seen my share of poor presentations in Los Angeles too, so Rochester isn't being singled out just because it's the home of Kodak. When it comes to presentation quality, you usually get what you pay for. (Let's see, what is minimum wage divided by 18 screens? )

Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 01-25-2001, 06:11 PM:

There is another LOEWS theatre near my parents house in Spring (north houston), Texas that I'd hate to see closed.
It would be a really nice theatre if they were able to upgrade their sound system and replace their seats.
I went there to see Traffic opening day, and the seats were terribly uncomfortable and the rows too close together.
They also have a really nice mural of all these movie stars on one of their wall and some cardboard "posters" of some more contemporary classics.
Maybe ill ask if i can take some pictures some time.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 01-25-2001, 07:00 PM:

What's the latest about Regal?

Posted by Art Averett (Member # 367) on 01-26-2001, 04:20 AM:

Hi Larry, hope all is well in Beantown. Hello to all there at BLSI. A hello to Chapin Cutler, wishing business is great in 2001. If anyone wants to see what has happened recently here in Orlando, FL log on to www.orlandosentinel.com. Check the January 24 edition, section B, Money. An article in the section tells of the latest theater closing in Orlando, FL. The article also reports how many theaters have closed within the last two years and the reason for closing. I'm really ticked off at all the theater chains that seem to "over build", make a profit, and then file for bankrupcy protection to protect themselves. They have no feelings for the employees who don't have any job protection, have families, and just think that their former employees can get any type of job that's available. As for an answer for Loews Cineplex, the article stated that it will shut 112 older U.S. and Canadian theaters. When and which theaters would close, the company did not say. Regal closed a theater here in Orlando, Thursday, January 26, 2001.
I have worked the Cheri in Boston back in 1980 when it was a three plex and carbon arc with the exception of theater #2. In 1991 I worked there after it became a four plex, platters and all XENON lamps.
Boston used to be the place to see a movie with all of the old palaces. Back in the late 70's up to the early 90's a lot of 70MM movies were playing in Boston. The last 70MM show I ran was "The Doors" that played at the Cinema 57 twin. It is ashame what has happened to alot of great movie theaters and the presentations the projectionists who have worked their hearts out in showing films to the public. It has all gone by the way side for stadium seating, the manager/usher/popcorn person that doesn't care about a good film presentation if it hit upside in their face.

Posted by Barry Martin (Member # 1376) on 08-03-2002, 11:13 AM:

As for continued closings, Loews had some slip-up where they "forgot" to renew their lease at the Fresh Pond cinema in Cambridge, so they are going to be out by the end of the year. Not real sorry myself, this used to be a GCC twin and then Loews took it over and somehow put in a total of 10 screens without adding on to the building. The booth resembles one of thoese habitat trail plastic tubes you can buy for hampsters and such. Worst of all, they actually have a 50 seat house! I couldn't believe the size when I walked into the theater, the back row wasn't more than 20 feet from the screen, the bottom of which was probably 15 feet off the ground.

The Cheri did close earlier in the bankruptcy, and Copley Place (at the Copley Mall) is said to be performing badly. Cheri and Copley's problem was Loews opening of the Boston Commons 19 screen theater next to Emerson College on Tremont Street. They tried to survive as art houses, but I guess it didn't and is not working. The managers at Assembly Square are also reporting low business which means possible closure, especially with the condition of the Assembly Square Mall. I think the only thing that could save Assy. Square is a re-vamp of that Mall, which is rumored to be possible. This would be a shame as Assy. Square is the only theater in the Boston area I know of which still has the capability to run 70mm shows, now that they took the Norelco out of Harvard Square to "standardize the booth", in other words they shut down their biggest theater for 4 days during a huge opening (Road to Perdition) to put a Century in that the management could run without as many problems.

On the up side, there are also rumors of a theater opening in Everett, but the Town Manager and Building Inspector haven't heard anything about a possible development. Everything stated above was information given to me by Loews at the negotiating table and backed up by my contacts in management, unless "rumor" is indicated. Hopefully the presentation quality will come back up at Loews so I can enjoy a good movie for once.

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"The greatest thing you will ever learn, is just love and be loved in return."

Barry C. Martin
IATSE Local 182

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 08-03-2002, 12:51 PM:

The first time I walked into the Copley Place, my jaw hit the floor. I had never seen a theatre where the seats in some of the auditoriums raked UPHILL as you went towards the screen. I often wondered what the story was behind that.

Is Mike Canney still active up there? As I recall he was the B.M. around 1980 or so, and a helluva guy. I was living in Somerville near Ball Square then and he was going to bring me in, but all he had available was a grind house (the Pussycat?) near Boston Garden. Owing to a previous bad experience with porn, I took a pass. And it's a shame about the Harvard Square. . .I use to love the place when it was a single screen calendar house (late 70s - early 80s). Some of my best remembered movie-going experiences where there. Every month, Harold and Maude on the same bill with King of Hearts at least once.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-03-2002, 10:49 PM:

They got rid of the Norelco at Harvard Square!?! That's bad news indeed. Maybe it (and the one from the Cheri) will find new homes somewhere. We can hope, anyway....

The Wang Theatre has a pair of Norelcos, but they only run film occasionally. Coolidge Corner also has a pair of Norelcos on the main floor screen; they ran "2001" last February. There's a JJ with AW3 and CP200 in the big house at Chestnut Hill, but the mag penthouse has been removed (and is stored in a back closet).

Other than that, I can't think of any other 70mm-capable houses in the Boston area. Coolidge Corner is just about the only hope for (somewhat) regular 70mm screenings. Very sad.

Posted by Barry Martin (Member # 1376) on 08-04-2002, 03:09 AM:

I know the Norelco from Cheri (and pretty much everything else from that theater) ended up in the projection booth in Danvers. Some stuff was picked off by Assembly Square (manager took pictures of what we had and brought it to the projectionist so he could pick what would be best for them). It made a little sense because we have so much room for storage. As far as booths go layout wise, Danvers is the best I have seen. 20 screens in basically one room. Only down side that it is about 1/8 mile long and all tile so doing 15-17 hours can get a little sore on the feet. Pretty much a loop design, starting with theater 1 going all the way around the booth to theater 20. Most of the booth is about 20 feet wide, but where they stored most of the Cheri equipment it was about 40 feet wide. Don't know if it is all still there, having been gone a almost 2 months now. The Norelco in Harvard Square was supposedly sent to New Jersey for "parts", which makes no sense when they already had the one disassembled in Danvers. Who knows?

I actually had never been in the Copley, but had heard of the "up-slope" and shuddered. I only worked the Cheri once, and that was as "security" (when I was a supervisor) when they had the Film Festival and gave Kevin Spacey his award for American Beauty. I do remember the chandelier though.....

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"The greatest thing you will ever learn, is just love and be loved in return."

Barry C. Martin
IATSE Local 182

Posted by Larry Shaw (Member # 388) on 08-05-2002, 08:05 PM:

Mark,

Mike has been out of Local 182 for many years. He lives on the south shore and works in an entirely different business.

Larry