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Cinema Circle
Iwerks® Extreme Screen™ Expanding
Iwerks® Entertainment and Showmax Inc. agreed to install an Iwerks® Extreme Screen™
3D Large Format theater system in the Montreal Forum Entertainment Center in Montreal,
Canada. Scheduled to open August 2000, the 450-seat theater, highlighted by a 60-foot
screen, is part of Showmax’s effort to create an entertainment mecca at the former
home of the Montreal Canadian hockey team.
The agreement with Showmax marks the introduction of Iwerks’ Giant Screen system in
Canada and the ninth Iwerks Extreme Screen Theatre worldwide. Two were recently opened at
Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri and at the Center of Science and Industry in
Columbus, Ohio. European openings are due soon at Warner Village Cinemas at Cheshire Oaks
in the United Kingdom and Dunbartonshire Enterprises at Lomond Shores Virgin Cinemas in
Loch Lomond, Scotland. Four are under construction, including sites at the San Diego
Natural History Museum; Cinema Entertainment Corporation’s Century Theatre in Fargo,
North Dakota; National Amusements Showcase Cinemas Norte in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and
Katoomba, Australia.
For information: Iris Wagner, Showmax Montreal, 514-481-9303; Iwerks® 818-841-7766.
Malco Plans Upgrade, Expansion
The three-year-old Malco Theatres Cinema 12 on Frederica Street in Owensboro, Kentucky
will expand to Cinema 16 after a $1-million retrofitting. Four new screens will be
installed on the south side of the theater and the existing 12 theaters will be
retrofitted for stadium seating and the latest in digital sound technology. The renovation
is scheduled to be completed in time for summer 2000 season.
Memphis, Tennessee-based Malco recently announced plans to build a $12-million, 16-screen
theater on South Mendenhall in East Memphis. The theater, to be built on a 6.5-acre site,
will feature stadium seating, first-run movies, concession amenities, and 800 parking
spaces. Also in Memphis, another new 14-screen Malco theater, the Paradiso, is currently
under construction at Macon and Germantown Parkway with a November 2000 projected opening.
For information: Malco Theaters, 901-761-0201.
RTA Breaks Ground in Utah
Resort Theaters of America (RTA) broke ground on the RTA Theaters at the Redstone retail
center being constructed by the Boyer Company in Park City, Utah, home of the Sundance
Film Festival. Designed by architect Fred Babcock, the 10-screen, $7-million facility will
offer the first digital cinemas in the area with THX sound, state-of-the-art projection
and stadium seating, and it received the endorsement of the Sundance Festival. The
theater, expected to open spring 2001, will also be equipped to host seminars,
conferences, private screenings and special events.
Founded in 1998, RTA is actively expanding through acquisition and development with the
announced intention of being the first digitally-equipped theater chain in the United
States. The company recently acquired the film assets of The Metropolitan Theater chain in
the Palm Springs area as well as three CinemaCal properties in the Carmel/Monterey area.
RTA currently has more than 100 screens owned or under development, with recent openings
of the Isis Theater in Aspen, Colorado and the Osio Theater in Monterey, California. The
company’s goal is to acquire and build a 1000-screen circuit by 2002.
For information: Resort Theaters of America, 310-858-2858; Sundance Film Festival,
801-328-3456.
Muvico Plans Memphis Theaters
Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Muvico Theaters purchased a $5-million, 20-acre site for a
24-screen movie theater in the Cordova area of Memphis, Tennessee. An adjacent 9.5-acre
site is under contract with Home Depot for a home improvement center just north of a
Storage USA facility. Also in Memphis, Muvico committed to 90,000 sq.ft. in Belz
Enterprises’ Peabody Place Entertainment and Retail Center, with plans to develop an
IMAX theater and a 21-screen movie theater.
For information: Muvico Theaters, 954-564-6550.
Carmike To Open in Fort Wayne
The Carmike 20 Cinema is due to open in October 2000 on DuPont Road in Fort Wayne,
Indiana’s far north side. The $15-million project, being developed by Anthony
Development of Dallas, Texas, will be the first Fort Wayne-area theater with stadium-style
seating and an advanced THX acoustical system. A 240,000-sq.ft. shopping center is planned
next to the theater.
For information: Carmike Cinemas, 706-576-3400.
AMC Sees Stock and Theater Changes
Syufy Century Corporation, of San Rafael, California, acquired 1.4 million shares or 7.24
percent of AMC Entertainment Inc. common stock. Related to Century Theatres, Syufy claims
it is a passive investor in AMC and has no intention of buying additional shares or
seeking any change in AMC’s board of directors. Kansas City-based AMC, which has seen
its stock price drop by more than half in the past year, has been the center of takeover
speculation, especially since the July 1999 death of its chairman and founder, Stan
Durwood. Stock analysts are voicing concerns about a possible Chapter 11 filing.
The former AMC Como 8 Theatres in Appletree Business Park, Cheetowaga, New York will
become the AppleTree 6 Theatres run by JGM Entertainment, a partnership between two former
AMC employees who managed the facility. AMC had closed the theater last year as part of
corporate efforts to close smaller theaters and concentrate on megaplex facilities. The
manager of the Appletree Business Park, Ciminelli Development Co., plans to convert a
portion of the old theater into office space. The AppleTree 6 will be one of two
discounted movie houses in the Buffalo area. In addition to $2 screenings of second-run
films, the theater will offer discounted concessions.
For information: AMC, 310-553-0515; Century Theatres, 415-776-3045; AppleTree 6 Theatres
716-681-3101.
Joint Venture Adds to “Theatery”
A joint venture between Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Star Theatres and New York City-based
Ark Restaurant Corp. is creating more on-site restaurants at the Star Southfield 20-screen
multiplex in Southfield, Michigan. Adding to the existing Johnny Rockets and Island
Jimmy’s, the venture opened the Volcano Grill, a bright Mexican cantina, and Z-Dim, a
high-tech video bar with ethnic cuisine. Fat Anthony’s, an Italian Pizzeria, and
Starlight Brewery are scheduled to open this spring.
To encourage business, management has promised to serve moviegoers within five minutes if
necessary, and a runner will be available to buy movie tickets for diners.
For information: Ark Restaurant Corp., 212-206-8800; Star Theatres, 616-940-0866.
Windward Mall Selects Theater Operator
Windward Mall in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii selected Consolidated Amusement Company, Ltd. to
operate its new theater complex. The 45,000-sq.ft. theater, to be located in the upper
level of a former JCPenney store, will include stadium seating, wall-to-wall screens and
the latest in digital surround sound. The lower level, approximately 44,000 sq.ft., will
be converted to additional retail space for the mall. Preconstruction work is scheduled
for completion during spring 2000 and includes a two-deck parking garage.
Windward Mall, built in 1982 on 30 acres, is the only regional mall on the windward side
of the island of Oahu and, with 530,000 sq.ft. of retail space, is the fourth largest mall
in the state. The center’s manager, Pauahi Management Corporation, says that Windward
already draws 6.7 million shoppers per year and estimates that the new theater may
increase traffic by 25 percent.
For information: Clive L. Cabral, general manager, Windward Mall, 808-235-1143; e-mail
clive@hawaiishopper.com.
Regal Plans Building Slow-Down
Regal Cinemas, Inc. reported total revenues during 1999 of $1.1 billion, an increase of
46.7 percent from the previous year. Michael L. Campbell, president and CEO, attributes
the growth in cash flow to the company’s newer theaters. During 1999, Regal built 53
new theaters with 869 screens and had net capital expenditures of $427 million.
However, Regal will reduce capital spending on new theaters for 2000 and 2001, planning to
open no more than 340 screens in 2000 with total capital spending of just under $200
million. In 2001, the capital program will be further reduced to add less than 150 new
screens with total spending of less than $100 million. Campbell says that the industry is
overscreened, adding, “We are pleased by our own efforts as well as others in our
industry to focus on the rationalization of the domestic screen count by curtailing new
screen expansion and accelerating screen closures.”
As of December 30, 1999, Regal had 4,413 screens in operation at 430 theaters.
For information: Regal Cinemas, 423-922-1123.
CinemaStar Theater Opens in California
A 20-screen CinemaStar Luxury Theater, Inc., designed by Stoutenborough Inc., Architects
& Planners, opened recently in San Bernardino, California. The 80,000-sq.ft. theater
holds 4,298 seats, making it the largest CinemaStar eight-screen theater in Southern
California.
The theater was designed as part of a downtown redevelopment plan, which is expected to
help enliven the San Bernardino downtown area and return it to its thriving past. Also
slated for the site are 20,000 sq.ft. of retail and restaurant space and shared parking
for 6,000 cars. Nearby are a live theater house and the Carousel Mall.
Located in Newport Beach, California, Stoutenborough Inc. specializes in mixed-use, retail
and entertainment complexes. The company offers full services including design, planning
and working drawings to clients nationwide.
For information, contact Stoutenborough, Inc., 949-955-3991, Fax 949-955-3998.
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