Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How bad must business be to close down a screen?

This is topic How bad must business be to close down a screen? in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mike Frese (Member # 4361) on 05-07-2014, 02:03 PM:

I saw a theater (2 screens) for the past couple of weeks close down a screen. They do not seem to be doing any remodeling or other improvements. The only time I would close a screen was due to equipment problems or improving that room.

Anyone think it is a good idea to close a screen if business is slow? I always found something to play on all of my screens. Yes there would be a week now and then where that screen would only bring in a couple of hundred dollars a week.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 05-07-2014, 02:39 PM:

Could it be that they couldn't afford to put digital in the second screen?

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 05-07-2014, 03:09 PM:

quote: Mike Frese
Anyone think it is a good idea to close a screen if business is slow?

I can't imagine for a small cinema that it would make any sense, unless lack of digital upgrading is the issue.

Posted by Andrew Thomas (Member # 7000) on 05-07-2014, 03:15 PM:

This theater is 35mm only.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-07-2014, 05:28 PM:

I'll bet the problem is lack of prints.

Other than that, for a two-screen to close a screen would be borderline crazy unless there is an equipment related reason. I could see it if things were slow and they had a dozen or 20 screens or whatever, but I spend most of my time wishing we had a second screen.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 05-07-2014, 05:58 PM:

Screams to me of a 35mm house that either can't get a print for the auditorium, or the advance payment for whatever was available was not worth the expected business. I'm sure this will become increasingly common for 35mm houses that are trying to stay open for as long as possible until the supply of prints completely dries up.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-07-2014, 08:27 PM:

Wouldn't it still make sense to play something older, maybe bring something back, at sub-run pricing? Unless even old stuff cannot be obtained on appropriate terms to where it's not even worth running the equipment and HVAC for that house. Otherwise, even a tiny profit is better than no profit.

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 07-03-2016, 09:43 PM:

It has been 788 days since the last post.