Drove past there and it's officially closed. Kind of bummed me out a bit, that was my favorite theatre and had so much life still in it.
There was a thread with comments about this before but couldn't dig it up. Someone had mentioned how nice it would be if AMC or another company bought it out, and I agree.
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Why would rave sell the Maumee Cinema to a rival. They will probably even stipulate in the sale agreement when they do sell it that the property can not be used as a theatre or anything that would compete with a theatre.
I live in Sylvania and closer to Franklin Park Mall, I choose to go to Maumee 18 100% of the time compared to the mall just to avoid the chaos, and trouble making kids.
posted by justphillips on Jul 29, 2010 at 08:14:47 am #
June 7, 2010 - Toledo Talk - Rave Closing Conant Sreet Cinemas - 36 comments
The final day for the movie theaters at the Cinema De Lux on Conant Street was Sunday, July 11.
July 12, 2010 - Toledo Blade - Cinema De Lux goes dark without ceremony
July 11, 2010 - Toledo Blade - City now has four abandoned movie houses
July 11, 2010 - Toledo Blade - Toledo [area] movie houses to get digital upgrade
The 12-year-old theater is being shuttered by new owner Rave Motion Pictures as the Dallas-based company attempts to establish itself in a new marketplace with three remaining local movie houses: Levis Commons, Fallen Timbers, and Westfield Franklin Park.Rave officials acknowledge coming under fire by area residents for the company's decision to close the South Toledo-area theater. "We're very well aware it was an unpopular decision to close Maumee," said Jeremy Devine, Rave vice president of marketing.
At the same time, he said the theater's closing was necessary to "make a multimillion-dollar commitment to Toledo" as Rave converts the remaining 42 auditoriums it purchased from National Amusements Inc. in December from 35 mm to digital projectors, the inevitable future of film presentation.
... its four Toledo theaters had only two digital projectors, one at Franklin Park, the other at the Maumee 18. The Maumee projector, which is also 3-D-capable, has been moved to Fallen Timbers.
The digital format, while initially criticized by theater owners as cost-prohibitive, costing up to $100,000 to convert each auditorium, and by filmmakers as sterile compared to film, has now largely been accepted as the inevitable evolution in cinema.
"Our intention is to have every screen in every Rave theater in Toledo be all-digital by the end of the year," Devine said. This includes Fallen Timbers as a completely digital theater, possibly by the end of the month.
We refuse to go to the theaters at this point.
The mall is a horrible movie choice - the disrespectful patrons, and the prices are horrible.
The Timbers, just too far.
posted by OhioKimono on Jul 29, 2010 at 08:17:51 am #
Disrespectful patrons including large groups of unsupervised kids and teens, people who cannot watch a movie without talking on their cell phone ( I have overheard some really interesting conversations, none of any importance that could not wait)and the people who carry on a conversation throughout the movie causing oyu to miss important parts or dialogue
Just a note:
If you go see a movie mid-week in the afternoon the theaters at the mall are completely empty.posted by toledolen_ on Jul 29, 2010 at 09:27:44 am #
The Michigan Theater
The State Theater
The Burton Theater
The Main Art TheaterFour places I'd drive to before Fallen Timbers.
posted by ifXthenWhyNot on Jul 29, 2010 at 11:35:05 am #
Originally, Rave said it would close "by the end of summer", but then a week later, they said it would close about 2-3 weeks into summer. I thought about sending the management a detailed letter with data on population density, traffic, income, demographics, etc. but I guess they already took all that into account and the decision was final.
I think the biggest thing they are overlooking is that the population center that is South Toledo - neighborhoods roughly bordered by Airport Highway to the North, the Maumee River to the East, I-475 to the West and the Turnpike to the South now have no local theater. That's like 60,000 people who have to either drive 6-10 miles to Franklin Park or 5-9 miles to Fallen Timbers. Are people willing to drive this far when Netflix is delivered right to their mailbox and video-on-demand is a click away?
I don't think management looked at the big picture. Instead of being patient and allowing the natural progression of growth - which will eventually happen in outer edges of the metro (like in Waterville/Monclova and the new route 24 corridor), they closed an established property to boost the newer, possibly under-performing ones (i.e. Levis Commons and Fallen Timbers).
The south metro area proper, including Maumee & Perrysburg, is a center of commerce. All the highways cross in the area and there are a lot of hotels and businesses. Movie houses on different sides of that area draw from different pars of the greater metro. Levis Commons should have a huge market area - being the only 'good' theater East of the river. If the outlying theaters weren't pulling their weight, the solution is to kill off the most convenient, highest-grossing one!?! I'm not an expert, but I don't agree with that. Now there is 1 less option, and a large part of the population either won't be served or will be forced to drive farther than they'd like.
Well the multiplex theater is a dead idea. In today's world with DVD and internet the draw to a theater has been severely cut. Only a very new release will draw a crowd and you don't need 18 screens for that. It went from having 1 large screen with lots of comfortable seating to multiple screens with smaller tightly packed seating which was fine if you think on the movie audience that went to see movies.
Think on the 50s and 60's, single screen theaters, but movies came out only in theaters and stayed for weeks. The only option you had was to wait for it to come to TV. View the 70's and 80's, they started multiple screens to pull in more movie goers that wanted to see different movies, they started making the theater smaller because the crowds were split on which movie they were going to see and didn't need as many seats, along with movies on VCR, you didn't have to go to the theater to see a movie.
The 90's was the beginning of the downfall for theaters, DVD, internet, downloads, blockbuster, who needed to go to a theater to see a movie. Even look at blockbuster and other movie rental places, they are hurting bad from internet and Netflicks. As more in home demand services are created the Movie theater will die on the vine, except for only the newest releases available no where else.
I think a throwback to the older grand large single screen theater might be a good fit for today's new release movie goer. As long as you can provide a good enjoyable atmosphere. I'm thinking a place with enforced quiet, a cell phone scrambler or signal blocking built into the walls. Reduced infomercials and previews before the actual movie. Add in great sound system, lighting, and anything else technical that enhances the movie like 3D.
In today's market the number of people going to see a movie is at a premium and creating a good movie going experience could draw a crowd. Every time I hear of a person with a complaint about going to see a movie its about noise and distractions,commercials before the movie, the condition of the theater, quality of service, and prices.
I think the time of the huge multiplex is gone, time for a smaller and better theater to replace them.
posted by Linecrosser on Jul 29, 2010 at 04:10:31 pm #
Making a faraday cage wouldn't be that hard to do.
posted by justphillips on Jul 29, 2010 at 04:14:16 pm #
I know that more and more “luxury” theaters are opening up out west. They have few seats because they are nice recliners with tables and you can order food and drink. The tickets are more obviously, but it has made movie going an event again. We are too spoiled by our home theaters and ability to watch pretty much anything at anytime. These new theaters have upped the ante again. I know I would spend the extra cash to go to one if it was a movie I really wanted to see.
I really don't know what to believe about whether ordinary (not luxury) theaters are becoming a thing of the past. I love Netflix and my Roku movies on demand on my TV, but then I look at the amount of money theatrical releases continue to bring in and I guess people still go a lot.
There must be a lot of people who can afford $10+ a ticket for movies now. Parents must give their kids a hell of an allowance now.
I've tried the luxury theater experience once or twice. It's OK, but I still like my own couch. It's too bad that low-class individuals who can't (a) shut up, (b) sit down, © control their kids, or (d) get off their goddamn cell phones ruin the experience for some people going to the theater. Too bad theaters see having an usher ("bouncer") in each theater as an additional expense instead of a necessity.
Maybe having one or two screens instead of 18 will bring the era of the movie usher back--someone who can tell an obnoxious audience member to behave.
posted by oldhometown on Jul 29, 2010 at 06:07:27 pm #
How about an indoor skate park? Leave the walls up and make 18 different tracks... and no I am not asking gov to pay for it, I am just throwing out what might work. A destination for a specific demographic. Do one thing and do it very well. Then move on. :)
posted by Molsonator on Jul 29, 2010 at 06:57:30 pm #
Until the first slacker breaks a leg and the parents sue and shut them down.
posted by Linecrosser on Jul 30, 2010 at 09:36:00 am #
Woodville Mall had an indoor skate park in Woolworths. Slot car tracks and gas-powered RC car track too back in the day.
I think of all the people who obtained DVD players and high-def TVs of large size and Netflix subscriptions ... and it becomes obvious that movie theaters are in a fatal decline.
Took my kids to see a movie tonight at Franklin Park/Westfield.
For one adult & 2 children, tickets alone were $35.75.
Something tells me those ticket prices are helping to contribute to the decline in movie theater attendance.
After concessions, the evening cost me over $50. That's why its a rare treat for my kids to go to the movie theater. Yikes!
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Agreed. Nuff said.
posted by OhioKimono on Jul 29, 2010 at 07:48:51 am #