Cinematour Forum: ArcLight to Expand to the San Diego Area

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»	Cinematour Forum » Cinemas in the News » ArcLight to Expand to the San Diego Area

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Topic: ArcLight to Expand to the San Diego Area

Danny Baldwin
Member

Posts: 130
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Aug 2009

posted September 07, 2011 07:01 PM

As a native San Diegan, I'm thrilled, even though this will likely be the end of two great theaters, the AMC La Jolla 12 (where I once worked) and Landmark's La Jolla Village (if ArcLight programs indies).

Here's the full story at The Wrap: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/1850-movie-tickets-come-san-dieg o-arclight-expands-beyond-la-30784

What will be most interesting is: being that this is a new build and not a retrofit, will ArcLight stick to the Hollywood principles and go with side-masking or not!?

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Chris Utley
Senior Member

Posts: 631
From: Torrance, CA
Registered: May 2003

posted September 07, 2011 07:31 PM

Oh my...

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Jeff Arellano
Senior Member

Posts: 685
From: Monterey Park, CA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted September 07, 2011 07:44 PM

Considering Pacific pulled out of San Diego years ago.. i call it a last hurrah. All Pacific really has to survive is Arclight.

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Chris Utley
Senior Member

Posts: 631
From: Torrance, CA
Registered: May 2003

posted September 07, 2011 08:31 PM

Danny: I think your indie house will survive. ArcLight only shows indie flicks with a pedigree. The hardcore true blue indies will stay at that Landmark spot.

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Danny Baldwin
Member

Posts: 130
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Aug 2009

posted September 07, 2011 08:59 PM

Depends. Given Landmark has two other locations in the county and Reading (the company that took over Pacific) runs indies at their Gaslamp location, it would seem that the only thing that makes La Jolla a location worth running are the high-grossing exclusive releases like "Midnight in Paris" and "Black Swan". It's hard to imagine ArcLight not making a go of usurping these bookings, and I bet they'd succeed. It's conjecture, but at over 30 years old now, the 'ol place may be done for.

Now I know why AMC put their plans to turn the 12 into a Fork and Screen on hold. What would be great is if somebody like Regency took over and ran the only discount house in San Diego. It's a long-shot, given the high screen-count and the fact that La Jolla is highly affluent and doesn't really jive with the discount concept. But as a true 'mall cinema' with some great (side-masked) screens, I'd hate to see the 12 bite the dust.

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Edward Havens
New Member

Posts: 50
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Registered: Oct 2009

posted September 07, 2011 11:32 PM

1800 seats for 14 screens? In a new building? Really?

Really?

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Brad Erickson
Member

Posts: 117
From: West Hollywood, CA
Registered: May 2006

posted September 08, 2011 09:56 AM

Anything that brings AMC down is fine with me. They are the McDonalds of film exhibition.

Arclight Hollywood is the one venue that keeps me interested in going to the movies these days. Otherwise I would probably just stay home and just watch Blu rays, with occasional visits to the Village, Bruin, Chinese or a few of the Laemmles. The Arclight branding is quality and worth the extra $$$ in my opinion. I hope this does well for San Diego.

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Danny Baldwin
Member

Posts: 130
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Aug 2009

posted September 08, 2011 10:43 AM

Havens, keep in mind that the three main capacities for Hollywood are 230, 185, and 145. Only two auditoriums are 415. Those screens have never felt small to me.

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Edward Havens
New Member

Posts: 50
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Registered: Oct 2009

posted September 09, 2011 12:08 PM

Danny, keep in mind that the average seating capacity for Archlight San Diego will be 128.5. Two 300 seats houses will drive the remaining average down to 100, and anything larger will get those smallest houses down to Beverly Center-level capacities.

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Chris Utley
Senior Member

Posts: 631
From: Torrance, CA
Registered: May 2003

posted September 09, 2011 03:36 PM

More like ArcLight Beach Cities capabilities. The small houses in there don't look like they hold 100 seats at all. And no side-masking either!

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Jeff Arellano
Senior Member

Posts: 685
From: Monterey Park, CA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted September 09, 2011 05:34 PM

They should nickname this as Arclittle. Im only guessing the old mann 6 there held close to 1500 seats when it had opened.

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Danny Baldwin
Member

Posts: 130
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Aug 2009

posted September 10, 2011 10:09 PM

Wow... when you put it like that, it does seem tiny. (Arithmetic has never been one of my strong suits.)

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