Whomever said there are no signs of reopening was mistaken.
Yes, CineLux has let it go, but a local group is currently completing long overdue renovations in preparation for reopening this Spring of 2024! www.DeltaTheater.com
Tell you what KDS…I’ll look at your chairs when your govt drops import tariffs from US goods. You have an advantage, all right. It’s called manipulated currency, no environmental waste regulation and lack of wage standards.
I love that you drop all of these things that you do as some sort of justification. Your kids really shouldn’t eat KFC or Mcdonalds ever, hardly often. I feel better now that I see you rattle off Avon, Cisco etc and realize that I don’t purchase any of those goods from those companies, especially walmart…just a bunch of shiny cheap crap that breaks right away…with your lovely lead paint!
The world should become a village…an equal village. Not a village that if you’re from one side you don’t have to play by the rules of the other side.
With regard to the actual issue at hand, this theater and it’s 3d, this guy is full of crap. There are no cameras to be sold back, tech 3d provided a leased lens that works with 35mm projectors.
I think th earlier poster hit it on the head about film selection. Disney, Sony, and Fox do not support this tech 3d format, so you’re left picking from the rest. The best grossing films this year using this tech 3d format have been Jackass, despic me, and megamind. This guy didn’t play 2 of those, so of course he wouldn’t do well with it. I think the real problem here is that this theater is an arthouse that for whatever reason can’t play all art films, so they fill the first run gaps but still won’t play the films, however ridiculous they are, that draw in the people. It’s really a great theater but needs to decide once and for all if it’s an arthouse or commercial house.
Personally, i hope the 3d dies fast because it’s so over done it is not special anymore. It’s a gimmick, but a gimmick isn’t a 24/7,365 kind of thing, it’s unique.
Yes, I’m a theater operator and I received 2 unsolicited emails from this one guy in one day. I’m not in the market for seats, because I bought Irwin seats which really last, and are made in America. Maybe the Chinese seats have improved, but most are cheaper for a good reason, they just don’t last.
But back to this guy, it’s low rent. This is cinematreasures, not craigslist.
Amc will have all former Kerasotes houses of 3 screens or less (unless super profitable) closed by the end of 2011. Then, if in a region where the next closest theater is another amc property regardless of distance, they will start to shudder all complexes with less than 8 screens.
And amc will strip the place bare! They won’t use any of it they do it just to insure no one could ever reopen it and ever pose them competition.
Kerasotes did exactly the same thing…This one even did a good business last year and made some decent money…but not enough for amc to “waste their time.” And likely this theater hasn’t had a facelift since Mondale was running for president. It’s a design…in the last five years of a lease they intentionally let places fall into disrepair, to train the public to go to their newer and pricier places. Then once they’re trained, shut em down and strip em out….down to tearing off sheet rock on walls! I’ve seen it many times.
It’s sad as amc and Kerasotes don’t have the vision to realize this short term cost cutting action is long term cutting of their own throat…part of why people aren’t going to the movies over netflix, etc. Now it’s not just the high prices but it’s a 30 minute drive too.
No Nick…the purpose of the article was a kick in the butt of the locals to be more supportive of their theater, and they really have been since. More attendance AND about a 25% increase on the concession percap.
CWalczak, thanks for the kind reply and I see the confusion, I think the distinction I’m drawing, and actually referenced in the advert by saying “Open for Business” is that there have been other theaters for sale on this site, I remember one specifically in Oklahoma somewhere that was just about the same price, but has been permanently closed for a long period of time, and I think that one had a drastically lower seat count than this one. I don’t think that changes the light its presented in much because none of the things that go with a closed location, the headaches especially that come with a closed theater vs an open one.
When you try to reopen a theater that has been long since “temporarily closed” or permanently closed, even if its fully equipped and ready to go but has been closed a period of time that was not planned and scheduled, then you’ve got to go through all the headaches of re-inspection, re-certification, and the big ones of a) letting people know the place has reopened and the thousands of dollars in advertising it takes in those situations and b) convincing the studios to take a chance on your new location as they are constantly drawing down print availability.
This theater has been in continuous operation and is simply taking about 3 weeks off as the kids in town just went back to school and we have our communities annual festival/carnival over this weekend so those outside factors coupled with the lousy commercial film product out this time of year just made sense to take this time to do some maintenance on the place, specifically introducing a new red light sequence to the chasing marquee which looks fantastic.
Best wishes to all and here’s hoping we can get someone in to keep her going for the long run!
tlslowes: Those seats came out of the old Kerasotes Laporte Cinema Discount Theater, just as the advert back then said they were in northwestern indiana, this theater in this posting is in Central Illinois.
CWalczak: Actually the theaters website says it reopened on the 24th, not the 26th. We’ve having a good amount of work done right now and with all the schools having just gone back in the family dollars are tied up right now..besides smaller cities don’t do well with the September dumping ground movies..seems like most in September are very R rated or limited releases, neither of which mesh well here.
Kudos to your positive sentiments to do the right thing by these theaters!
I own one that is a classic art deco theater, and while its a 2 screen, instead of slicing up the beautiful main house, the second screen is a completely separate building. It’s also first run, fully operations, brilliant sound, seats are two years old, and in a good small supportive community. I’ve been contemplating selling it because I opened a bigger theater a few hours away and would like to physically move there and focus more on it, but I haven’t listed it yet because I don’t want someone to buy it who you know, has no idea what they’re doing or would just mess it up. If you’d like to talk about it then let me know, is my email. The theater is in Central Illinois. Thanks!
You clearly have no experience in the logistics of operating a cinema that offers first run commercial product. I own a small chain and you really sound just like those idiots who when the power goes out get pissed because “we didn’t just rewind the movie.”
You can’t close on Mondays…you are forced by the studios to be open 7 days. You are forced by the studios to do mulitple showings per day. You don’t have an option.
Latest update: the alleged current owner of the theater is having a feasibility study done as
to if the Park can reopen and what it would take after being shuddered and not maintained in that time.
It can be done but it’s got to be done the right way and I pray this guy is not an egomaniac and has some knowledge of how the business works. I just can’t see and hope I never do see the marquee ablaze with “Twilight Eclipse” as the route they go because that just won’t work there.
I own a small chain. We’d love intermissions. The studios don’t do them for one reason: showings. Intermissions would have some theaters having less showings, less showings would result in less ticket sales. I would flip for an intermission, we’ve run some classics with them and they give the audience a great breather and the concession stand a chance to sell some more faire. But..its show Bu$ine$$ after all!
The mass makeover of the New La Porte Cinemas continues at full speed ahead! All new high back lounger seats have been installed, along with brand new screens and will offer 3D films! A basic cleaning gutting of the place has taken a little longer than anticipated but it will be very much night and day of what it used to be…thank heaven for that!
I too actually am operating two first run theaters in the midwest as well so I can speak to this in the same experience.
Your options are pretty much Vistar (who sucks) and Continental Concessions ccsicandy.com. Vistar sells to more theatres, and they have the arrogance that goes along with that. They will offer you a maximum net7 (7 day to pay) credit account your first year, which if you are ever one day late on that you then get put on c.o.d., with high order minimums and have the rudest accounts payable people in the world. Net 7 pay still puts you in the position of rushing a check, whats the point?
I’m in the process now of switching out my locations to Continental. Better prices, the same great options, more actually especially on supplies too, and much better pay terms (net 30) and a much better customer service attitude. I highly encourage you to do the same!
Yes, we still have them. Have had a lot of inquires but most everyone just wants small amounts, and our goal is to find someone to take them all in one transaction.
1) Any interior construction will automatically trigger full ADA compliance, therefore creating a likely $1million cost to have access to the balconies.
The curse upon the oaks is that since it is surrounded by Landmark Chain Theaters, it is “cleared” on new product choice. Clearance is a process where preferential treatment is given to the larger and/or better attended facilities, so the Oaks is (unless a multi million dollar renovation is done, which must include providing parking) stuck drawing from about a 25% share of the film leftovers from Landmark. The best thing for the long term of the Oaks would be if it were acquired by Landmark, however with all of their screens just down the road at the California, Albany Twin etc, I think this is unlikely.
Well no actual “conversion” took place. They use the same seats the theatre did, the only difference is that the Blue Moon operators took the film projector and sound amplification equipment.
Whomever said there are no signs of reopening was mistaken. Yes, CineLux has let it go, but a local group is currently completing long overdue renovations in preparation for reopening this Spring of 2024! www.DeltaTheater.com
Hear Hear Life’s too short.
Tell you what KDS…I’ll look at your chairs when your govt drops import tariffs from US goods. You have an advantage, all right. It’s called manipulated currency, no environmental waste regulation and lack of wage standards.
I love that you drop all of these things that you do as some sort of justification. Your kids really shouldn’t eat KFC or Mcdonalds ever, hardly often. I feel better now that I see you rattle off Avon, Cisco etc and realize that I don’t purchase any of those goods from those companies, especially walmart…just a bunch of shiny cheap crap that breaks right away…with your lovely lead paint!
The world should become a village…an equal village. Not a village that if you’re from one side you don’t have to play by the rules of the other side.
With regard to the actual issue at hand, this theater and it’s 3d, this guy is full of crap. There are no cameras to be sold back, tech 3d provided a leased lens that works with 35mm projectors.
I think th earlier poster hit it on the head about film selection. Disney, Sony, and Fox do not support this tech 3d format, so you’re left picking from the rest. The best grossing films this year using this tech 3d format have been Jackass, despic me, and megamind. This guy didn’t play 2 of those, so of course he wouldn’t do well with it. I think the real problem here is that this theater is an arthouse that for whatever reason can’t play all art films, so they fill the first run gaps but still won’t play the films, however ridiculous they are, that draw in the people. It’s really a great theater but needs to decide once and for all if it’s an arthouse or commercial house.
Personally, i hope the 3d dies fast because it’s so over done it is not special anymore. It’s a gimmick, but a gimmick isn’t a 24/7,365 kind of thing, it’s unique.
Yes, I’m a theater operator and I received 2 unsolicited emails from this one guy in one day. I’m not in the market for seats, because I bought Irwin seats which really last, and are made in America. Maybe the Chinese seats have improved, but most are cheaper for a good reason, they just don’t last.
But back to this guy, it’s low rent. This is cinematreasures, not craigslist.
Does anyone know if this was an owned property by and via Kerasotes or just leased?
Just wait…this is only the beginning!
Amc will have all former Kerasotes houses of 3 screens or less (unless super profitable) closed by the end of 2011. Then, if in a region where the next closest theater is another amc property regardless of distance, they will start to shudder all complexes with less than 8 screens.
Welcome to the modern Monopolyplex world of amc!
And amc will strip the place bare! They won’t use any of it they do it just to insure no one could ever reopen it and ever pose them competition.
Kerasotes did exactly the same thing…This one even did a good business last year and made some decent money…but not enough for amc to “waste their time.” And likely this theater hasn’t had a facelift since Mondale was running for president. It’s a design…in the last five years of a lease they intentionally let places fall into disrepair, to train the public to go to their newer and pricier places. Then once they’re trained, shut em down and strip em out….down to tearing off sheet rock on walls! I’ve seen it many times.
It’s sad as amc and Kerasotes don’t have the vision to realize this short term cost cutting action is long term cutting of their own throat…part of why people aren’t going to the movies over netflix, etc. Now it’s not just the high prices but it’s a 30 minute drive too.
No Nick…the purpose of the article was a kick in the butt of the locals to be more supportive of their theater, and they really have been since. More attendance AND about a 25% increase on the concession percap.
CWalczak, thanks for the kind reply and I see the confusion, I think the distinction I’m drawing, and actually referenced in the advert by saying “Open for Business” is that there have been other theaters for sale on this site, I remember one specifically in Oklahoma somewhere that was just about the same price, but has been permanently closed for a long period of time, and I think that one had a drastically lower seat count than this one. I don’t think that changes the light its presented in much because none of the things that go with a closed location, the headaches especially that come with a closed theater vs an open one.
When you try to reopen a theater that has been long since “temporarily closed” or permanently closed, even if its fully equipped and ready to go but has been closed a period of time that was not planned and scheduled, then you’ve got to go through all the headaches of re-inspection, re-certification, and the big ones of a) letting people know the place has reopened and the thousands of dollars in advertising it takes in those situations and b) convincing the studios to take a chance on your new location as they are constantly drawing down print availability.
This theater has been in continuous operation and is simply taking about 3 weeks off as the kids in town just went back to school and we have our communities annual festival/carnival over this weekend so those outside factors coupled with the lousy commercial film product out this time of year just made sense to take this time to do some maintenance on the place, specifically introducing a new red light sequence to the chasing marquee which looks fantastic.
Best wishes to all and here’s hoping we can get someone in to keep her going for the long run!
Mike: Thank you, thats exactly the goal!
tlslowes: Those seats came out of the old Kerasotes Laporte Cinema Discount Theater, just as the advert back then said they were in northwestern indiana, this theater in this posting is in Central Illinois.
CWalczak: Actually the theaters website says it reopened on the 24th, not the 26th. We’ve having a good amount of work done right now and with all the schools having just gone back in the family dollars are tied up right now..besides smaller cities don’t do well with the September dumping ground movies..seems like most in September are very R rated or limited releases, neither of which mesh well here.
Well said!
Even if you find one it’s going to be a musical in mono sound.
Just bite the bullet and play the DVD..fox will license it’s use and you will have a better image and far superior sound.
Perhaps they’ll be paying the dividends with bedbugs from their new York theater
Ron,
Kudos to your positive sentiments to do the right thing by these theaters!
I own one that is a classic art deco theater, and while its a 2 screen, instead of slicing up the beautiful main house, the second screen is a completely separate building. It’s also first run, fully operations, brilliant sound, seats are two years old, and in a good small supportive community. I’ve been contemplating selling it because I opened a bigger theater a few hours away and would like to physically move there and focus more on it, but I haven’t listed it yet because I don’t want someone to buy it who you know, has no idea what they’re doing or would just mess it up. If you’d like to talk about it then let me know, is my email. The theater is in Central Illinois. Thanks!
Shoot me an email
Simon,
You clearly have no experience in the logistics of operating a cinema that offers first run commercial product. I own a small chain and you really sound just like those idiots who when the power goes out get pissed because “we didn’t just rewind the movie.”
You can’t close on Mondays…you are forced by the studios to be open 7 days. You are forced by the studios to do mulitple showings per day. You don’t have an option.
Latest update: the alleged current owner of the theater is having a feasibility study done as
to if the Park can reopen and what it would take after being shuddered and not maintained in that time.
It can be done but it’s got to be done the right way and I pray this guy is not an egomaniac and has some knowledge of how the business works. I just can’t see and hope I never do see the marquee ablaze with “Twilight Eclipse” as the route they go because that just won’t work there.
The current website of the Lorraine Cinemas including photos and all other information can be found here;
www.CineMajesticLTD.com
The New Laporte Cinemas reopened on April 1, 2010.
You will find all of it’s information here;
www.CineMajesticLTD.com
I own a small chain. We’d love intermissions. The studios don’t do them for one reason: showings. Intermissions would have some theaters having less showings, less showings would result in less ticket sales. I would flip for an intermission, we’ve run some classics with them and they give the audience a great breather and the concession stand a chance to sell some more faire. But..its show Bu$ine$$ after all!
The mass makeover of the New La Porte Cinemas continues at full speed ahead! All new high back lounger seats have been installed, along with brand new screens and will offer 3D films! A basic cleaning gutting of the place has taken a little longer than anticipated but it will be very much night and day of what it used to be…thank heaven for that!
Katie,
I too actually am operating two first run theaters in the midwest as well so I can speak to this in the same experience.
Your options are pretty much Vistar (who sucks) and Continental Concessions ccsicandy.com. Vistar sells to more theatres, and they have the arrogance that goes along with that. They will offer you a maximum net7 (7 day to pay) credit account your first year, which if you are ever one day late on that you then get put on c.o.d., with high order minimums and have the rudest accounts payable people in the world. Net 7 pay still puts you in the position of rushing a check, whats the point?
I’m in the process now of switching out my locations to Continental. Better prices, the same great options, more actually especially on supplies too, and much better pay terms (net 30) and a much better customer service attitude. I highly encourage you to do the same!
Yes, we still have them. Have had a lot of inquires but most everyone just wants small amounts, and our goal is to find someone to take them all in one transaction.
Here’s a link to a few photos when they were in action. Not super modern but certainly workable and well, free!
http://s736.photobucket.com/home/freemovieseats
Terry..
1) Any interior construction will automatically trigger full ADA compliance, therefore creating a likely $1million cost to have access to the balconies.
The curse upon the oaks is that since it is surrounded by Landmark Chain Theaters, it is “cleared” on new product choice. Clearance is a process where preferential treatment is given to the larger and/or better attended facilities, so the Oaks is (unless a multi million dollar renovation is done, which must include providing parking) stuck drawing from about a 25% share of the film leftovers from Landmark. The best thing for the long term of the Oaks would be if it were acquired by Landmark, however with all of their screens just down the road at the California, Albany Twin etc, I think this is unlikely.
Well no actual “conversion” took place. They use the same seats the theatre did, the only difference is that the Blue Moon operators took the film projector and sound amplification equipment.