This is topic Benefit "Day At The Movies" to aid disaster victims in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-19-2001, 03:12 PM:
Received the following note and Press Release from Dan Klusmann (publisher of the Independent Marketing Edge). Sounds like a great idea, we will be participating. How about everyone else here?------------------------------------------------
NATO is sponsoring a Victims' Benefit Day at the Movies on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Participation is open to all theatres (including non-NATO members). A press release has been prepared (shown below) which may be released after 1:00 p.m. (PST) today. NATO is contacting distribution to ask them to waive film rental for that day. So far the response has been positive. Participating theatres should contact NATO so that they can be listed on the Web site.
Press Release:
The members of America's movie theatre industry, like all Americans, were deeply saddened by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We wish to express our heartfelt sympathy to all those whose lives were so painfully altered by last week's terrible events in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. We also recognize and commend the heroic efforts of the individuals and organizations who have worked so tirelessly in the rescue and relief operations.
We want to help the cause. Tuesday, September 25th, 2001 will be "Victims' Benefit Day at the Movies." On that day, 100% of ticket and concession sales at participating movie theatres will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and the September 11th Fund of the United Way.
A list of participating theatre companies will be available on the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) website (natoonline.org).
For further information about the benefit contact {insert local theatre name} or the National Association of Theatre Owners.
Contact:
John Fithian
President
National Association of Theatre Owners
North Hollywood, California
(818) 506-1778
Posted by Kristin Wahlund (Member # 922) on 09-19-2001, 04:19 PM:
Regal Cinemas is having "red white and blue day" this friday, the 21st. they are donating 50¢ of each popcorn purchase to the red cross releif.
Way to go Regal!
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 09-19-2001, 10:57 PM:
According to www.cinemark.com Cinemark is donating 100% of the box office AND concession revenues on September 25 to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and the United Way.That's pretty generous, I think, even though it is a Tuesday.
Posted by John Scott (Member # 520) on 09-20-2001, 11:48 AM:
Marcus is also participating on September 25th.
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 09-20-2001, 06:40 PM:
Carmike is participating also. It is up to us managers to promote this to the hilt. We need to get as many people in the theatres on Tuesday as we can.
Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-21-2001, 01:36 AM:
LCE Is also participating------------------
--Sean McKinnon
Manager
Loews Cineplex Entertainment
Liberty Tree Mall 20
Danvers, Mass
www.enjoytheshow.com
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 09-21-2001, 08:25 AM:
AMC Theatres and National Amusements are participating.
Posted by Gordon Hedges III (Member # 863) on 09-21-2001, 05:55 PM:
CROWN THEATRES has joined. 
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-21-2001, 06:10 PM:
GCC is apparently doing this, too.
Here's the list:
http://www.natoonline.org/participating.htm
Posted by Mathew Molloy (Member # 666) on 09-21-2001, 06:15 PM:
Landmark Theatres is also participating by donating 100% of ticket and concession sales.
Posted by Zach Zagar (Member # 379) on 09-21-2001, 08:38 PM:
Count Goodrich Quality Theaters in too.
Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 09-22-2001, 12:18 AM:
Muller Family Theaters has joined the team.------------------
http://www.mullerfamilytheatres.com
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-22-2001, 01:08 AM:
United Artists is in.
Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 09-22-2001, 01:35 AM:
Regal is also in as well on the 25th.------------------
Chris Duvall
General Manager
Regal Cinemas Colonnade14
Las Vegas, NV
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 09-22-2001, 04:28 PM:
We went round and round on this one. First Ky thought we should do it, but I was opposed because we weren't involved in the decision. Then Ky was opposed because NATO hadn't cleared it with the smaller distributors who control many of our films. Then the newspaper published an article saying that all the theatres including us were going to participate without calling us. So what we have decided to do is to make a large donation to the cause but not to give all of our Tuesday Grosses and Concessions. It will probably be equal to between 25% and 50% of our business.
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-22-2001, 08:53 PM:
According to a NATO fax I received yesterday, over 27,000 screens are participating as of yesterday. I'm sure it's more now. Given that there are about 36,000 screens in the USA, I think that's an outstanding response.I can't believe some distributors are too cheap to waive their film rental (or at least discount it) for that ONE day. [rant mode suppressed]
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 09-22-2001, 10:47 PM:
So, which distributors are not helping out? Like the answer is going to surprise me ... 
Posted by Paul Salley (Member # 740) on 09-23-2001, 01:48 AM:
Kerasotes Theatres is also helping out. On September 25th 100% of ticket and concession sales at all Kerasotes Theatres will be donated.
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-24-2001, 01:41 PM:
Now over 30,000 screens, and more 400 theatre companies (chains and indies) are in. To see a list, go to www.natoonline.org/participating Participating distributors are listed at www.natoonline.org/participatingdist (It includes all the majors except Fox...what's up with them?)
My employees also surprised me by offering to donate their wages for the night to the cause.
We had a couple of customers last night who said they couldn't come on Tuesday and gave us some extra cash to put into the donation.
The best thing about this tragedy is it really is bringing out the best in people! 
Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-24-2001, 07:46 PM:
I really wish I could support this cause, but there just isn't any decent product out there to go see. This is about the worst I have EVER seen it. We didn't even get GLITTER around here so I could go have a few laughs.Anyway, its nice to see the industry pitch in and help out. It must be so incredibly awful to be one of the families with missing loved ones.
Mark Lensenmayer
Oh, well...I went anyway. Saw RUSH HOUR 2. Good for a few laughs, anyway. Still weird seeing the building explosions, though. Looked to be a pretty good turn out at the theatre (A 24-plex near a large university.) The donated evening was mentioned on TV news, but no mention at all in the newspaper.
Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-24-2001, 10:46 PM:
My staff and managers is volunteering thier time to come and work.------------------
--Sean McKinnon
Manager
Loews Cineplex Entertainment
Liberty Tree Mall 20
Danvers, Mass
www.enjoytheshow.com
Posted by Mathew Molloy (Member # 666) on 09-25-2001, 01:38 AM:
I just found out someone wanted to buy every seat in the house at one of our theatres.