I also have heard that they are focusing more attention to their Flavor-Crisp division and may even sell off/spin off some or all of their cinema products division(s) to generate more capital.

Anyone else know more about this development? Pat??

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Still, it would make sense given the current state of the exhibition industry, since there's lots of great used equipment on the market right now and more will be available soon as additional recently-built theatres close their doors and fewer new theatres are built.

I have no idea what the market is like for Super Trouper spotlights and Flavor-Crisp chicken fryers, but let's hope that it's better than the cinema equipment market for now.

Now is an excellent time for theatres who were more prudent in their expansion plans to upgrade their projection and sound.

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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 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Rumors indeed, folks. Strong's still here, and will be for a long time. I only wish the rumors were as easy to trace down as the topics on the forums are here. I usually know where they start from, though.

I've been hearing this for a while in my travels in Asia. Sad that this seems to be a way our competition wants to try and sell against us. Now we're hearing it here in the States. Tiring, believe me.

Let's see. I've heard that Strong doesn't make Century Projectors anymore. I've heard we have no product in stock. I've heard we were going to close in August. Then it was November. Now it's January. Sheesh!

Yes, business is way down here in the US and anyone that doesn't know that really doesn't care one way or another. Has that affected us? You bet! Business is way down from the last few glory years and ANY manufacturer that tries to tell you otherwise has a really good sales pitch to give you right after that line, so watch out.

Strong has had layoffs here and there's no secret about that either, but closing? Nope.

Regal's problems have effected us in terms of less business, but there's been little or no financial loss associated with that, they remain a valued customer. In fact, none of the bankruptcy's have hurt us much in that way.

Yes, we still build Century Projectors. Actually, we'll build about the same number this year as we did last year, around 400 units if I remember right. Not as many as Simplex, where we still build two or 2-1/2 times that of Century.

What else... Hmmm. Being a public company has its downsides -- among them everything is public. Don't judge the state of a company simply by the value of it's stock or the message boards. And as a stockholder, I'll be first to tell you our stock price is down. The core financial elements of Ballantyne remain Strong ( ) and we're not about to go away.

We're doing other things as well. For instance, we will be providing what spare parts and such that we can make available for the CFS stuff for customers that need them. The new ISCO PLus lenses continue to come into stock as we expand the line.

Heat and phone bills are paid up and our Customer Service folks get plenty of calls.

Sorry to detract from our detractors, but we're here for the long term. And I appreciate everybody asking about rumors rather than simply believing the story-tellers. Any more questions, let me know...

Pat Moore

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We just took delivery of a Simplex PR-1014 w/soundhead and it seems to have been put together very well so perhaps the slow down in the industry is helping in the quality of manufacture.

Strong is an excellent company and one I hope contines for a long time.

Steve

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As for E-Cinema, we're looking at a couple of fronts. First is to make light sources for DLP Cinema Projectors. Our new DPC Console will be introduced and we have samples either at or going to Digital Projection and Barco.

We are also developing a digital projection system. We're looking down the road at the higher resolution characteristics we think the industry will require. That's an R&D project that's outside of Omaha. Lots of technical challenges down that path, of course.

Lots of unanswered questions down the E-Cinema road. Our business is theatres and theatre equipment, so that's where we'll be as well.

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