Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Tired Of Multiplex?

This is topic Tired Of Multiplex? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 09-11-2003, 09:11 AM:

This recently restored single screen theater I've been doing some work for is getting some interesting comments. I was working last Sunday and had several people come in saying how they were tired of going to the AMC multi-plex and were glad to see the theater reopened and running a current movie. One thing that was done during the restoration was to opt for more legroom and less seating, 635 seats down to just over 400. Besides liking the extra legroom, another comment included being sick of having to sit through several minutes of commercials before the show. Also, it seems that not everyone likes festival/stadium seating.

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 09-11-2003, 10:46 AM:

I liked having a more than one theatre to go to. When I was a kid there were four different theatres within walking distance.

Even though I work at a megaplex, I think theatres are getting too big.

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 09-11-2003, 11:54 AM:

From the very start, I thought the gigaplexes were far over rated, Instead of the exhibitors taking the opportunity to offer a more varied selection of films, all they did is have 8 screens of this, 6 screens of that etc.

Most of the gigaplexes are virtual copies of themselves, and offer no real "character". In addition the crowds makes it feel like Grand Central Station vs a movie theater. Customer service and presentation almost always takes a back seat to moving customers in and out as quickly as possible.

Posted by Martin Brooks (Member # 1269) on 09-11-2003, 01:45 PM:

I think there's another issue and that is that going to the movies used to be a relatively special event, even pre-TV when admissions per capita were much higher than they are today. People used to get dressed to go to the movies and I think one of the reasons was the splendor and formality of the theaters.

While times have changed and people now even show up at Broadway shows in torn shorts and t-shirts, the advent of the cinderblock multiplex has changed the way we feel about attending a movie -- it's made it much more ordinary.

There's an ad that ran in Boxoffice a few years ago. I forget what the ad was for (so I guess it wasn't a good ad), but it featured a great photo of the Sutton theater in NYC taken in the 1950s. The theater was playing some Disney nature documentary and a crowd dressed in suits, hats and dresses was lined up around the block. I suspect the photo was taken on a Sunday.

Frankly, I don't think it's the number of screens that's the issue. I think it's the ambience of the theater that's the most important factor - most are designed no nicer than the average fast food restaurant, which isn't surprising considering that the income comes from the concession stand. Even multiplexes that are nicely appointed and clean have no character. Even some of the theaters in NYC that have lobbies or concession areas designed by David Rockwell have no real character once you move out of those areas.

One of the reasons I enjoy seeing films at the single-screen Ziegfeld in NYC is because aside from the usually good quality of the presentation and the large screen, it still has an ambience of luxury and it still feels special to attend a film there.

And I agree with those who wonder why they bother to build all those (small) screens if they're going to play the same film on so many of them instead of building fewer, larger screens.

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 09-11-2003, 06:39 PM:

quote:
From the very start, I thought the gigaplexes were far over rated, Instead of the exhibitors taking the opportunity to offer a more varied selection of films, all they did is have 8 screens of this, 6 screens of that etc.

This week the AMC Hamilton picks up Thirteen (on its national break) and American Splendor. That megaplex also holds over Camp, Dirty Pretty Things, and Le Divorce.

quote:
Also, it seems that not everyone likes festival/stadium seating.

In Bucks County PA the only place you can see The Magdalene Sisters this week is a stadium theater -- the Regal Warrington Crossing.

Give me a megaplex any day. [Big Grin]