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Topic: Good rep. titles for dinner theatre?

Mike Heenan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1896
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-12-2001 12:31 PM

I now work in a dinner theatre as a part time projectionist, and we show second run pictures (like now we are showing bridget jones diary and the dish) and older classics. So far on the old ones, we've run Casablanca, Citizen Kane (both of which did so-so attendance) and now Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (which hardly anyone has showed up for). Now I know since its a dinner theatre, the dinner part excludes some of the moviegoers. Anyways, can anyone suggest some titles that might do well, or some titles (older ones) that youve run that you know are good prints out there? Thanks for your help!

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 07-12-2001 02:49 PM

Ravenous makes a great feature for a dinner theater. Make sure to do a promotion with the kitchen and serve Major Knox stew.

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 07-12-2001 11:44 PM

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover would probably not be a great idea, but maybe The Princess Bride or Charlie's Angels...something fun but not too taxing on the brain so as not to make the movie incomprehendable while you are chewing.

Smokey And The Bandit maybe...no wait...where on earth would you get a print of THAT from?

------------------
"If you think THIS is fantastic...wait until you see the full effect with the HIMP!"
- Chief Inspector Clouseau.

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Mike Heenan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1896
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-13-2001 12:02 AM

Ha ha John, gee, I wonder

I suggested for a kid's program theyre testing now something like Clash of the Titans, Adventures of Robin Hood, etc. We'll see how well Willy Wonka does starting tomorrow.

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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-13-2001 12:16 AM

Titus, Silence of the Lambs, Eating Raoul.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 07-13-2001 08:42 PM

Mike, want to pack those kids in? Try these:

The Goonies (WB)
The Sandlot (Fox)
Toy Story 1&2 (BV)

...and of course the best kids movie of all time: Southpark!

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Mike Heenan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1896
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-13-2001 10:58 PM

Goonies! Of course, how could I forget.... thanks. I did mention some Disney titles, so we'll see what happens there. The print of Willy Wonka came in the other day, surprisingly it was a re-strike, although Ive heard that alot of people are getting an old faded/worn print, so that was a nice surprise.

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Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 07-13-2001 11:40 PM

I'll tell you right now that getting Disney to let you play any of there movies that are past the second run deadline is impossable. Now when atlantis goes second run there will be no problem.

What you may need to do is a survey with the customers. Ask them what types of movies would they enjoy watching while eating. Give them a choice of catagories like drama comedy sci-fi etc. It is hard to sell a classic in this type of setting. Remember the type of food you are serving is what is going to keep people coming back not the movies. If the food is no good nothing will draw people in. In our area we have had two cinema grill type theaters and both failed in less than a year. The common thing I always heard was the food was no good.

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