Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Regal replacing concession stand menu boards with video screens?

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-01-2009, 08:06 PM:

Regal 15 in Eugene recently replaced their "static" menu boards behind the concession stand with a bank of Sony LCD monitors. The bank of monitors runs the entire length of the concessions stand. Some of the screens display prices, while others have animated Coke promotions and similar stuff. It's actually kind of cool.

Is this a "test", or is it already demonstrated that using these video screens will improve the per-caps for concessions?

They also took out all the MasterCard PayPass debit card readers. Am I the only person who liked those?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-02-2009, 12:19 AM:

Our small circuit has been using 42" monitors for menu boards for almost a year-hooked up to DVD players with animated menu information produced using PowerPoint software.

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 03-02-2009, 02:21 PM:

Not a test. I am getting my screens for my site next month. The displays are connected to the computer systems therefore the prices will be updated automatically whenever there are prices changes. They are VERY nice.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 03-02-2009, 03:39 PM:

We have four monitors across the stand, two with the film times (we sell tickets at the stand) and two with concessions promotions. They look pretty good. Also have several static boards as well. One obvious benefit of monitors is being able to change the adverts depending on the time of day.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 03-02-2009, 07:45 PM:

Digital signage is the "hot ticket" in the Audio Visual / I.T. market for the past two years....appearing in the exhibition market shows it is now pretty mainstream.......

Posted by Phil Blake (Member # 2012) on 03-02-2009, 10:51 PM:

I have just recently set up a foyer display for coming attractions.
i used a LCD TV and a WD hard drive media player . these litle guys are great , just load up what ever pics or video files you need onto a USB hard drive then connect it to the media player and TV and away you go no discs to worry about.

can set it up to play in a loop and comes with conversion software.

link below from WD web site explains more.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?DriveID=572

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 2038) on 03-05-2009, 12:48 PM:

I don't mind these new menu boards. Even the grocery stores have them at the checkouts.

What I don't like is programming that strobes, it is hard on the eyes for those forced to be around them all day or night.

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 03-05-2009, 02:12 PM:

This is one of those things that I really long for -- yet I can't decide if it's because of it's nifty nature or if it's really a good tool.

I don't trust the marketing hype. So...Anybody want to weigh in on whether or not these have improved your per-caps after conversion from static menus?

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-07-2009, 02:58 PM:

For most of Regal's theatres this is an improvement, however for some of the Edwards locations it isn't. Edwards menu boards were ornate and had fiber optic stars on the sides. They matched the theming and personality of Edward's later builds (1997-2001). It saddens me to think they will be replaced with plain old flat screen monitors. Lobby theming seems to be a dieing art as advertising pushes more and more into every facet of the moviegoing experience.

On the other hand, I recently deployed a digital poster box at my current theatre which I am very proud of. It's run off a mac mini with Keynote slides. I can import poster artwork, place a trailer somewhere on the poster, and customize text such as dates and showtimes. It faces the street and a lot of people stop to look at it.

Posted by Kevin Fairchild (Member # 4985) on 03-07-2009, 08:22 PM:

Mike, Where do you get high resolution artwork or posters for your digital poster display?

Posted by Tristan Lane (Member # 1169) on 03-08-2009, 12:33 PM:

Mike,

I think the Mac Mini / Keynote combo will be the choice for independents out there wanting to take advantage of digital signage. I would suggest to anyone wanting to develop their own digital signage to go that route. It is also one of the most user friendly options out there.

Keynote is so robust and able when compared to powerpoint. We are working on converting all of our signage over to Keynote in the near future. Mac Mini's are at a great price point for what you get as well. [thumbsup]

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-08-2009, 08:29 PM:

We have an account at Movieposterdb.com for high rez posters.

Keynote is definitely a good solution. Make sure you get one of the newer mac minis though or you'll be stuck at 720p.

Posted by Michael McGovern (Member # 4807) on 03-11-2009, 09:44 PM:

Just to chime in briefly, I believe that the Digital Menu Boards regal has installed were all financed by Coca Cola, and are only going into the busiest 50% of the company.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-11-2009, 10:58 PM:

quote: Michael McGovern
I believe that the Digital Menu Boards regal has installed were all financed by Coca Cola

Well that would explain the colorful animated Coke ads running on them.

Posted by Jillian Brock (Member # 4709) on 04-14-2009, 09:41 AM:

The screens are really nice, but I'm sure my theatre will not get them as we are one of four theatres in the entire company that does not have DCN. Yes.. we do have the roller coaster! [Smile]

As for PayPass, in the three or so years that those things were installed, I came across ONE customer who had the paypass chip in his card. No one else could use them anyway.

Posted by Imran Mumtaz (Member # 5227) on 04-22-2009, 06:45 AM:

Hi every one, I am new in the multilplex cinema;s industry.A great Idea to use LCD in concession stand. What I am planning to Install small LCD'S in each gents Urinal top. You can RUN all of your adds, Trailors and promote your concession products even you are in toilets. [beer]

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 04-22-2009, 04:16 PM:

On my last visit to Regal 15 in Eugene, the recurring video for Freschetta Pizza was taking up every screen so the menu and prices disappeared completely for seconds at a time. Seems like a bad idea to me, might annoy customers and slow down the concession lines.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-22-2009, 04:39 PM:

"Video" menu boards are OK if they're not moving and changing all the time. It's hard enough to figure out what you want among the combos, sizes and such while some concessionaire is saying "May I help you?!" and people behind you are growing impatient, if the sign disappears every few seconds.

Posted by John Joseph Fink (Member # 3619) on 04-22-2009, 09:31 PM:

I was at the UA/REG at Union Square recently and the whole set would change for the advertisements for seconds at a time. I tried the horrible Freschetta Pizza and had 4 minutes to wait while it "baked" so I watched the whole cycle. Amongst the ads, where the menu with prices (and calorie count in NYC) disappears were for coke, modeled on a caped super hero, a pirate themed popcorn ad "Kernels of the Caribbean" and the pizza ad. Did I mention the pizza was really awful. I was there on a slow night, but I'd hope the video menu boards wouldn't lead to slower lines at what is one of the most popular theaters in the country.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 04-23-2009, 06:47 AM:

quote: John Joseph Fink
Did I mention the pizza was really awful

Maybe they are preparing them incorrectly there?

I have to tell a story about the Freschetta Pizzas. My theatre was acquired by REG last May. One of the first things that was changed is that we went from "Uno" brand pizzas to "Freschetta" brand pizzas. The first issue was that it took longer for the new pizzas to cook. 3:55 as compared to 1:00. I was not a fan of the new pizzas UNTIL - I tried one. Now, I am a fan and purchase the Freschetta brand even at my local grocery store for home.The quality and taste far rival that of the "Uno" brand and it is worth 2:55 extra minutes of my time. Most theatres have now been equipped with warmers so that, theoretically, pizzas can be pre-made so there is no long wait.

As far as the menu boards go: my theatre has switched over to the video monitors also. I don't mind them. The people that complain are the same people who stand in line for a period of time and don't make their mind until after you ask them what they would like. Meaning that they stood in line without even contemplating what they are buying until someone asks them. These would also be the same people who show up to a movie theatre's box office, stand in line, and get to the cashier and then ask "Hmm, what movies are good?".

I'm sorry, am I the only person on the planet that knows what movie I am going to see - before I leave my house? Seeing a movie at a movie theatre is not a compulsive buy.....

Anyways.........

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 04-23-2009, 10:14 AM:

quote: Dennis Benjamin
I'm sorry, am I the only person on the planet that knows what movie I am going to see - before I leave my house? Seeing a movie at a movie theatre is not a compulsive buy.....

Having run the same theatre for 24 years, I can tell you that, for some, it is.

Several times a year, people will arrive at our boxoffice, having somehow missed our phone and newspaper ads, our web site, readerboard and boxoffice posters. They'll discuss, while in line, what they want to see. This usually happens only on our busiest nights, when the cars are lined up to the highway, and the time of their discussion will usually run in direct proportion to the length of said lines!

Posted by Steve Anderson (Member # 364) on 05-05-2009, 06:14 PM:

Jillian Brock

quote:
The screens are really nice, but I'm sure my theatre will not get them as we are one of four theatres in the entire company that does not have DCN. Yes.. we do have the roller coaster!

Jillian don't feel bad, here in Nashville Regal built a 16 screen all digital theatre and in less than two months they pulled 14 digital projectors to distribute to other theatres.
Now they have only two digital screens.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 05-06-2009, 02:20 PM:

quote: Dennis Benjamin
I'm sorry, am I the only person on the planet that knows what movie I am going to see - before I leave my house? Seeing a movie at a movie theatre is not a compulsive buy.....

Say you have a 14-20 plex. Kids arrive knowing what they're going to see, but often don't know the showtimes until they get there. So they spend time staring at the readerboard figuring out which show they want to go to (because their movie is on three screens and starts in 30, 60, and 90 minutes), then they buy their tickets, and either go right then and there or go off to dinner first if they decided on a later show.

This is especially common in malls.

Having no permanent display showing the showtimes would be annoying as hell. It's annoying enough as it is at the local Cinemarkury, where the red LED board rotates the displayed showtimes. You're reading it, and suddenly it changes.

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 05-06-2009, 02:48 PM:

quote: Steve Anderson
Jillian don't feel bad, here in Nashville Regal built a 16 screen all digital theatre and in less than two months they pulled 14 digital projectors to distribute to other theatres.
Now they have only two digital screens.

I believe they did that at all of their 100% digital complexes. They wanted to deploy at least 1 3D to every complex but couldn't get the financing for all the projectors they'd need so they pulled them out of the 100% digital locations.