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This topic comprises 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
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Topic: Anyone work for Carmike theatres?
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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."
Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 04-13-2005 12:26 PM
It's hard to name any movie theater company that didn't file bankruptcy (Cinemark maybe?). It's also difficult, if not impossible, to find any theater chain anywhere in the United States without more than its fair share of embarrasment-class theaters. I've seen bad theaters operated by Carmike (and even publicly bitched about one in a newspaper in Albany, GA). But I have certainly seen much worse.
I just thought I'd bring that up because it sounds like Carmike has been singled out lately in this forum. I don't hear anyone giving any well deserved bashings to AMC, Loews/Sony, Cinemark, United Artists, Regal and any number of others where I have seen deplorable theaters or been disappointed with shit-class show quality.
Carmike actually does have some nice theaters. The one in my town is pretty decent, especially for a 10 year old theater (certainly a lot better than what most chains are putting into cities of 100,000 or fewer residents).
The one in Christian's town (Sioux City, IA), is probably an old theater formerly owned by another chain (Carmike's website doesn't show it to have anything playing in digital sound or any of that stuff). Not far away in Des Moines, Carmike has a 12-plex with THX, digital sound and stadium seating on all 12 auditoriums. So it sounds like they're making some effort there.
Now, I'm not going to apologize for Carmike's business practices. Their strategy in the 1990's of trying to be the first chain to have 5000 screens was pretty ill-advised and a major reason of what put them into bankruptcy. Theater customers aren't going to give a damn over how many screens a movie theater chain owns. The point of pride ought to be on quality, not quantity of movie screens. Unfortunately, not enough customers give a damn about quality either. The exhibition industry on the whole knows this and is lapsing into complacency about it.
quote: Matt Kerekes
I only hope for your sake that they have, but if not be prepared for VERY long hours with VERY little compensation.
I don't know how this is applying to box office and counter people, but George Bush's new overtime law that went into effect makes it difficult for anyone to get more than 40 hours per week. Now, if you're the theater manager and on salary, yeah, you're going to be putting in some really serious time. A good friend of mine manages the Carmike here in Lawton and he works longer hours than anyone else I know.
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Jarryd Beard
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 229
From: Hellertown, PA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 04-13-2005 01:37 PM
I agree with Bobby as far as Carmike's newest designs go. In State College, both theatres were former Cinema Worlds. However, the new Carmikes I've been to are quite impressive. In Pittsburgh, the flagship theatre seems to be the Loew's Waterfront. However, once you get past the lobby, the auditoriums and presentation are pretty much shit. The much smaller Carmike 10 and Wynnsong 12 (Another Carmike Name), have less elaborate lobbies and exteriors, but auditoriums (especially the comfortable seats), are quite nice. Also, almost all new Carmikes are at least THX certifiable, if they don't go for the certification.
My biggest complaints are Screenvision rolling commercials and an outrageous number of trailers. Also, new mandatory showtimes make for chaos before and after movies. I enjoy the vest and bow tie uniforms as they keep up with the old theatre style, as opposed to polo shirts. However, the concession upselling policy has to go.
As far as projectionists go, I'm pretty sure most Carmikes have managers take care of those operations. This may be different depending on any contracts you might have if part of a union. The two Carmikes in State College still have the union in their booths 5 out of 7 days per week. However, my understanding is that this stems from the union contract with Cinema World before they were purchased by Carmike in 1994.
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Monte L Fullmer
Film God
Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 04-13-2005 07:11 PM
quote: Matt Kerekes
As it applies to floor staff and other hourly positions, they do not usually get more than 40 hours a week. However salaried managers are overworked.
What this is called basically is the "house nut" rules -keeping within budget to make a buck.
Some states have an overtime rule for hourly employees that require overtime pay over 40hrs.
The sad thing is that theatre business is not a PRODUCTION occupation since the employees are not manufacturing something or anything for sale for profit to the company, and to pay the employees extra for.
They are just performing service work for a simple wage.
Circuits see this non-productive form of occupation and paying overtime for employees doesn't justify to the company when trying to make a profit, which is mainly in the snakbar due to the high percentage film takes from the gate.
Thus, with employees on salary, in the case of management, these people can "fill in" the big blank spots with their required additional hours that they have to be at the theatre that the hourly people can't "fill in" within their 40hour/week rate.
Kinda getting took for as much as possible for little pay the circuits have to give out.
I used to work for Carmike back in the early 90's when they took over a small chain called Excellence Theatres, that they themselves went under due to mis-management of sorts, but didn't stay long since my booth responsibilities were taken away to MO's.
-Monte
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Sam Graham
AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues.
Posts: 1431
From: Waukee, IA
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted 04-13-2005 08:33 PM
quote: Bobby Henderson
The one in Christian's town (Sioux City, IA), is probably an old theater formerly owned by another chain (Carmike's website doesn't show it to have anything playing in digital sound or any of that stuff). Not far away in Des Moines, Carmike has a 12-plex with THX, digital sound and stadium seating on all 12 auditoriums. So it sounds like they're making some effort there.
Not true. Carmike's website CLAIMS all THX, but in fact, the 12-plex had maybe one or two houses built THX-certified. Same holds true for the Wynnsong in Johnston, which originally opened with THX certification on either six or eight of its sixteen screens, but which is only renewed on the two "largest" (insert laugh track here) houses.
If you read the showtimes for these two plexes on Carmike's website literally, they're playing every movie in a THX auditorium in both Dolby Digital AND DTS simultaneously. I don't even think they opened all digital in the first place, let alone being capable of such an amazingly silly technical feat.
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(good god..) I'm sure you can't compare Carmike's policy's to GKC's if you haven't worked at both theaters, but I thought I'd still ask. Thanks!
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