The B&B Theater of Red Oak, Texas, presents Cornhole, Pickleball, Bocce and more.
B&B theaters
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B&B theaters
Knitting nights. Cocktails. Pickleball.
These are some of the solutions that Bob Bagby and his family and operated theater channel, the B&B theaters, proposed to bring the public back to the cinema.
B&B is the fifth largest cinema in the country, and Bagby is chairman of the board of directors of Cinema United – formerly known as the National Association of Theater Owners. The group met this week in Las Vegas this week for its annual agreement, Cinemacon – where industry leaders have shared best practices and the studios have shared their next cinematographic slates.
Bagby says that the cinemas have been touched in recent years, thanks to the Pandemic of Covid-19, the Hollywood strikes and changes in the entertainment industry.
“Some had to close. They were dilapidated buildings,” he said. But other theaters have paid money into improvements, making cinema spaces in larger entertainment centers and experimenting with events and programming.
Bagby says that his theaters have also become creative on programming in their spaces. “In some of our small towns, we do things like bingo, we do mixology lessons.”
Theaters have Trivia nights linked to future films. They even have knitting lessons.
“What do you know? Enter and knit while you are watching movies. We do all these things,” he said.
Some cinemas also offer live concerts, a standing comedy, seminars and round tables, even religious services. Customers can now go to the movies, “and go to a Sky park with trampolines in the same building with a restaurant. Or go to a film and make bowling,” explains Chris Dammann, executive vice-president of Food and Beverage Association entertainment.
On the commercial level of Cinemacon, alongside the latest theatrical trends such as popcorn machines in energy in energy, reclining armchairs with zero gravity and robot vacuum cleaners, representatives of several bowling and billiards have presented their products to theater owners.
Casey Cline of the Bartesian cocktail company shows the latest cocktails at Caesars Palace during Cinemacon, the official Cinema United Convention.
Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Cinemacon
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Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Cinemacon
Schulman Theatres has been working since 1926. He has seven locations in Texas and will soon develop in Arkansas. The chain offers several entertainment centers under one roof, including bowling, karaoke, comedy standing and of course films.
“Covid has somehow forced us to look at different ways to use our auditoriums,” said vice-president Jacob Schulman. “We make birthdays, we make banquets, we have special events that are focused on films.” Beyond special events, the channel experienced what it plays on the big screen, including sporting events like March Madness and the Super Bowl.
A new generation of independent theaters
The small independent cinemas benefit from the moment.
“If anything, Covid has taught us that we cannot have all our eggs in the same basket,” explains Colleen Barstow, who owns Acx Cinemas, who is based in Nebraska with theaters in four other states.
“I think that being independent, you can rotate much faster than all the big channels.”
Some people are just in the exhibitors. Ancient Indiewire The film critic and editor Eric Kohn is now the artistic director of the Historical Playhouse of Southampton in Southampton, New York. “We had acts of Vaudeville in our theaters at the time,” he said. “Later, they would roll an old radio in the theater about 45 minutes before the show, so that people come to listen to.”
The Playhouse is now modernized with a brand new IMAX screen as well as a 35 -millimeter projector for directory projections.
“We opened with a series of films from 1932, Hollywood pre-code, and it was very popular, in tandem with Captain America: Brave New World showing our Imax, “said the 39 -year -old player.” We have video game movies showing in the race A minecraft film. So my sensitivities are eclectic. “”
The marquee in Southampton Playhouse in Southampton, New York.
Jessica Dalene Weber
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Jessica Dalene Weber
Doreen Sayegh followed his film owner, father in the company. She renovated a theater of almost 100 years in Cranford, New Jersey. During the pandemic, she sold popcorn to Go and hosted outdoor films. These days, she organizes pajama festivals and special cinema events.
“Even in times of recession (and) of depression, cinemas have always succeeded well,” she explains. Even today, she says: “It is always one of the most economical things you can do with your family.”
In Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the film producer Emelyn Stuart transformed an old warehouse into cinema with Empanadas and Coquito. She says that during the pandemic, the theater was authorized to remain open because it has become essential.
“I used a theater so that people watch their loved ones being buried across the country. We gave our food at four hours each day, and we would give laptops to make people unemployment.”
The theater welcomes quinceañeras and wedding proposals. It was even a voting site. She says that Stuart Cinema & Cafe has become a community center.
“Even with all the struggles and problems we have had, I serve the community,” said Stuart. “These are not even films at the end of the day.”
She and others from Cinemacon say that the cinemas do not die, they change their coil.
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