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Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 08-18-2000, 07:30 AM:
On the evening news last night in Nashville, they announced Carmike is closing 3 local theatres on Thursday (today). All are discount houses. They got the word on Wednesday that they wouldn't re-open on Thursday.
The theatres are:
Harding Mall 6
Cool Springs 12
Stones River 6Anybody feel like going to a garage sale on Saturday?
Posted by Harry Robinson (Member # 265) on 08-18-2000, 10:24 AM:
Barry, if you actually hear that they're going to sell some of that gear please e-mail me, although I would bet the farm that they'll just transfer it all somewhere else in the chain.
Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 08-18-2000, 01:33 PM:
When I lived in Nashville, I lived on Wallace Rd, one block from Harding Mall. I walked over there almost every weekend to see movies. Alien comes to mind. Back then, they had good presentation there, but I dont know what happened over the years...
Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 08-19-2000, 07:37 PM:
Barry,The Harding Mall Carmike seemed to be in business and hopping today, and the Carmike at Stones River Mall and the Carmike 6 nearby both seemed to be open (I saw people going in and out). The Carmike 10 at Cool Springs looked closed. I saw the HUGE complex they built nearby. They put themselves out of business there. The one that closed was built around 1991 or 1992, right, because the doggone mall didn't open until 1992!
I went up there to take pictures of the theatres, since I figured when closed, the signs may be removed soon. Do you think the news got the closing dates wrong on two of them? When I put the pictures up, you can tell me if I went to the right theatres!
Later, when I get my pictures into the computer, I'll make a "Nashville Theatre Pictures Page" to add to my site. I really want to go to the newspaper archives and give Nashville the historical research treatment that I gave Huntsville and Decatur.
Where was the "Lion's Gate" theatre?
Evans
http://home.hiwaay.net/~criswell/theatre/
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-20-2000, 07:07 PM:
The Fox River 10 in Appleton, WI will be closing this week. Also, the Rogers 5 in Wasau, WI and the Carmike in Stevens Point (forget the name). Carmike won't be selling off any of the stuff. They will be using every single scrap, used bulbs and all.The end is nigh.
Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 08-20-2000, 07:25 PM:
quote:
I would bet the farm that they'll just transfer it all somewhere else in the chain.
That's right. When I serviced Carmike, everytime they closed a location, the equipment was usually loaded onto a truck as fast as I could disconnect it, and was bound for their warehouse.------------------
Better Projection Pays!
Posted by Kevin Crawford (Member # 469) on 08-21-2000, 02:04 AM:
It is good to know that all that equipment is keeping some warehouse warm at night. If they can't afford to build new theatres how can they just let it sit, when they could sell some, and make money. No wonder they are going bankrupt.
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-21-2000, 02:16 AM:
I don't know about projectors, but considering no one will give Carmike credit, everything else from broomsticks and splicing tape to xenon bulbs will be recycled. Trust me, I have been told that if we need anything, call them first to see if they have what we need.
Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 08-21-2000, 08:32 AM:
Lions Gate?? I know about "Lions Head". Probably the same place. It's over on White Bridge Road (West side of Nashville)in the Lion's Head Village shopping center. Down the street from there is the old "Bellemeade Theatre". A great "art deco" movie palace thats been converted into a "Bookstar" (book store). It looks absolutely gorgeous at night. All of the animated neon and incandesents are still intact and working. Never got to see a movie there, but always wanted to. It's definetly work a look next time your in Nashville.
Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 08-21-2000, 12:34 PM:
Barry,
You're right, I knew it was Lion's something. As for the Bookstar, I've been in there several times! I thought it was neat that it was in an old theatre. Before Barnes and Noble started building their large stores, the Bookstar locations were the places to go.
Evans
Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 08-21-2000, 12:35 PM:
Barry:I went to the Belle Meade just once in the late '70's. I cant even remember what I saw. I just remember it being BIG inside.
I lived near Charlotte Pike and White Bridge Rd then. They ripped out the apartment building that I lived in and built a White Castle on part of the property. When I lived there, I go and eat at the Krystal down the street almost everyday. I got free passes from the TV station for food there. Good thing. I had enough trouble paying rent much less eating back then.
BOMB recipe:
6 cheese Krystals
1 bowl of chili
1 medium coke
Eat it all and go back to work. The explosion comes later. 
Posted by Kevin Crawford (Member # 469) on 08-21-2000, 01:48 PM:
Broom sticks? Is that so the evil witches can fly back and forth from theatre to theatre?
Posted by Harry Robinson (Member # 265) on 08-21-2000, 04:47 PM:
The Belle Meade is the second favorite theater of mine to be converted into a haven for yuppies. The other one, I hope Scott Norwood will remember, was the Community Playhouse in Wellesley Mass.
I remember walking 2 miles in the snow to see the 10AM matineee one wintery Saturday when I was 13. I was the only person to show up. Mr. Green, the projectionist, invited me upstairs to the booth and we ran the movie (April Love, with Pat Boone), for just ourselves. He showed me how to operate the carbon arcs, thread the projectors and perform the glue splices of the day.
It was just like Cinema Paradiso.
I went back many times, and we spent many hours together as he tutored me on the equipment. He was a great guy. I remember when the Belle Meade ran the restored Lawrence of Arabia in 1989. I took my copy of the original lobby program and passed it around the staff. There just isn't any place around here to see a movie presented the old-fashioned way anymore. I guess that's why I feel so compelled to want to create the experience at home.
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-21-2000, 05:11 PM:
Someone else remembers the Wellesley Community Playhouse? Cool!
This was a 1920s-era community moviehouse, financed by Roger W. Babson (who is better known for his relationship with Babson College). I spent many hours at the Playhouse until the property was sold in 1987 and converted to a mini-mall. The mall itself, sadly, is called "Playhouse Square." The marquee itself remains, though it's not obvious that it used to be a movie theatre from the outside.
Interesting tidbit: the Playhouse had an early Dolby Stereo sound system, featuring Klipschorns set up by John F. Allen.
Posted by Paul Rich (Member # 243) on 08-21-2000, 10:46 PM:
---------------------------------------------
I went up there to take pictures of the theatres, since I figured when closed, the signs may be removed soon. Do you think the news got the closing dates wrong on two of them? When I put the pictures up, you can tell me if I went to the right theatres!
---------------------------------------------The Galleria 10 closed Friday. Stones River 6 and Carmike 6 at Harding close this Friday, 8/25.
I work at the Wynnsong 16 in Murfreesboro (where the Stones River 6 is/was). We're getting and storing some of the stuff from it. The Stones River 6 is/was a first-run theater, not a discount house. We have a discount house already (Jackson Height's Carmike 6). It won't close to after Christmas.
-Paul
Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 08-24-2000, 07:44 AM:
I met with the manager/projectionist of the Stones River 6 in Murfreesboro, TN last night. She was not allowed to talk about the bankruptcy, but she was very gracious and gave me a tour of their booth. Once upstairs, I was pleased to see a mixture of projection equipment.
Strong Consoles, Christie Projectors, Strong Platters, and a mix of DTS, Kintek and SMART sound processors.
Playing on projector #1 - Me, Myself & Irene - to an EMPTY house.
She (the manager) said they were closing tomorrow. I asked her where she was being transferred to, and she simply said, "I'm not, they have no positions open for me".
She did show me how to "thread in frame", which was something I haven't been able to figure out in the basement. Always wondered what the framing lamp was for
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 08-26-2000, 01:29 AM:
This just in - Loews Cineplex announces today that they will probably default on their loan next month... The game of survivor is narrowing... AMC and Cinemark remain the only 2 of the top five to not file or default on a loan yet...
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 08-26-2000, 07:51 PM:
The count!Rialto Cinemas Lakeside, 5-screen art house. Changed operators and format. Still Holding our Breath.
UA Empire, 4 screen discount house, spitting distance from a state of the art 16-plex. Closed
UA Coddingtown Mall, 4 screen first run house. Closed
Roxy Stadium 14 Opened
Washington Square, 4 screen discount house. The last discount house in Sonoma County. Closed
Raven Theatre, detached big house. Reduced running hours. Closed Weekdays
Stay tuned, the year still has 4 months left in it.
Posted by Kevin Crawford (Member # 469) on 08-26-2000, 10:22 PM:
Addition of closures and trade offs. The Downtown United Artists in Sacramento changed hands a few weeks ago to Century. Last Thursday, UA Greenback 6 closed.
They still have 3 more in town. One next to 16 screens of Century does not book its 6 screens well. It has been some time since they have had more than three titles. The theatre they closed was booked far better. The other two are very close to Century theatres. By about a mile in both cases. Both megaplexes. Who's next?
Posted by Paul Rich (Member # 243) on 08-27-2000, 03:54 AM:
In response to Barry's post about visting Stones River 6: I'm not sure which manager you're talking about, but the city manager (my boss) has told me that Carmike is doing great. We've got enough cash to take care of everything. We had more than enough money to keep from declaring Ch. 11. Carmike's just smart enough to pull back and take action before we get into real problems. Regal on the other had is in deep you-know-what. You should come by the 16 and get a tour. I'd be glad to show you around.
- Paul
Posted by Richard C. Wolfe (Member # 431) on 08-27-2000, 09:45 AM:
So since ven das da courts allow chapter 11 ven you gots lottsa money?
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 08-27-2000, 11:22 AM:
On the Carmike issue - I don't think it's a good sign when others in the industry refer to running a theater into the ground as "Carmiking" a theater... Nothing personal against Carmike employees, just a statement on how the company is run. Besides, if they have plenty of cash, why are they filing Chapter 11 (Bankruptcy)?
Posted by Kevin Crawford (Member # 469) on 08-27-2000, 06:25 PM:
I have always noticed that managers, even district managers only find out stuff either the day before it is in the papers. Or from the papers. Corporate types do not like telling anybody anything that could be seen as bad.
Posted by Russ Kress (Member # 461) on 08-27-2000, 06:43 PM:
Not to insult anyone here...But if these types of stories are floating about from multiple sources.....
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-27-2000, 11:10 PM:
Rich Rich Rich RichDon't believe the hype. The day chapter 11 was declared, stock trading on the NYSE for CKE was halted. They are considering DELISTING the stock. My research has revealed we closed about 20 theatres nationwide this week (I'll post the list for verification later tonight or tommorrow). NO PROJECTION SUPPLY COMPANY WILL DO BUSINESS WITH US. In 2 or 3 months, screens are gonna start going down for lack of bulbs. Christie projectors will stop grinding due to lack of timing belts. This is the fall-Carmike can not stay alive until Thanksgiving, the next big cash time. True, Regal is FAR worse than Carmike. I wouldn't be surprised if they declared chapter 7 (liquadation). They are 1.8 BILION dollars in debt after all. But for Carmike, it is only going to get worse. Its all downhill from here.
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 08-28-2000, 12:24 AM:
Good point Dustin - actually Carmike resumed trading last week, but slipped to 11/16 a share. That's roughly .68/share! Is this true where you are as well, but around here Carmike doesn't put a penny into a building that isn't ABSOLUTELY necessary. So, unlike other companies that may have room to cut cap-ex expenses, Carmike really doesn't have any room at all to cut. If they go belly-up, what are you planning on as a new job?
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-28-2000, 01:30 AM:
Yes Mike, that is true here too. Though our DM cares about his theatres physical condition and tries to get us approval whenever we need a repair. However, lack of funds has taken its toll. We are still a pretty nice place though, mostly because of all the maintanence work we do ourselves (shampooing the carpets, major seat repairs, etc).As for what I plan to do? I highly doubt this particular location would close, or if it did that it would close for a long time. If it did, there would only be 6 first run screens in Eau Claire. If some area's are over-screened, that would be under-screened! And anyhow, worse comes to worse, An independent is puttin up a 10 plex in Menominee (another 20 minutes on to the drive).
Posted by Paul Rich (Member # 243) on 08-28-2000, 03:35 PM:
---------------------------------------------
Besides, if they have plenty of cash, why are they filing Chapter 11 (Bankruptcy)?
---------------------------------------------Simple, maximizing profit. You listen to any financial expert, and I've read and watched several, and they'll tell you that they were shocked that Carmike filed Ch.11.
As for distribution companies pulling prints and other services pulling out of Carmike, that's a temporary overraction to the "bankruptcy." And all of that is being taken care of.
-Paul
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-28-2000, 04:19 PM:
Keep on believing the that Rich. I just know that I have about 5 projector bulbs that need replacement desperately and I can only get used ones, probably with a couple thousand hours on them already. This is becuase no projector supply company will do business with us. Why? Becuase they won't give Carmike the 3 million dollars in credit they want. So you'd think that if they had all this money, they'd be able to pay cash for stuff.Chapter 11 is not a good thing. Its not something people take lightly Rich. No bank will ever loan money to Carmike again, ever. I'm sure all you hear is, "Don't worry, its all ok, don't worry." But this is all that I know, we closed down about 20 theatres last week. Some of them should have been closed down a long time ago. Some...
One question for you Rich: Are you a manager? No offense, but you see things different from this side. I've seen the invoices coming in on second, third, fourth notices. I've seen the phone bill let go until the day before they were going to cancel our service. And all that was in Janruary.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 08-28-2000, 04:30 PM:
Dustin, can you not pull petty cash for the absolute necessities?
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-28-2000, 04:34 PM:
No, all purchase, staples to projector parts, must be approved by District.
Posted by Paul Rich (Member # 243) on 08-28-2000, 07:29 PM:
What I'm worried about, and I'm hoping is going to be resolved soon, is the 4 or so distributors that are holding back releasing prints to Carmike. I know of Warner, and my boss said something about Fox and Paramount. You can't make any money if you don't have movies.-Paul
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-28-2000, 08:38 PM:
Dreamworks is the other one I think. Someone said that Carmike owes them 7 million in film rental.You see, the bad thing about Chapter 11, and why people are starting to stop doing business with us unless its on a cash-only basis, is that some Judge in New Jearsey gets to decide what debts Carmike has to pay. So if MTS gave us 3 million in credit, and the judge said we didn't have to pay, MTS would be up shit creek if you know what I mean.
Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 08-29-2000, 11:52 PM:
Geez, I can't believe UA Greenback is closed! I went there the first week they opened in late '86, they were the first modern-style state-of-the-art theater in the area, I remember how cool it was seeing all the surround speakers along the walls. I hope someone else buys this place (anyone wanna lend me some $$?)
That's a real shame that place closes but they keep the old Sunrise Mall Cinema open; that leaves Cinedome as the main first-run theater in that area which I quit going to since they TWINNED one of their domes fairly recently (1992)!
Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 08-30-2000, 01:49 AM:
UA Greenback closed?!?!DAMMIT! To Sacramento with me! I need pics before they all go under!!!
I know Century just took over the Downtown Plaza -- I wonder if they're going to do anything special to it?
--Alright--
Heart attack over.
------------------
Scott D. Neff
----------------
www.cinema-west.com
Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 08-30-2000, 12:56 PM:
Century has already twinned every auditorium at Downtown Plaza 
(Just kidding!)
Posted by Kevin Crawford (Member # 469) on 08-31-2000, 01:32 AM:
Sorry, **** Heart attack begin *****Century do anything to a theatre if they have no competition.
***** End Heart Attack ******
Scott if your in town on the weekend, come see me at THE CAGE, Bird that is.
Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 12-14-2001, 09:41 AM:
Just got the word that Carmike is closing some more of it's Nashville locations.The Hermitage Four (which was open as recently as Thanksgiving)is now showing "CLOSED" on all four screens. This one actually hits home for me as I went to my very first "real date" at this theatre back in the early 80's.
With the closing of this theatre, and the recent closing of the "Regal Courtyard Cinema", it leaves no theatre operating within 12-15 miles of this northeast section of Davidson county.
Driving all over Nashville, the strip malls and some shopping malls are littered with the shells of closed theatres. Most of these old closed theatre buildings featured "sloping floors" in all of their auditoriums, so it's very doubtfull they would have any other viable use for a retail space without some very expensive remodeling. The land they sit on is definetley more valuable than the buildings themselves.
------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)
Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 12-14-2001, 03:53 PM:
The Hermitage 4 must have closed last night. Last Saturday's Tennessean on December 8 showed the Hermitage 4 showing Spy Game, Shallow Hal, Harry Potter, and Monsters, Inc.Can you somehow verify the closing date? I'm keeping up with those.
Here are some Nashville theatres I know about. If anyone can fill in any opening/closing dates (even approximate ones), or information about them. I'd much approciate it. Either e-mail me or post information here, since I'm considering giving the Nashville area the treatment I gave the Huntsville/Decatur/Shoals areas in the historical information section of my site. Any information I get before taking this on will save me time when I go to search the newspaper archives. Look here to see the type of information I like to collect, and in what detail.
Jerry Chase, this week, provided me with an excellent summary of some of the theatre changes and information about both older and newer theatres over the years in Birmingham. If anyone can do the same for Nashville, that would be wonderful.
Here are theatres I know about in Nashville. If you know any of the question marks (opening/closing dates), even approximate, let me know.
Carmike Cinema North 6 [Rivergate] (open ?, closed 9/12/2000)
Carmike Galleria 10 [Cool Springs] (open ?, closed 8/17/2000)
Carmike 6 [Harding Mall] (open ?, closed 8/24/2000)
Carmike Stones River 6 [Stones River Mall] (open ?, closed 8/24/2000)
Carmike Lion's Head 5 (open ?, closed ?)
Carmike WIlliamson Square 8 (opened 1988?, closed 11/23/1999)
Carmike Jackson Heights 6 (open ?, closed between 8/24 and 9/19, 2000?)
AMC/Carmike FOuntain Square 14 (open 1988?, closed January? 1999)
Carmike Thoroughbred 20 (opened November 1999)
Carmike Hickory Hollow 8 (opened ?)
Carmike Hermitage 4 (opened ?, closed 12/13/2001?)
Carmike Bellevue 8 (opened ?)
Carmike Bell Forge 10 (opened ?)
Carmike Rivergate 8 (opened ?)
Carmike Wynnsong 10 (opened ?)
Regal Hollywood 27 (opened Dec. 1997 or January 1998?)
Regal Courtyard 8 (closed between February 14 and 26, 2001?)
Watkins-Bellcourt [Hillsboro, used to be Carmike?] (open ?, closed ?)
Franklin Cinemas (opened ?)
Carmike Cinema South 4 [now Outer Limit] (open ?, closed 95/96?)
Carmike Bellcourt Twin (same as Watkins-Bellcourt?)
O'Neil Hickory Cinema 16 (open ?, closed mid-2000?)
Regal Nippers Corner 10 (open ?, closed 7/29/2001)
Carmike Wynnsong 16 [Murfreesboro] (open ?)
Franklin Drive-In (open ?, close ?)
Regal Bellevue Cinema 12 (open ?)
Regal Green Hills 16 (open late summer 1998)
Regal Indian Lake 10 [Hendersonville] (open ?)
Regal Opry Mills 20 (Opened May 2000?)
Springfield Cinema [Springfield] (open ?, closed ?)
Cheri Theatre [Murfreesboro] (open ?, closed?)
Watson Glen Cinema 10 [Franklin] (open ?, still there 95/96?)
Bell Road 4-5-6 , Mall Cinemas at Hickory Hollow Mall (open ?, still there 95/96?)
Plaza [Charlotte Pike] [2 screens] (open ?, still there 95/96?)
Valley Drive-In [?]
------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 07-02-2011, 01:53 AM:
It has been 3486 days since the last post.
Posted by Gregory Marshall (Member # 6346) on 07-02-2011, 01:53 AM:
Evans, here's what I know about some of the dates on these theatres:
Carmike Cinema North 6 [Rivergate] (open ?, closed 9/12/2000) Opened at the same time as Cinema South 4 (both were 4 screens at opening), June 1976, by Consolidated. Sold to Carmike late 1989.
Carmike Stones River 6 [Stones River Mall] (open ?, closed 8/24/2000) Opened late 1990 or early 1991 by Litchfield Theatres LTD. Litchfield sold to Carmike sometime later in 1991 or 1992.
Carmike Lion's Head 5 (open ?, closed ?) Opened in 1980 with 3 screens by Consolidated. Consolidated added 2 screens in the late 80's, and it sold to Carmike in late 1989.
Carmike WIlliamson Square 8 (opened 1988?, closed 11/23/1999) Opened Thanksgiving week, 1988, by Consolidated. Sold to Carmike late 1989.
AMC/Carmike FOuntain Square 14 (open 1988?, closed January? 1999) Opened November, 1987.
Carmike Bell Forge 10 (opened ?) Opened June 1983. Recently closed.
Regal Courtyard 8 (closed between February 14 and 26, 2001?) Opened at Thanksgiving, 1988 by Litchfield Theatres LTD.
Carmike Cinema South 4 [now Outer Limit] (open ?, closed 95/96?) See notes on Cinema North above. Building was demolished a few years ago.
Regal Indian Lake 10 [Hendersonville] (open ?) Opened late 1989 or early 1990, Litchfield Theatres LTD.
Bell Road 4-5-6 , Mall Cinemas at Hickory Hollow Mall (open ?, still there 95/96?) Hickory Hollow Mall Cinemas 1-2-3 opened in August of 1978. Bell Road Cinemas 4-5-6 opened at Christmas 1978. Both by Consolidated, bought by Carmike in late 1989. 1/2/3 were inside the mall, 4/5/6 were outside the mall.
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 07-02-2011, 03:36 AM:
Well, some of my posts in this thread are bit alarmist in a very embarrassing way. All I can say is please remember I was only 20 ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
.
Of course after emerging from bankruptcy I think Carmike had 3 profitable years and hasn't turned a profit since, so.....
Posted by Gregory Marshall (Member # 6346) on 07-02-2011, 09:07 AM:
Sorry, Dustin.... didn't mean to resurrect a 10-year old subject.... new to this forum, so I thought I'd update some opening/closing dates I knew about. I worked for Carmike at the Thoroughbred 20 in Franklin TN for two years, booth manager. That was 2002-2004, so I guess they had already emerged out of 'over-scrimping'.... just went back to 'scrimping'. Ha.
Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 07-06-2011, 12:20 PM:
Isn't there another thread called latest theatres to open or close on this topic?