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Author Topic: Where would you put a theatre if you could? Robert D. LaValley Film Handler Posts: 58 From: Florida Registered: Aug 2003 posted 01-23-2004 04:39 AM                     We are a long way away from the rapid expansion we saw in the past, but seriously, if you could build a theatre somewhere, wherever you wanted, however big you wanted it, where would it be? Like say for example if you could do a realistic location and setup and then do a wishful thinking probably never would happen setup... My realistic one, in any college town, at least a 6-plex. My wishful thinking, a 36-plex anywhere, just to make things interesting. And have the booth be one LONG hallway!! and one projectionist, just to be interesting! I like the buildings that aren't like any other theatre you see. The ones that almost don't look like a theatre and or the modernised versions of the old victorian styled theatres..So I would either do the retro version, or think of some way to make the building look nothing like the traditional box theatre, maybe a castle design or something.. something new..  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 01-23-2004 06:03 AM                     If I could build one anywhere, it would be along the bayfront here in Corpus Christi. I am talking about a building that is almost completely surrounded by water, except for the entrance area. The lobby would have a view of the Gulf of Mexico on one side and downtown on the otherside. I would really hate to see the amount it would cost for insurance on a building like this though, because of hurricanes and tropical storms. But if I could build one anywhere, that is where it would be. Either there or on the moon or something like that.  |  IP: Logged Jeff Taylor Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 601 From: Chatham, NJ/East Hampton, NY Registered: Apr 2000 posted 01-23-2004 09:26 AM                     I know this isn't in the spirit of the thread, but the sad fact is that all the areas with strong demographics are already overscreened. The best shot for new development is replacement of obsolete units.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-23-2004 09:42 AM                        In order of most to least realistic: option #1: single-screen art/repertory-house in college town near (not necessarily _in_) major city option #2: twin drive-in in vacation/touristy area or rural area far away from gigaplexes, preferably in the southern part of the US (for longer seasons); noncompetitive booking zone is necessary option #3: large (1000+ seats) single screen first-run house with huge screen downtown in a major city I've seen examples of option #1 and #3 that work and are successful. I'm not as "up" on drive-ins as I'd like to be, but my understanding is that option #2 could work if the location were right.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Garman Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1470 From: Toledo, OH USA Registered: Mar 2003 posted 01-23-2004 12:05 PM                     My dream is to run my own theatre, and I talked with my cousin about it once. He goes to IU Bloomington and it would seem that would be an ideal place for a theatre. He said both theatres down there, Kerasotes, really suck and they don't offer student pricing. It'd be nice to have a single screener that does Art or discount fare, or maybe a six plex with first run material. Of course, any way you slice it, my theatre would really care about showmanship. AJG  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 01-23-2004 12:32 PM                        Even with 218 hardtop and five drive-in screens serving a population of about 1.2 million in the valley, we could use a location in the far northeast, out by Nellis AFB. Nothing out there these days, not even any dollar screens. Closest location is 11 miles away at Crown's Neonopolis 14 on Fremont Street, or 12 miles away Regal's Texas Station 18 and Century's Las Vegas Drive-in. I think The Cannery would be an ideal location for a new 'plex, but nobody there seems to be interested. Stations Casinos finally won approval to build yet another "locals" casino, this one to be built near the entrance to Redrock Canyon. Redrock Station will have another 'plex to go with it, at I-215 (the beltway) and Charleston Blvd, way out at the west end of the valley, three miles away from Regal's Village 18. 'Vegas still has no dedicated art film screening venue, though Regal's Village 18 and Colonade 14, and Century's Suncoast 16 do try to book art and foreign films when they can. There are the beginnings of a grass roots effort to re-establish film capability at The Huntridge which is presently a PAC serving the underground music scene. We'll see if Las Vegas' small but slowly growing culture vulture demographic will support a dedicated art film venue there.  |  IP: Logged Ian Price Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1714 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-23-2004 12:34 PM                     My ideal theatre would be a 3-screen in a town of 3,000-5,000 in a resort area. I would have another source of income so I wouldn't need to be supported by the theatre. The theatre should just cover expenses and staffing. I'm talking a hobby theatre. The rooms would be sized for 200, 100 & 100 seats, but would only contain 150, 75 & 75 seats (or less) that were 24" wide & a 45" pitch. The seats would be in pairs with double arm-rests at the end of each pair. Full curtains. All Kinoton, Dolby, JBL package. Lobby would be huge and contain a book shop and coffee shop. (Each with their own managers) The book shop and coffee shop would be open 7 AM till the last movie was scheduled to get out. The movies would be scheduled at whatever times worked for the town, but I like 6 & 8. If it were a retirement community, then 1, 4 & 7 would be nice. With this schedule, I could realy spread out the show times and not get too worked up. I would just sit at a table in the corner with my computer w/wireless connection, a wireless phone, a beverage and talk to the people who stopped by. If the town were bigger and have a plex nearby I would just run Art, if there were no other theatre nearby, I would run that which I thought would make the most money, buy I might steer away from crap.  |  IP: Logged Michael Gonzalez Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 790 From: Grand Island , NE USA Registered: Sep 2000 posted 01-23-2004 12:59 PM                     On Mars  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 01-23-2004 01:19 PM                        Ian - a wireless beverage?  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-23-2004 01:33 PM                     Aaron, Bloomington,In is the last place that needs another theatre. There is a reason that the Vogue and Indiana, both within spitting distance of IU campus, and the Village is closed down. And the Mall theatre is a dollar house. Oh yes, then there's the Y&W drive-in that's gone.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 01-23-2004 01:39 PM                        When I win MEGABUCKS (35 million or so) the first thing I going to do is: Build a 20 plex right across the street from REGAL's corporate office - right there in Halls, Tennessee. I would make it the most elaborate, expensive 20 screen theatre ever built. For booking purposes I would buy out the little dinky Halls theatre a few blocks away. The marquee would be so big and bright - it would be flashing "Benjamin Theatres" and these lights would reflect off of every window at Regal corporate.  |  IP: Logged R. Andrew Diercks Expert Film Handler Posts: 232 From: Marion, Iowa (In the middle of everywhere) Registered: May 2003 posted 01-23-2004 02:01 PM                     I would build/restore a classic 1 screen and make a dinner theatre running art and older great films, if I could get prints. I would place it somewhere in the Napa Valley, beautiful country and not a lot of screens from what I saw. Also the perfect audience lives in and visits Napa. I would have professional wait staff and serve food themed with the movie if possible. All seating would be gangster booths facing the screen. There would be one show a night and the meal would pay for the ticket. Come, eat and relax an hour before show time. The hope being that reservations would fill the place given the right reputation.  |  IP: Logged Roger Katz Film Handler Posts: 61 From: Thomaston, CT, USA Registered: Feb 2003 posted 01-23-2004 02:46 PM                     I would put any theatre at all in Northeast Connecticut. Maybe an art house triplex near the UConn Storrs campus. Currently Northeastern CT has only 3 indoor screens for a population of about 250,000 people. That is woefully underscreened.  |  IP: Logged William Leland III Master Film Handler Posts: 336 From: Charleston, SC, Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-23-2004 02:55 PM                        Step 1. build dollar house 10 screens in cheap part of town. Step 2. ??? Step 3. profit  |  IP: Logged Scott Jentsch Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1061 From: New Berlin, WI, USA Registered: Apr 2003 posted 01-23-2004 10:04 PM                        Ian's idea of a hobby theater is right up my alley. Do it small, but do it right! Every film would be introduced, either by me or by guest speakers that would provide additional interesting information about the film and/or primary cast/director. Local movie critics would be good choices, as well as the guy who does the intro's on Turner Movie Classics (Robert Osborne?) I've learned a lot about some films from the intros they do before movies. It wouldn't be about treating people like cattle, and the movies like the cud they chew. But rather, it would be about appreciating the film being shown. One location that I've always thought would be good for a small specialty theater would be within the campus of a large hotel. Tucked away for the use by hotel guests, and perhaps the public as well, is a well-done, few-holds-barred screening room. Leather captain's chairs would be flanked by small tables that would hold drinks and a small meal/snack. Perhaps certain shows would allow laptops with wireless ethernet for people to watch a movie while they catch up on E-Mail and finish the presentation for the next day. (No cell phones or group meetings allowed!) Outside of that niche situation, a good location in downtown Milwaukee would be nice. With the closing of The Grand so many years ago, the downtown is lacking a movie theater. I think the reason is that a traditional multiplex wouldn't do very well. You can't just park a 20-screen in the middle of downtown and expect enough people to fill the place. It should be a throw-back to the grand palaces of old, where going to a movie would be as much of an event as seeing a play or going to the symphony. Ok, back to reality...  |  IP: Logged

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