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Topic: Rave Buys 29 Theatres From National Amusements
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Edward Havens
New Member
Posts: 50
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted February 16, 2010 12:57 AM
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Edward, I think you should go all out and get DLP installed in the whole 13!
From your lips to God's ears... although we might not have 13 screens when all is said and done. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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Are all your auditoriums equipped with digital sound? During the Mann incarnation, everything was ear splitting fuzzy center channel stereo.
If that. When we took over the building, House 7 only had right channel sound!
For the record, the sound processors themselves were in decent shape. It was the amps that were shot, and I couldn't tell you if it was during the Mann years, the Loews years or the Cineplex years when these things started failing. I can tell you we have spent a lot of time and a little bit of money to get the sound back to where it always should have been, but for now, all main floor auditoriums are Dolby A four channel stereo. House 1 still has the capacity for 70mm six track magnetic stereo, but for 35mm is still Dolby A. And House 2... well, you heard it for yourself. I usually put the Inception B trailer on just before the feature, because it really gives House 2's sound system a workout and really let's people know this isn't the same old Beverly Center.
I really do appreciate you giving the Beverly Center another chance with an open mind, and look forward to hosting your cinema club again soon.
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John J. Fink
Member
Posts: 123
From: Buffalo, NY
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted March 03, 2010 10:07 PM
True, that and I susupect the transition isn't completed yet for all theaters (ie: those on leased land, the few that National had) - I don't think Enfield, CT has closed yet. Although I think National may have just been an "operator" for the mall as I'm not too sure Northeastern Theaters (the remaning unsold Hoyts sites) exists anymore. Then again who's running the still called Hoyts Simsbury Commons. Speculation is Hoyts still is, for a while Boston Culonary Group ran it.
Perhaps this is a question for people in the biz - unrelated to the National/Rave transaction: what was the connection between Hoyts, Boston Culonary Group, and Frank Theatres. For a time certain theaters owned by Franks Theaters were run by Hoyts. BCG, the parent company of Entertainment Cinemas also ran sites for Hoyts. Were these strictly management companies? Franks Theaters (in NJ) also took over a site Hoyts stopped construction on and finished in Bayonne.
Sorry for the questions - as for the Rave/National merger I think National is still managing the theaters while Rave assesses the purchases and decides on a rebranding stratagy for the sites. Film Journal has two articles on the merger.
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Film Journal International
In addition to such demographic and geographic compatibility, the combined Rave now stands to reap the benefits from integrating the physical and operational sides of the acquisitions as well. “We obviously didn’t want to make any changes over the busy holiday season,” Stephenson explains. “The process of rebranding the newly acquired theatres as Rave will be starting now. Going forward, we have a very thoughtful and well-planned-out integration process.” From his point of view, “we have two really good companies here. We can learn a lot from National Amusements, as we have some things to offer them as well.” Elaborating upon the goal of “best practices,” he assures that “we are going to work very hard to integrate the best of both worlds.” Of course, there are economies of scale to be had when it comes to vendor agreements. “On the cinema-advertising side as well,” Stephenson feels, “the bigger footprint you can deliver to your advertising partners, the more helpful it is to them.”
One good example for the smoothness of the transition—and one that keeps the potential confusion of guests in mind—is the fact that moviegoers can find their favorite local theatre in any given area, both on the www.ravemotionpictures.com and www.showcasecinemas.com websites. Also, NAI will retain their respective names and trademarks, including Cinema De Lux, Showcase and Multiplex Cinemas. Their former locations will be “rebranded in the right Rave style,” Stephenson says, but without being forceful. “Each building will be a little different. Some of them will be spiffed up a bit more perhaps than, let’s say, Fairfax Corner 14 (Virginia) or Buckland Hills (Connecticut), which are beautiful buildings just as they are right now. There will be name changes and you may find some more digital signage, such as menu boards within the theatres, for example, and some other features that we have found to be working very well for us.”
Has anything changed at the National theaters - ie: has Pepsi switched to Coke, and has the popcorn changed from the delicious National Amusements popcorn to the Regal like popcorn I had the one Rave site I visited a few years back? My travels may take me to Springdale, Ohio in the next month so I might have an answer for myself then.
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