I love the guy above commenting that “It had the highest gross per screen in the country.” When an Urban film, steeped in controversey is opened on limited screens in major urban areas (2 screens its first week), of course its going to have the highest gross per screen, because there’s only TWO places to see it in the entire country!
first run films, that opened to the Egyptian, many weeks after they had, to the Pony, to see if it truly was a loyalty issue. These films did more business at the Pony, in their last legs of their runs, then they did at the Egyptian.
Now the city comes along and offers to purchase the theatre, from CA, for what is half of what is owed on the property. Could you sell your home for $400k when you owe $800k? Not likely.
In closing, I’d like to add that the expansion of the Pony added 25 jobs, and with the Egyptian closing, no jobs were lost. CA didn’t take the high road and simply lay people off.
So, don’t buy the hype, and don’t believe the one sided reporting of the local rag, The World newspaper. There are two sides to every story, and its time that we as the residents actually take a long look in the mirror at the REAL reason the Egyptian closed..because WE stopped going. You don’t see empty restaurants staying in business very long, and when you can’t even cover ½ of your operational costs, you don’t have much a choice. Regal Cinemas used to operate both Cinemas, spent NOTHING on them, and then ran for more money in the big cities. I think its time we actually appreciate what is being done by CA…bringing the first run big screen to the small areas of Oregon, that no one else would touch.
the distributors happy, and the patrons too. The studios were not happy with only being able to play 7 screens between the two cities, Coos Bay and North Bend. As CA couldn’t expand the Egyptian, there was no choice but to expand the Pony. Even after, CA tried to play first run films, first run art films, and late run films at the Egyptian. The public didn’t come to the Egyptian anymore! I attended a showing of the Robert Redford film, an Unfinished Life, when it opened at the Egyptian. In addition to me and my companion, there were 2 other people in the house! Plus, and to unfortunately be blunt, the local peoples of the region on the majority lack the sophistication to desire to see art films. CA then even moved films
Secondly, his claim that CA should have “just taken better care” of the Egyptian is misleading. The Egyptian is a historical landmark, which means that you must have any changes of any type approved, and any changes that would alter the state of the location at the time of its historial inception would not have been approved. A good example of this is that the theatre was not fully handicapped accessible, with all restrooms being upstairs. CA attempted to get an o.k. to install downstairs bathrooms but this was turned down.
Thirdly, the movie business is very competitive. To continue to bring first run films to small and medium markets in Oregon, CA must keep
Id like to respond to Ken Laytons comments above. I apologize in advance for the length of the postings, but it is necessary for completeness.
First of all, Mr Laytons statements with regard to the Aberdeen Theatre are false. Aside from the fact that Coming Attractions didn’t build it as he claims, the theatre is doing very well, and the company recently extended its lease at that property. I’d like to add that if not for CA coming in and keeping that theatre opened, the entire mall complex where the theatre is located would have gone under, thereby costing around 200 jobs to the local economy.
I love the guy above commenting that “It had the highest gross per screen in the country.” When an Urban film, steeped in controversey is opened on limited screens in major urban areas (2 screens its first week), of course its going to have the highest gross per screen, because there’s only TWO places to see it in the entire country!
first run films, that opened to the Egyptian, many weeks after they had, to the Pony, to see if it truly was a loyalty issue. These films did more business at the Pony, in their last legs of their runs, then they did at the Egyptian.
Now the city comes along and offers to purchase the theatre, from CA, for what is half of what is owed on the property. Could you sell your home for $400k when you owe $800k? Not likely.
In closing, I’d like to add that the expansion of the Pony added 25 jobs, and with the Egyptian closing, no jobs were lost. CA didn’t take the high road and simply lay people off.
So, don’t buy the hype, and don’t believe the one sided reporting of the local rag, The World newspaper. There are two sides to every story, and its time that we as the residents actually take a long look in the mirror at the REAL reason the Egyptian closed..because WE stopped going. You don’t see empty restaurants staying in business very long, and when you can’t even cover ½ of your operational costs, you don’t have much a choice. Regal Cinemas used to operate both Cinemas, spent NOTHING on them, and then ran for more money in the big cities. I think its time we actually appreciate what is being done by CA…bringing the first run big screen to the small areas of Oregon, that no one else would touch.
the distributors happy, and the patrons too. The studios were not happy with only being able to play 7 screens between the two cities, Coos Bay and North Bend. As CA couldn’t expand the Egyptian, there was no choice but to expand the Pony. Even after, CA tried to play first run films, first run art films, and late run films at the Egyptian. The public didn’t come to the Egyptian anymore! I attended a showing of the Robert Redford film, an Unfinished Life, when it opened at the Egyptian. In addition to me and my companion, there were 2 other people in the house! Plus, and to unfortunately be blunt, the local peoples of the region on the majority lack the sophistication to desire to see art films. CA then even moved films
Secondly, his claim that CA should have “just taken better care” of the Egyptian is misleading. The Egyptian is a historical landmark, which means that you must have any changes of any type approved, and any changes that would alter the state of the location at the time of its historial inception would not have been approved. A good example of this is that the theatre was not fully handicapped accessible, with all restrooms being upstairs. CA attempted to get an o.k. to install downstairs bathrooms but this was turned down.
Thirdly, the movie business is very competitive. To continue to bring first run films to small and medium markets in Oregon, CA must keep
Id like to respond to Ken Laytons comments above. I apologize in advance for the length of the postings, but it is necessary for completeness.
First of all, Mr Laytons statements with regard to the Aberdeen Theatre are false. Aside from the fact that Coming Attractions didn’t build it as he claims, the theatre is doing very well, and the company recently extended its lease at that property. I’d like to add that if not for CA coming in and keeping that theatre opened, the entire mall complex where the theatre is located would have gone under, thereby costing around 200 jobs to the local economy.