Cinematour Forum: AMC Weakening?

HOME ·· CINEMAS ·· FORUM ·· LINKS ·· BOOKS
Contact Cinematour ·· Help & Hints ·· About Cinematour

my profile | my password | search | faq | forum home

»	Cinematour Forum » Cinemas and Theatres » AMC Weakening? (Page 2)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Author

Topic: AMC Weakening?

Mark Campbell
Member

Posts: 437
From: Seattle, WA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted November 18, 2010 08:35 AM

In addition to the 2nd tier art house fare, the AMC also double booked the Uptown with films that were already playing at the AMC Pacific Place. In earlier days the Uptown was considered in the same zone as all the downtown theatres, and I wonder if that rule would apply if a new operator came in? Could it play the same films as the Pacific Place or Regal Meridian 16? The newly independent Cinerama will be doing so with Harry Potter 7.1 so there could be a glimmer of hope the Uptown could follow suit.

I think the Uptown's only future would be as an art house or 2nd run discount. Seattle audiences are pretty savvy with their art-house theatres and the having AMC branding all over it plus the "preshow countdown" (ugh) did not help it. It would certainly be a turn-key to become a Landmark with minimal work, but after seeing Landmark shuttering most of its smaller theatres in LA in favor of the arty-Arclight approach of their flagship The Landmark, something tells me their business focus is not on taking on an older 3-screen cinema.

| IP: Logged

Scott D. Neff
Tour Guide

Posts: 661
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted November 18, 2010 09:51 AM

I have to say it's bizarre to go to the Uptown and see an older theatre crammed full of AMC propaganda. It just doesn't seem natural for some reason.

| IP: Logged

Dan Roben
Member

Posts: 155
From: Seattle, WA
Registered: May 2003

posted November 18, 2010 11:30 PM

Another sad reminder about the closing of the Uptown for those of us who have called Seattle home all our lives is the fact that it is the purest of the remaining open SRO Theaters in that except for the carpeting (standard Cineplex-Odeon issue) and all the AMC logo stuff in the lobby, nothing else has changed. The original color scheme, the original seats (still quite comfortable rocking chair seats dating from the remodel in the mid-80's). the snack bar and ambience are still there, except for the obnoxious pre-show which as Scott noted above seems so out of place with the art-film fare it shows.

Landmark is strong in Seattle and their presence is made up of three single screens, two twins, a triplex, a quad and a ten-plex, so the addition of the Uptown would fit nicely into the mix. As far as I know, there are no plans by Landmark to shutter any of their screens here.

I don't see a second-run operation in its future.

But I have been wrong before...

| IP: Logged

Mark Campbell
Member

Posts: 437
From: Seattle, WA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted November 19, 2010 11:16 AM

Dan, I think the Uptown is even more SRO than you think. The carpet appears to standard SRO issue. Take a look at my photos on Cinematour. That is the same carpet I remember being in the Tacoma South Cinemas and others SRO's of the 80's. That full house you see in the pictures was from the film fest. We saw Sex and the City 2 on opening weekend there in the medium auditorium and there were only about 50 people there for a 4PM saturday show.

http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2594.html

The Oak Tree, though, definitely has Cineplex Odeon carpet.

http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2586.html

| IP: Logged

Dan Spaulding
New Member

Posts: 12
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jul 2010

posted November 27, 2010 04:11 PM

I just learned that Landmark Theaters will not likely save the Uptown. 1 reason has to do with the fact that the Neptune Theater in the U District is being sold to STG Seattle Theater Group that operates the Moore & Paramount Theaters & will become a live venue for concerts & stage shows. I understand Landmark is shuttering several theaters in other cities. No word as to how soon the Neptune will be closed by Landmark. The SIFF Cinema folks were also approached & had no interest either in operating the Uptown Cinemas

| IP: Logged

Rachel Strong
New Member

Posts: 8
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2005

posted November 28, 2010 08:02 AM

Tonight appears to be it for the following theaters without showtimes past tonight:

AMC Plaza 3
300 Main Street
Keokuk, IA
http://www.dailydem.com/articles/2010/11/10/news/news4.txt

AMC Kennett 1
224 First Street
Kennett, MO
http://www.dddnews.com/story/1682819.html

AMC Richmond 10
600 Commerce Road
Richmond, IN
http://www.pal-item.com/article/20101110/NEWS01/101109022/1008/‘Dollar-Theater--closing-date-set-for-Nov.-28

AMC Hamilton 10
877 Washington Boulevard NW
Hamilton, OH

AMC Flat River 2
300 W. Main Street 
Park Hills, MO 63601

AMC Eastwood 2
663 E. Main Street
 Peru, IN 46970

AMC Loews Uptown 3
511 Queen Anne Ave N.
 Seattle, WA 98109

AMC Harrisburg 4
5 Main Street 
Harrisburg, IL 62946
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=11720&type=top

AMC Will Rogers 2
705 Monroe Street
 Charleston, IL 61920

| IP: Logged

Robert Crabtree
New Member

Posts: 20
From: Tampa, FL
Registered: Nov 2009

posted November 28, 2010 12:56 PM

In the case of several of those theatres, there is another nearby AMC that would be the sole theater to take up the shuttered theater's attendance. In the case of Hamilton, OH, the AMC that will be staying open is in the same zip code.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2