I do not know if their CA theatres are on the "kill" list, but I know they've been wanting out of those for a long time, too. If some or all of those theatres are shutting because of this Chapter 11 business, the number could be closer to 200 screens.

I'm not surprised, though, we moved down here expecting it not to last very long.

Next...

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Better Projection Pays!

If things keep going, this could be an all AMC town with 2 Marcus theatres as the only competition!

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The Northland had one of the most musical sound systems I've ever heard...music sounded just incredible in the THX room. There were some trumpet themes in Star Trek IV that sounded almost exactly like a live player. Ah, the good old days of 70mm.

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The independent I used to work for (last week) does this all the time whenever he hears of a GCC, UA or other chain closing. They usually want to get rid of good equipment CHEAP so they don't have to find professionals to go strip out the theatre.

The projection business is not in danger and is going to be around for a long time to come despite DLP and any other digital mediums to come. Just because big companies can't make decent business decisions and run their companies at the expense of others doesn't mean it will affect the industry in a matter that will stop movies completely. There are theaters out there that are making money and lots of it. Like most of the bigger houses in New York and San Fran that rake in 45,000 dollars a weekend. That is not a sign of a dying business.

"Now, put yourself back together and go get em tiger!!"

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But, but... they're dying all around me. Everywhere, death. Destruction. Another large-screen theatre gone, another small art house closed. Another zillion-screen megaplex announced (with restaurants, sports stores, hairdressers and toy stores, too!)

Whatever happened to the art of presentation (no offense to you multiplex projectionists, I know you're doing a fine job out of it).

"Yeah, I can see from that list of yours that you've been projecting films for fifteen years, but the question is, do you have the time to make popcorn and clean the men's room? And can you wear this silly suit when you're in the booth? We're worried that the kids might spot you."

Never mind, nothing to see here. Carry on with your regular thread. I'm just having one of my fits.

"He's dead, Jim."

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There was an email sent by someone in GA about the way that the company handled this. They were apparently told last Friday, and not to tell the staff until Monday. This upset the manager quite a bit. So, he sent an email to everyone in the company. Stating that the way that they handled the situation was rather poor. He even blamed former AMC alumni Frank Stry-something or other-ski for leading GCC into bankruptcy. I did like the guy's statement that he found out that he did not have a job from the guys that sell the cheese pumps instead of the company. Isn't how that always is. The last person to know is the one that is most effected.

At any rate, they have been wanting to get rid of these theatres for quite some time. I think that they announced the possible bankruptcy, then closed all these theatres that they want to get out of, then make some sweet deals to get out of the leases. Brilliant move strategically, however, the personal toll is quite harsh.

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Has anyone called any of those General Cinemas to see if they actually did close?

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I moved down here expecting them not to last long, as it's been no secret that they wanted out of Florida and California. And I thought they might continue to close a location here or there, as leases expired, etc.; but I sure didn't think they'd shut them all at once! (That is, until they started talking Chapter 11.)