Wed
Oct 4 2006
10:53 pm
Downtown Cinema
By: Number9

I asked a question on KnoxBlab a long time ago about the wisdom of the City of Knoxville investing so much money into the Downtown Cinema. My question was whether we were are the brink of a technology shift that would reduce movie theater attendance due to a large increase in home theater purchases.

George Lucas gives his viewpoint.

"We don't want to make movies. We're about to get into television. As far as Lucasfilm is concerned, we've moved away from the feature film thing, because it's too expensive and it's too risky. Lucas said he believes Americans are abandoning the moviegoing habit for good."

Let's review, when did Knoxville build the Convention Center? At the bursting point of the Convention Center bubble.

When does Knox County choose to build the Midway Industrial Park?

When does the City of Knoxville decide to invest 3 million no 5 million no 7 million just don't ask how many millions of taxpayer dollars into a City owned movie theater?

When the movie business bubble burst. You have to hand it to them, they are consistent.

Topics:
Les Jones's picture

Good point

Submitted by Les Jones on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 11:04am.

I read that same Lucas interview, but didn't make the connection. 

Hey, Les, why don't we just call each other assholes and get it over with. - Somebody on the old Southknoxbubba.net (if that was you, claim your quote and win net.fame!)

smalc's picture

I dunno, can we trust Lucas'

Submitted by smalc on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 11:22am.

I dunno, can we trust Lucas' judgement after the JarJar incident?

(star wars geek alert)

CathyMcCaughan's picture

theater or home dvd

Submitted by CathyMcCaughan on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 12:31pm.

Anyone who wants there to be a new Indiana Jones movie and a new Jurassic Park movie, believes in direct to video.

Mike Cohen's picture

Downtown Cinema

Submitted by Mike Cohen (not verified) on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 3:23pm.

Movies were going to die when TV came along.

Movies were going to die when VCRs came along.

Movies were going to die when the Internet took hold.

None of them give you a night out. None of them give you a big screen.

Not sure what the next big techno-leap for entertainment will be (and I am someone who owned a Betamax, so my techno-judgement is questionable at best) but I believe movies will still be going strong.

Les Jones's picture

Mike:

Submitted by Les Jones on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 3:35pm.

True, but box office receipts did drop in 2005. 'Course, it's also true that Hollywood put out some real losers in 2005. Things picked up this year thanks to much-improved movies. 

Hey, Les, why don't we just call each other assholes and get it over with. - Somebody on the old Southknoxbubba.net (if that was you, claim your quote and win net.fame!)

JaHu's picture

Things picked up this year

Submitted by JaHu on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 9:29pm.

Things picked up this year thanks to much-improved movies.

Does Johnny Knoxville's movie fit into this category?

Socialist With A Gold Card's picture

Does Johnny Knoxville's

Submitted by Socialist With ... on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 9:47pm.

Does Johnny Knoxville's movie fit into this category?

God, no. But Snakes On A Plane does.

--Socialist With A Gold Card

"I'm a socialist with a gold card. I firmly believe we need a revolution; I'm just concerned that I won't be able to get good moisturizer afterwards." --Brett Butler

 

Number9's picture

Movies were going to die

Submitted by Number9 on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 3:54pm.

Movies were going to die when TV came along.

Movies were going to die when VCRs came along.

Movies were going to die when the Internet took hold.

None of them give you a night out. None of them give you a big screen.

How many music titles are produced on 8-track or cassette? Why so few? Maybe because of CD's and later downloaded music.

Remember when the owners of Drive in Theaters said the big screen would never die? How many Drive in Theaters are there in Knox County?

How many Cities in America own a movie theater?

If we had any sense at all we would equip each theater with a stage so when this fails we could have a place for plays, acoustic music, and comedians. The fact that Regal will not use their own money should be a clue.

There is no fall back plan. Just like the Convention Center, just like the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Let's say it together, in three part harmony,

If you build it they will come.

edens's picture

>I am someone who owned a

Submitted by edens on Thu, 2006/10/05 - 4:02pm.

>I am someone who owned a Betamax, so my techno-judgement is >questionable at best

Actually, your techno savvy was just fine. But surely you ought to know: always bet on the brand with the best marketing.

rikki's picture

shame on you

Submitted by rikki on Fri, 2006/10/06 - 12:37am.

What an evil, back-handed dig at Gloria Ray.

crazyktownsob's picture

The City Is Taking You To The "Movies"

Submitted by crazyktownsob (not verified) on Fri, 2006/10/06 - 2:33am.

In 1958, the minimum wage was $1.00 per hour. The average ticket price was 68 cents. In 1967, the minimum wage was $1.40 per hour. The average ticket price was $1.22. In 1978, the minimum wage was $2.65 per hour. The average ticket price was $2.34. In 1991, the minimum wage was $4.25 per hour. The average ticket price was $4.21. In 2005, the minimum wage was (and still is) $5.15 per hour. The average ticket price was $6.41. So, now a minimum wage worker must work on average more than one hour to purchase a movie ticket, for movies like "Dude, Where's My Car" and "Jackass: Number Two". For God's sake, the city can do much better than some overpriced movie house. The concession stand price comparisons would've been much worse.

Up Goose Creek's picture

inflation

Submitted by Up Goose Creek on Fri, 2006/10/06 - 7:36am.

Adjusted for inflation our minimum wage would be somewhere around $7.20 - $7.50. So movie tickets are right in line.

It's the minimum wage that's out of balance.

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