Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Premiering 3/2 in NYC: The $10.00 ticket!

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Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 02-23-2001, 11:58 AM:

Loews/Cineplex has announced that effective March 2nd, all their New York City screens go from $9.50 to $10.00 for an adult ticket (children to $6.50). There are, of course, no "before 6:00" bargin shows. It is assumed that UA, AMC, Clearview and City will soon follow, as they always do.

That Chapter 11, it's an expensive thing. . .

(To add insult to injury, last Friday they shuttered the highly popular Worldwide, the only sub-run in town, and the most Moviefone requested house in the city).

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 02-23-2001, 12:57 PM:

10 bucks a pop is too high. I can imagine what their concession prices are. There is a limit to how much a person can pay for a ticket. I don't think you will see too much more of the parents bringing a carload of brats with them to see a movie.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-23-2001, 01:47 PM:

With decent "home theatre" setups costing less and less, and the price of DVDs often less than a pair of these $10 tickets, theatres need to offer much more than just a "night out". Video releases are the "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" for distributors, often making more money than the theatrical release, so "windows" are likely to continue shrinking to only a few months.

Does your theatre provide sound that clearly surpasses the quality that can now be enjoyed in most homes? Is your image quality an example of "Film Done Right" at its finest? Is a visit to your theatre a truly enjoyable experience, or will the audience find the experience mediocre or even unhappy? Does everyone in your theatre take pride that they work in "show business", or would they rather work at McDonald's or Burger King because the pay is better?

Remember, your biggest competitor isn't the theatre across town. It's the Blockbuster and Circuit City stores a few steps away from your theatre.

------------------
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 Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 02-23-2001, 02:29 PM:

They are throwing the "straw" and we will see whose back will be broken. When they went Chapter 11 the shares were .39 - 2 Adults and 2 Children Sm Coke Sm popcorn
Total $48.00 Equal to 123 Shares.

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 02-23-2001, 02:59 PM:

Seems somewhat of a parodox...

Theatres complain about low attendence figures, and sites them for the financial trouble that they are in.

What do the exhibitors do? Lower ticket prices to encourage more movie goers? Make changes to provide a better experience? Come up with speicals, promotions to attract people that would otherwise not patron them? Nope, D - None of the above.

People have decided that its just simpler (and cheaper) to walk into a nice clean Blockbuster to see a movie, than it is to deal with dirty theatres, poor management, scratched film, and the fistfull of other reasons that many exhibitors are in trouble, but the studios are doing well... I would never pay $10 to see a movie that I couldn't own. For a family of 4, 2 Adults and 2 Children at those prices it would be 33 just to get in the door! Not to mention the cost of a snack or 2.

Enough of that rant.... no wonder the industry is falling apart at the seams

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 02-23-2001, 03:37 PM:

For the past 3 years the individual show ticket has been $15 at the Telluride Film Festival. I recommended that price 4 years ago because I thought that $15 wasn’t too much for a special event. Ticket sales have increased each year and not too many people complain. I’m not a box office worker so what do I know?

My personal threshold for a movie ticket has been $10 for a few years as well. NYC has been at $9 for about 3 years now. I watched Boogey Nights at Sony/Lowe’s Lincoln Center and spent that much.

In 1985 I used to have breakfast for $2, lunch for $5 and dinner for $10. Now Breakfast cost $8, lunch costs $10 and dinner seems to run $20. In 1985 in Denver tickets were $4, which was my hourly wage as an assistant manager. They went to $5 the next year and to $6 in 1990. I remember $7 as happening around 1995 and we just went to $8 last month. By the way we are paying our assistant managers $7.50 but California minimum wage, which went to $6.25 this year, is going to $6.75 next year. So I’m thinking the assistant managers will be making $8 next year.

The price of natural gas has doubled this year and our PG&E bill has gone up 50%. They haven’t been able to pass on the electricity debacle yet. Gasoline went up in the past five year. 8 years ago I purchased a house for $85,000, now I live in a place where the median house costs $300,000. In 1990 I rented a one bedroom apartment for $270 per month. Now I share a house with two other people and pay $800 per month for the privlege of keeping out of the rain.

The lease for the theatre I worked at in 1987 was $750 per month. They increased it when it was twinned. We closed a theatre in 1986 because the bastard of a landlord wanted $1,000 per month! Our little 5-plex costs us $11,000 per month for the lease and has a cost of living clause.

Broadway tickets used to cost $50 and now cost $100. Concert tickets used to cost $25 and now command $50. I went to Kiss in 1977 for $15.

I used to go skiing for $20 now it costs $50. My 1980 Honda cost somebody $4,500 now you can get one for $15,450. I bought my last bicycle in 1990 and it cost me the princely sum of $600. That same type of bike today costs $900.

Magazines now seem to cost $4-$5 where they used to cost $2-$3 and they are still paid for by the advertisements. The newspaper used to cost a quarter and now it’s 50c. Paperback books used to cost $3.99 now they seem to cost $7.99.

Gee: When you look at it that way, the fact that movie tickets have doubled in price in the past 15 years during the longest period of economic expansion in recorded history, it doesn’t seem to be that big a deal.

Time passes, prices go up, get over it! Enjoy the coming recession.

Posted by Richard C. Wolfe (Member # 431) on 02-23-2001, 11:09 PM:

Ian:

Even after having read everything that you just said about inflation I still think that $10.00 is too much... no make that WAY too much.

The big difference is that most of the things you mentioned are things that we need to live... housing, food, fuel etc. No one needs movies, and there are many other outlets for them for those who think they do.

I think lower prices would bring back many lost patrons. But then again, I'm delighted to see lots of publicity about $10.00 tickets... it makes my $2.50 adult price look pretty good as I still get complaints from patrons for abandoning my former $1.00 price five years ago.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 02-24-2001, 12:00 AM:

It might be noteworthy to add this:

1. Wages are not staying in step with price increases in much of the country.
2. DVD rentals have hit the market for 2.50 per movie.
3. Increase in necessity items have skyrocketed.
4. 75% of the crap on the big screen is not even worth a buck to see.

5. Patrons have alienated the theaters because of: (not necessarily in order)
a. High ticket prices
b. Rude staff
c. Crappy sound
d. Crappy picture quality
e. Filthy auditoriums
f. High concession prices
g. Rude Patrons
h. Crappy projection

6. People are becoming more conscious on what they are spending ther money on.

This list could go on and on. It is breaking our backs. Most theater chains don't care about anything except the bottom line, even though they are turning a profit. They are greedy, and want more. They even balk at buying a new Xenon bulb. They are too cheap to keep the equipment running at its peak and maximum efficiency. They are using bubble gum to repair the broken super glue repair jobs.

There is no way on this earth I would spend 10 bucks a ticket to watch a movie that will be screwed up by incompetent booth or staff personnel, no matter how good the movie is.

I am pro-union, always have been, and always will be. I will watch a movie in a theater if it is staffed with a professional projectionist that knows what he/she is doing! But as far as theaters that do not believe in professionalism (and you know who they are), I would not be willing to give them the time of day.

I had a short stint with a theater chain where the district manager flat told me that if I maintained my union card, I could not work for that company. What a loser that guy was!

In my booth days, I was always willing and happy to really train prospective projectionists. When it comes to the booth, my standards are, and always will be, very high. It is our industry that depends on that. I think all the union projectionists in these forums will agree with me, and we don't like settling for hind tit! I was trained by professional projectionists, and they were tough breed because they believe in professionalism! I am proud of being called a PROFESSIONAL PROJECTIONIST!

I spoke my piece, accept it or reject it, it is your choice. For the beginners, be proud of what you are doing, and strive for perfection. Your performance will become better as you gain experience.

Remember - it is YOUR show. It is not Regal's, Cineplex, Carmike, or anybody else's. It is YOUR show. The quality of the performance represents you as the projectionist. Be proud of it.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-24-2001, 06:51 AM:

I think Paul is right on. I'd pay $10 to see a really good film presented properly ("film done right," preferably 70mm mag, along with clean auditoria, comfortable seats, courteous employees, etc.). I won't pay $10 to see <insert name of bad movie here> at the local gigaplex.

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 02-24-2001, 07:02 PM:

Richard,

Oh my God! Your tickets have gone up 150% in five years! Ticket prices in NYC have only gone up 60% in the past 15 years. I'm not proud of how low it started, but my salary has gone up 500% in the past 15 years. I still can't afford car pay payments or a mortgage in this town.

Lets see, what has happened in movie theatres in the past 15 years that I have been involved in the industry?

My first theatre was Carbon Arc, Mono, Single screen, Super Simplex, Cold in the winter, Warm in the Summer, and the urinal leaked (with the requisite smell). And I loved it. Tickets cost in Denver cost$4, and in NYC they cost $6.

A year later I was introduced to the Xenon Lamp. The next year I discovered the platter. Oh my God! We got Dolby Stereo (A used CP50 installed my friend with a Who tape to equalize by). Then they came out with SR noise reduction. By 1990 I had 70mm and a two-plex. In 1990, I got to work with ORC's Cinemas Digital Sound. In 1992 I was introduced to the concept of the 10-plex and a technician who had been to Dolby school and TXH training and had the tools to back it up. The following year I opened a 12-plex and somebody showed up with a Dolby digital system. Not to be out done, then came SDDS and DTS. Then they dropped a few big fat video projectors on us. Not to mention that the lenses have gotten better. There has been a good bit of progress in the presentation of motion pictures in the past 15 years. Now tickets in Denver cost $8, in San Francisco tickets cost $9, and in NYC they cost $10. New York is a very expensive city.

Earlier this year I tried to do a survey to find out what tickets cost around the world, but people didn't write back much. I think somebody said that they were $12-$14 Canadian Dollars in the big cities in Canada.

Ok, last stupid example. I get to see screenings for free at the Century screening room. (See Pictures in the Picture section.) It is 45 miles from my house. Norge gets 17 miles per gallon and fuel costs $1.75 at the moment. It cost me $9.26 just to see Monkey Bone! Ok, I do regret that.

But I would spend $10 to see a film that interested me, in a good theatre on “Film done right.”

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 02-24-2001, 09:01 PM:

Tickets for many events seem to be going through the roof, making that $10 for a movie seem almost inexpensive. Locally, there is a U2 concert coming, and a friend just gladly paid $130 for a ticket. And tenor Andrea Bocelli has a concert scheduled, with a top ticket price of $375. And the booker at the arena has said that these ultra-expensive seats are usually the first to sell out.

Mark Lensenmayer

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-24-2001, 09:59 PM:

Like Scott and Paul, I would gladly pay a few dollars more per ticket if I knew it would mean a flawless presentation.

What if... theatres charged $2.00 more per ticket for a flawlessly presented 70mm print of one of the "big" movies expected later this year (e.g., "Pearl Harbor" or "Lord of the Rings")? $1.00 would go to the distributor, to offset the extra cost of the 70mm print. The other extra dollar would help the theatre defray any extra cost of maintaining the 70mm equipment (they may need to install a DTS reader), and perhaps have an additional (and 70mm-experienced) person in the booth to monitor and tweek presentation quality. And, what if... the 70mm release was exclusive for the first week or two, in other words, a SPECIAL EVENT, like these movies used to be?

Not only would such an special event platform release build interest in the picture, but would remind people that 70mm used to mean this picture was "something special".

Would something like this be worth trying? Would it work?

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 02-25-2001, 09:44 AM:

I don't think that I have paid for a movie in over 40 years, and I usually go in New York City. Even though the raise in ticket prices won't effect me, I have seen some awfull presentations that I wish I could get my money back.

It's not always the presentation thats bad but the content of the film stinks.

New Yorks will complain for two days and then pay the price.

What the theatres owners have to fear is the local government stepping in and adding an amusement tax. Then watch the owners cry.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-25-2001, 09:47 AM:

I would pay extra to see Pearl Harbor in 70mm, if the theatre really did put on a good presentation. Ideally, they would release the 70mm prints a week or two before the general release (aren't the 35mm prints supposed to be IB Tech?) and show them at slightly higher prices at the best theatres in the top markets, before the regular prints get to every gigaplex in the country.

I am really hoping that the 2001 reissue scheduled for this year will be 70mm, and that some effort will be made to ensure that these prints remain in good condition for years to come.

Posted by Richard C. Wolfe (Member # 431) on 02-26-2001, 12:26 AM:

It's easy to establish figures that appear to support whatever it is that you want to support.

Ian mentioned that my ticket prices have gone up 150% over the past five years. The previous 25 years they went up 0% when most others went up 100% or more. When I began my $1.00 admission policy in 1970, most theatres were getting $2.50, therefore the savings was 60%, now the other theatres are up to $7.50 while I'm at $2.50, therefore the savings at my theatre is now 66%... an even better deal then before. It's all how you crunch the numbers.

Since all of us are in this business we want to justify our prices to ourselves, whatever they are, but that is not what is important. Can we justify our prices to our patrons? I think not. We keep saying that if we give the best presentation with the finest state of the art equipment, operated by attentive caring managers and projectionists in a comfortable, clean and attractive enviorment, people won't mind shelling out whatever high price we establish.

Why is it then that EVERY time we raise our prices, our attendance goes down. Yes, we still bring in the same grosses, but we have less people to buy our refreshments. We then have to raise those prices to make up for that loss as well, and we therefore chase more people away to home video etc.

I have operated 18 theatres over the past thirty five years... indoors, drive-ins, first runs, 2nd runs and discounts, single screen and multi-screen and EVERY time I've raised prices, attendance fell... and EVERY time I lowered prices attendance rose.

Wouldn't you prefer to fill your theatres more often at a lower price then run them half empty (or less) with a higher price. More patrons creates more interest in movies, and brings those people back more often. Chasing away people does just the opposite.

Of course, my point of view is based on my concern for the industry as a whole. Putting that aside, and thinking only of myself, I'm delighted to see everyone else continue to raise their prices... it just keeps sending more people to my theatre. I've always enjoyed a much larger ratio of filled seats then any other theatre in my area, and that's even after considering the fact that I have far more seats then any of the newer theatres in my area. I guess you can all help me to continue that trend. Just keep raising those prices!

Posted by Heyward Garner (Member # 722) on 02-26-2001, 12:43 AM:

Ticket prices down here run $4.50 for children, $7.00 for adults. All shows before 6 are $4.50.
Chapter 11 is a major crutch, but I do not believe that is entirely the reason for raising prices. For example: our 12-plex was upgraded to stadium seating 2 years ago. We lost somewhere around 500 seats doing so... That means to cut the same money we were before, we have to have some way to do so.
Also, I believe that another problem is the patron return rate. Granted PLENTY of people are repeat customers, but it is very very very slowly on the decline. Reasons:
1)Theatre was messy.
2)Lousy floor staff (essentially all aspects. I am not speaking for our entire floor staff, just most.)
3)Bad service all the way around.
4)Poor environment (aka messy bathrooms and way too crowded hallways due to the lack of floor staff telling people NOT to stand around right outside the entryway to an auditorium.)
Now unfortunately all of these things, I cannot control. I am very proud of all aspects of my presentations. I do not believe that to be reason for our patrons not to return. I am not too comfortable placing the blame entirely on the floor staff, because even if one of my presentations is 110% perfect, if a patron wants to complain then dammit they will complain. (I think that's just for free tickets though =) )
One other aspect to take into consideration, everything up north is a *HELL* of a lot more expensive than down south. A pack of Camel Lights up there (if you can even find them) cost me over FIVE DOLLARS after tax, when I can get them here for $2.10 including tax...
Apart from the afore mentioned, I am certain that Chapter 11 plays a role, but we cannot go and point fingers in just one place. At my theatre we do our best to run promotions and other gimmicks (matinee bargain, concessions combos etc) to keep the patrons coming back for more.

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 02-26-2001, 03:53 PM:

Ok, I admit it. I do love statistical lies.

In China a few chains recently halved the ticket price and attendance tripled or better. You can't charge more than the market will bear. I have seen lines around the block at a "dollar house." I have also seen that dollar house close because they couldn't, or chose not to afford even the most rudimentary, basic maintenance.

We haven't been in business since 1970. We signed our lease in the year 2000. We have a bargain Tuesday were all films are $5 and attendance doubles. We have a discount card where you can see any film you like, at any time, for $5.40 if you will only pony up for five admissions at one time. I am not a heartless capitalist. Remember, I can't afford a house in this town. I'm just living in reality.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-26-2001, 05:43 PM:

Historically in Canada at least the admission to a movie was equal to the real (not legal) minimum wage for an hour
Our legal minimum wage is 6.75 but in fact you can't get anyone for under 10.00 now
addmission prices usually tracked that except now it is $12.00.
When we have had historically much of a increase above the norm attendance has suffered. Especially since they are planning a nother increase

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 02-26-2001, 09:12 PM:

Here's something I just picked up:

Cash-strapped theater chain Loews Cineplex Entertainment said last week that it will charge $10 for a movie ticket in Manhattan.

The increase, the first in two years, will boost the price by 50 cents.

The company cited higher real estate and labor costs in Gotham.

In Los Angeles, Loews Cineplex tickets will rise to $9 from $8.75. It remains to be seen which other big theater chains follow suit and whether the extra cash will pull the exhibition biz out of its malaise, which has seen at least six chains file for Chapter 11.

I might add that according to a poll of 6,959 people, 4540 (62.5%) said they would be willing to pay 5 to 7 bucks a ticket. 621 (8.9%) would be willing to pay 8 to 10 bucks a ticket. 36 (.05%) said they would pay 11 to 13 bucks a ticket. 109(1.6%) people would pay any amount, because they love movies. 1,653 (23.8%) would rather watch TV.

I would guess this a random poll, so how accurate it is remains to be seen.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 02-26-2001, 11:52 PM:

It seems to me they have missed 2 things.
1 the box office isn't where the real profit
is.
2 The less the patron drops at the box, the
more they spend at the concession.
Face it, this is not the movie business, it's really the snack food business with movies shown to bring customers to the concession with admission charged to satisfy film distributors. If no admission were charged, food sales would probably go up 300% and profits accordingly.

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 06-02-2001, 12:38 PM:

Seems that the $10 ticket hasn't hurt Loews yet as far as packing them in

Loews Lincoln Square did better than the AMC Empire and UA Union Square for Pearl Harbor on Memorial Day.

Posted by Joe Schmidt (Member # 822) on 06-05-2001, 12:58 AM:

There's a carmike dollar house here in Billings, and I drove by it earlier this evening on the way back home after picking up 2 dozen more blank films at Target, and the parking lot was full.

Further affiant sayeth naught.

Posted by Peter Berrett (Member # 672) on 06-05-2001, 05:55 AM:

Interestingly here in Australia we have a new trend emerging. I don't know whether this is a worldwide trend or not.

Our cinema chains are now building smaller cinemas (28 recliner seats per theatrette) to cater for a more upmarket crowd. The szeats are more luxurious, the screen wall to wall eg
http://www.biziworks.com.au/sites/BiziGen?ownerID=REA000&docID=40

Obviously the cinemas charge more for these privileges. I have yet to spoil myself but I hope to sample what the various cinemas have on offer over the next few months.

I like the concept. I just hope that they have sessions that are reasonably priced.

cheers Peter

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 04-24-2002, 06:30 PM:

Landmark opened its Sunshine Cinemas in NYC last Xmas with a $10 adult ticket.

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 04-24-2002, 07:00 PM:

Prices vary in NZ depending on the day you view and the time of day ,$10 to $11 and with the New Luxury small cinemas with hostess service about $25 ,then Monday & Tues can be $7 all Day and some charge Matinee before 5pm , so you need to shop around ,but I only go to the BEST presentation no matter the cost, when I was in Hawaii I was supprised at the cost of the Matinee $4.25 WOW I'd go to the movies every day (Dole Cannery 18)

------------------
A KIWI eats,roots & Leaves.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 04-24-2002, 07:18 PM:

Looking at pricing on advance tickets for "Lilo and Stitch", The El Capitan's general admission is $14. They also have $24 tickets, which gets you no waiting in line, reserved "best seat in the house", popcorn, and a drink. Apparently they let these ticket holders in ahead of everyone else. Kind of like how first-class ticket holders get to board the plane first.

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 04-24-2002, 09:50 PM:

Their reserved section seats are gold and the "regular" seats are green, although there is no conmfort difference between them. Usually they will have some special attraction (i.e.- stage show, mini-amusement park next door or in back) as an added attraction when they charge those kind of prices. Also, a live organist performs on the mighty Wurlitzer.

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 04-29-2002, 08:36 PM:

I do think that there are many sides to the coin.

In the 1950s, several wide screen formats, 3-D and other goodies were developed to lure people back into the theater and away from the new "wonder", television.

So how do we now lure people back into the theater?

1) EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT!! EXCELLENT!!! presentation with the booth being run by craftspeople at an approperiate salary! But on the other hand, if an organization such as IATSE were to come back into promenance, then they have to change their ways and quit the negative behavior that got them into trouble in the first place! Furthermore, labor unions and trade organizations are the way to go for apprentiship training!

When Cineplex came to Tucson, they are the ones who first started to dismiss the union projectionists. There were many stories in our local newspapers/news media about this. In any case, the big shots with Cineplex were quoted at the time as saying that since booths are totally automated, it only takes a concession stand kid 30 seconds to thread up a machine which does not need to be attended to!

Tear down some of these multi plexes and rebuild some of the origonal big single and two screen theaters with 70mm capability!

Too many of todays films are horrible..badly recycled plots, bad script writing, so so acting that relies too much on technology! And yet todays films cost millions! Hell, can you really compare Pearl Harbor against TORA,TORA, TORA!?

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 04-29-2002, 11:29 PM:

Hell yes I can compare.
Tora was an average movie that had limited sucess at the box office.
From memory $15 million.

Pearl Harbor was an average film that pulled in $75 million on it's first weekend.

Don't forget that no matter how good a movie is, if no one comes to see it you have empty screens for a week.

For me it's an easy way to go broke.

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 04-30-2002, 04:37 PM:

What I am getting at is Tora, Tora, Tora along with Midway and some others were for the most part HISTORICALLY ACCURATE films which is more than what can be said of Pearl Harbor!

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 07-05-2002, 05:21 PM:

The UA Union Square is now $10 for an adult ticket. That doesn't seem to bother New Yorkers -- on my way out of Sunshine State yesterday I heard a woman moan that there were 200 people in line.

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 07-28-2002, 11:43 AM:

The AMC Empire has now gone to $10.

As with the UA Union Square the born-and-bred New Yorkers don't seem to mind.

Posted by Peter Dougherty (Member # 686) on 07-29-2002, 12:34 AM:

quote:
The AMC Empire has now gone to $10.
As with the UA Union Square the born-and-bred New Yorkers don't seem to mind.

Since the average 2-BR apartment rent in Manhattan is over $3,000 a month, a room in a major hotel chain in Midtown regularly goes for $350 a night and 2 hours of parking can cost upwards of $30 (+ the 18.75% parking tax!), suddenly $10 for a movie doesn't seem like too bad a deal anymore.

I would object to paying that for a lousy presentation in a crappy theatre, but at the newest plexes with all the toys, that's a pretty fair price for New York, indeed.

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 07-29-2002, 09:19 AM:

I agree. The presentation I saw at the Empire 25 was just about perfect. Add that to the leather seats (do they actually have these in all theatres, or were a couple of "premium screens" converted to reg. admission?) And, at least the auditorium I was in featured common height screens instead of this new trend of common width.

Posted by Peter Hall (Member # 695) on 07-29-2002, 10:16 AM:

Here in London ticket prices are scary. AAssuming £GBP1 = $USD1.50, the average ticket price for a multiplex in London is £6 $9, and out of London £5 $7.50. In Leicester Square the Odeon charges £11 for the circle ($16.50), with the Warner and Empire not far behind. Fair to pay a good price if the presentation is good and the cinema spectacular, but £11 is a high price to pay to sit and listen to tube trains ! In my mind the Empire, at £9 or $13.50, remains the best theatre in the square, with a large, well lit screen and the ambience of a 1300 seat hall..

I guess prices are relavant to wages and the cost of living - although I'd be interested to see how the wages paid to NYC projectionists relates to ticket price.

Three (or five) screen conversions remain the main local alternative to multiplexes, and often screen 1 remains a good bet if it uses the original prosc width and circle seating..

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 08-06-2002, 04:08 PM:

Here in Honolulu, I think the prices is the lowest in the nation for a major city. Adult price is $8.00 with military and senior citizen prices discounted at $4.50. Only Pacific's theatres at the new Ward 16 and the Waikiki theatres-#1,#2.#3 charge twenty five cents more for all tickets. All of our theatres in Hawaii have bargain maitnees at $4.50 for the first showing of the day, seven days a week fopr all movies. The only movie theatre to charge $10.00 for each adult admission is the the Waikiki IMAX. For seniors like myself, there is a dollar discount which I do not think amount to very much and that is the reason I do not watch too many IMAX films anymore. The only IMAX films I have seen or will see is "BEAUTY & THE BEAST", the upcoming "APOLLO 13", "LION KING" and special films in 3-D.

-Claude