People with money and their friends will be inside the a/c enjoying their "private" party. The riff-raff can watch the street performers in the hundred degree heat. Riff-raff who say "hi" to the juggling riff-raffer, will make him very happy.

That's a "City People" event, not a "People With Money" event. City People consists of riff-raff who can manage to scrape together $25/year to support stuff in downtown Knoxville.

Doug's a badass juggler, though, so I'll probably blow off the air conditioning to watch Knoxville's premo club-slinger out on the street.

Have you checked your e-mail invites this weekend?

Personally, I'm in the mode for a good comedy so I plan to attend the county commission meeting -- going to watch them juggle the blame. :-)

That's a "City People" event, not a "People With Money" event. City People consists of riff-raff who can manage to scrape together $25/year to support stuff in downtown Knoxville.

For those interested, here's a link to City People

The City People event is SEPTEMBER 17.

Ah. So it is. My bad.

I could be wrong, but the list that I saw of the $1 movies for the next few days tells me they really ARE dollar movies. Elf?

Wasn't that shown from free on Market Square not too long ago?

It would have been nice if corporate could have thrown in some real new release movies for the $1 promotion.

I ain't going downtown to see Elf.

People without money do get 3 days of dollar films and food. I plan to go one day and even again when the prices go up. I may go to see Elf, I laughed outloud at Elf when it was on a couple of years ago,

Just sayin'

Some people will complain about anything. I believe there were one or two private parties, mostly for contractors involved in the building of the project, Regal folks, etc. So what!

This week, different charities are benefiting from $1 movies, $1 popcorn on Tues., Wed. and Thurs. There are sponsors each night (WBIR did superheros Tues.). These were/are theme nights, one superheros (Spiderman, Superman), one Christmas and another something else. They had about 8 set movies and 3 or so specific to the nightly theme (thus, 'Elf' on one night for a couple of showings). There were some newer movies in the other group of 8 running all the time (Knocked Up, Wild Hogs, others). So, no, you're not limited to Elf. That was one night and for a reason. The listings of all the movies were in the paper.

I left my office last night about 7:30 (it's directly accross the street from the theater). Lots of people in and around the theater. People standing in line at the box office for tickets. It was great to see.

This is a great thing for downtown. Some movies for a $1 to benefit charities to kick things off. And all some people can do is complain that some VIP's got a party and pick on a couple of the movie selections. Geez.

Yes, some people are just bad to the bone. And, probably Democrats, too.

And, just think, if they had offered new release movies to benefit charities, they could have charged TWO dollars and raised twice as much. :)

"It would have been nice if corporate could have thrown in some real new release movies for the $1 promotion."

how about just a good movie? i'm wondering whether the DT will be a venue for the indie films regal is showing at downtown west. that would save many people a lot of money in gas and improve (to some small degree) air quality in this oversprawled town.

in fact, one of those eight screens could be showing "An Inconvenient Truth" or "Who Killed the Electric Car?"

And, just think, if they had offered new release movies to benefit charities, they could have charged TWO dollars and raised twice as much. :)

And you know, that probably violates some agreement they have with the movie distribution company. Guess they could have opened up at $8 and said to heck with the community. No good deed goes unpunished.

Didn't the tax payers pick up part of the bill to fund that theater? I forget.

I heard that 2000 people have attended the theater so far. Off to a good start. Hope it keeps up once the real prices go into effect.

Speaking of Sicko and Who Killed the Electric Car, I wonder if Knoxville will get No End in Sight? (Downtown or elsewhere)

Link...

Didn't the tax payers pick up part of the bill to fund that theater?

I think the answer is yes and they will reap the benefit. It was a complex funding deal, with substantial private and some public money.

If you think taxpayers should get something free at the cinema opening, where's my free beer and food from the establishments on Market Square?

A socialist...why would you cuss me that way???

I have no problem with investments which will provide a return. In this instance, government is supporting more than one business. In about 6 months, ask the merchants near the cinema. In the end, it's not government running the show. I don't think that was Marx's idea.

Inevitably, government is involved in many businesses, from TIF's to roads. Substantial money was spent in Turkey Creek and in Cedar Bluff. Theaters in that area no doubt benefited.

Do you have a breakdown on the source and amount of funds for the cinema? Maybe Bill Lyons could give us some insight.

I saw Elf today and it was as good as the first time. The theatre and staff were very nice. Even after the discount days the parking garages will give you free 3 hours of parking with a movie ticket stub. The complaining about downtown annoys me. If they were showing dollar Indie films someone would want something else. I think all the restaurants and bars benefit from the theatre. When I worked downtown 2 1/2 years ago there were only a couple of places serving food after the lunch rush and Sundays were a ghost town. Now its completely different, I think people living there has helped. People who can't afford to live downtown still benefit from more things to do there, of all price ranges. You can't get any better than the WDVX shows and a real live Elvis impersonator on the Square during lunch.

I believe the $4.25 million in bonds were equity bonds sold to private investors.

The Haslam Rolodex comes in handy, at times.

An excellent point by Mr. Edens.

Plus no salary. The City has a great Mayor for free.

$8.1 million (nearly 55%) in taxpayer money. Not that I'm counting.

I truly hope it is successful and, even more maybe, I hope it helps downtown (especially existing retail business).

If I still lived in South Knoxville, I'd be very happy to have a real movie theater so convenient once again so as not to have to drive out to West Knox to see a first run movie.

I hope they run some of the indie flicks that the Downtown West cinema has been the only place in town to see, as someone suggested earlier. Given the hipster loft set makeup of downtown residents, it might make good business sense, except it might grate on the politics of our local leaders who have so graciously made such downtown amenities possible.

However he brings no personal or political agenda to such efforts, period. It's called public service.

Heck, if tomorrow's Metro Pulse is correct, Knoxvillians owe Bill Haslam big time as he has personally invested 7 figures in bringing the new cinema to downtown. I hope it's successful. Knoxville's Mayor apparently puts his money where his mouth is.

or Knox County for that matter, would be cynical these days, what with Republicans being in charge and doing such a swell job.

I will reiterate again, the problems in Knox County government have not a single thing to do with "Republicans". Cynthia Finch is a Democrat. So are other members of Mike Ragsdale's senior staff. There were Democrat Commissioners on January 31 who participated in what lots of people have been complaining about. Partisan politics has nothing to do with it.

The atmosphere back then was a lot more restrictive than anything in recent memory and from that point on I have never had any trouble in avoiding being "told what to think or what to believe" or finding plenty of sources of opinion and information.

Except for privacy (warrantless wiretaps and corporate-assisted eavesdropping), civil liberties (Patriot Act), freedom of speech ("Free Speech" zones at Bush rallies and harassment/arrests of Bush/Cheney protesters), etc. These freedoms have certainly been diminished over the last couple of decades. It's technology in general and the internet specifically that makes it too hard for the gov't to be any more restrictive. (Gee, that makes me sound like a Lib or a conspiracy nut, and I'm neither.)

My wife and friends too have been hoping Regal will see the demographics downtown and play the Downtown West type movies at the Riviera. There are obviously enough screens here to do so. Those are just about the only first run movies we see, and it's got to be the same for many of our peers in the downtown area. I hope somebody at Regal follows this thread. They'd be missing a good community relations opportunity if they're not.

Regal has the most experience in the business. I'm sure they have a plan to put butts in the seats. My guess is they will run the major releases as those will attract people from a wide area. There are lots of downtown residents, but likely not enough to support 8 screens. Regal may put up 1 or 2 'art' features, similar to those at Downtown West. But, maybe not at first. They may even mix up the times and run those films once or twice a day.

I recall Mayor Corker talking about what made the movie theaters in downtown Chattanooga successful. Simply put, it became the place for young people to go. The Riviera will be attractive to young people, as it's not 'their parents theater' and offers a unique atmosphere before and after the show. The same can be said for people of all ages. I hope UT students patronize it. That's another key draw.

As Randy said, there are areas of town which don't have a theater without heading to West Knoxville. The majority of those people want to see the major releases. But, if it sells tickets, Regal will show it.

Have the Democrats in Congress passed legislation to drop the wire-tapping and eavesdropping? Last I checked, the now Democrat controlled Congress has a lower approval rating than President Bush and lower than the Republican Congress which preceded it. So much for change.

It will be interesting to see if a Democrat wins the White House next year if 'free speech zones' remain the rule for Presidential appearances. My guess is they will. Unlike Factchecker, I don't fear the wire-tapping or eavesdropping. I've never been in a 'free speech zone', but have been at a number of Presidential rallies, just not as a protestor. My freedoms are just fine and, in my view, protected by our current President.

None of these last comments has a dang thing to do with the Regal Riviera. Some people insert Bush and Republican bashing in every thread.

For some comparisons...U.S. ticket sales:

Spider Man 3 $337 million (released May)
Bourne Ultimatum $187 million (out 3 weeks)
Knocked Up $148 million (released June)
Simpsons Movie $169 million (out 4 weeks)
Superbad $73 million (out two weeks)

Sicko $23 million (released in June)

Regal tracks these numbers and will show movies accordingly.

Ticket sales figures only show us what the majority of people want, but all things considered, if the theater doesn't try to cater to all of Knoxville, then I feel the whole point of it is missed and we might just as well have put it elsewhere. And really, what do sales numbers tell us? It doesn't denote quality as can be proved by looking at the sales of many popular artists such as the much maligned Ms. Spears, bless her heart.

BL: However he brings no personal or political agenda to such efforts, period. It's called public service.

CBT Heck, if tomorrow's Metro Pulse is correct, Knoxvillians owe Bill Haslam big time as he has personally invested 7 figures in bringing the new cinema to downtown. I hope it's successful. Knoxville's Mayor apparently puts his money where his mouth is.

You guys should really stop while you are ahead. You don't think a Mayor of a town/city personally investing 7 figures in a movie theater has any personal/political agenda?

By the time he is done, he'll look real good to the voters when running for governor. There is a point when a Mayor should probably lead and let others invest. Personally investing and expecting a return on that investment is an agenda besides just public service. Otherwise it is a charitable donation, which can involve an agenda of a different type.

Like Bill, I'm somewhat befuddled. Lots of people have been wanting to make a downtown movie theater a reality for years. Investors were hard to come by. So, Bill Haslam and others step up to invest their personal money and make it happen, all the while preaching, believing and hoping it's a success. Such philanthropy is then characterized as having some political motive, despite the fact that the investments were never mentioned until someone in the media dug deep enough to figure it out. I've been around a lot of politicians. They're usually not shy about getting credit when they want to get credit (by 'leak' or official announcement). Bill Haslam did no such thing.

If the theater project didn't materialize, it would be a setback to downtown. As it is, like Mast, it can be a catalyst. There were well-to-do families in Chattanooga who stepped up and personally invested millions in Chattanooga's downtown re-development. So much of what Chattanooga was able to accomplish years ago was due to these people being willing to put up the money. Instead of attributing some ulterior motive, seems to me we ought to be thankful for Bill Haslam and others being willing to invest in the success of downtown Knoxville. Thanks Bill H.

Well, notwithstanding the Haslam Pep Rally five days ahead of the start of early voting, we are still allowed to have opinions. Some think a) the new downtown cinema is a bit on the ugly side and is not compatible with the character of downtown, and b) Bill Haslam does not walk on water.

That said, I think most folks want to see the theater succeed. Nobody wants to waste millions of taxpayer dollars on another failure.

I'm sure it'll spark more howls of contempt, but one old-movie-theater-architecture buff I corresponded with while working on the KNS "history of the Riviera" piece thought the design was intended to evoke the work of George and Cornelius Rapp, who designed many theaters in the '20s.

Here's some info on them:

Link...

And here's a couple of their theaters that the new Riviera kinda (in a much scaled-down way) resembles:

Link...

Link...

Two quick questions:

1. Does the lease require Regal to pay the county and city real estate taxes?

2. Will the additional sales tax revenue generated by the theater - assuming total current sales tax revenue is in excess of the base amount - be applied to the convention center debt?

Regal may put up 1 or 2 'art' features, similar to those at Downtown West. But, maybe not at first. They may even mix up the times and run those films once or twice a day.

I'd understand and will be patient. But if they have a hard time getting the butts and don't try "indie" films, don't blame us for not supporting a downtown movie house.

...when those same butts are willing to drive to Downtown West...

We TRY and get out west to see these films, but we libruls have limits to our patience just like any other movie goer. We showed up to see Sicko only to learn Regal had changed the show times, so we left and never got back out. Still haven't seen it.

Some people insert Bush and Republican bashing in every thread.

I thought I was bashing gov't. and only did so because I disagreed with Bill's previous comment to the contrary. (Hence my Lib/conspiracy comment.) I do agree that it will be interesting to see how national security will change under Obama, but he will likely be informed by Bush's Dept. of Homeyland that they need to keep status quo for everyone's own protection. It's hard to put toothpaste back in the tube. At least Dems aren't even putting terror in their talking points, as Rudy has stupidly pointed out.

An action that would appear to be selfless is actually selfish because the appearance of selflessness puts one at a political advantage for the future.

How many of us felt about treatment Kerry got. Some claimed to hate him because they said he wanted to be President too badly!

As for CBT's ticket sales comparisons, how many screens have shown Sicko vs. the other movies listed and what were the demographics surrounding those screens (family populations, malls, etc.)? Major apples vs. oranges there.

BL: Look, you and Bizgirl and others don't like the guy.

The discussion has nothing to do with liking or disliking the Mayor of Knoxville. It has to do with accounting and, I guess, agenda/motive.

Snm: And here's a couple of their theaters that the new Riviera kinda (in a much scaled-down way) resembles

IMO, they don't really appear to resemble the new Regal theater in downtown Knoxville.

CBT:
Investors were hard to come by.
Hmmm.
The Mayor of Knoxville invests/donates 7 figures to the venture.
I really have no idea, did the Mayor of Chattanooga invest/donate?
...the fact that the investments were never mentioned until someone in the media dug deep enough to figure it out.
Is there something wrong with the media trying to find out who is investing in downtown developement?

I guess there is a vague resemblance between the Knoxville theater and the older structures pictured -- sort of like the way tudor style McMansions in West Knoxington resemble English manor houses.

>Well, notwithstanding the Haslam Pep Rally five days ahead of the start of >early voting.

Ah, yes, Randy has dug up the real reason for the delays in the cinema's opening: fear of Isa Infante.

Criticizing the critique equals "squashing"?

The Infante comment was obviously irony. And, Randy, you and the Mrs. were the ones to initially drag electioneering into it. Sure political goodwill probably does play into the equation, but I'm always intrigued by how quickly any positive move by the mayor is immediately written off as pure Machiavellian political calculus.

Pretty good reductio ad absurdum argument, Matt. But as I'm sure you know, the political opponent the Haslam folks have in mind is probably somebody like Marsha Blackburn in a GOP statewide primary, not Isa Infante in 2007.

And Randy, how DARE you suggest that a politician with aspirations to higher office (who incidentally happens to be the son of a politically connected billionaire) might have motives beyond pure altruism for self-funding one of his top priority campaign promises (which has been verrrrrrrry slow off the drawing boards)?

This certainly doesn't make Bill a bad person, and it also validates one of the reasons a lot of folks voted for him -- the expectation that he (and his family) would have the wherewithall to get stuff done. It's good to have Big Jim's son as mayor.

Whether he can put butts in seats over the long haul is another question. I truly hope this theater works out, but I'm still skeptical. There is a lot being taken on faith here, and the lack of solid data backing up the mantra of UT students and South Knoxvillians hungering for a movie house continues to bother me. Generally, public projects require more extensive planning and market studying than simply repeating "If you build it, they will come. If you build it, they will come..."

>the political opponent the Haslam folks have in mind is probably somebody >like Marsha Blackburn in a GOP statewide primary

As if keeping Marsh Blackburn out of the Governor's mansion is a bad thing?

An interesting political gamble, though. I suspect an empty, failing (or shuttered) theater circa 2010 would play well for an opponent. And the extra effort to accommodate the S&W? Its status as a landmark barely plays in Knoxville, much less statewide. Nor are preservationists a particularly powerful constituency.

Wow, looks like this is just going to go on and on.

This post started out by someone complimentary of the theater and inviting everyone downtown for the festivities. So far so good.

My first post on this thread was congratulating the theater for having 2000 attendees in the first few days.

My next post was about how it's beneficial not only to downtown but to residents of nearby communities and also supporting the earlier idea of art/indie films, with a little bit of snark about the politics of the players involved in reference to Chad's comments and Bill Lyon's lengthy comment on the history of the project, the benefits, the process, the financing, the leadership, etc. etc. which at that point seemed out of proportion to any of the mild criticism or questions raised by others.

Then Bill Lyons piles on me, telling me I'm irrational, disconnected from reality, gratuitously unfair, etc. Seems like he is projecting his anger about things said by others at me.

Then someone brings up the topic of finances (not the Mrs., by the way). Edens and CBT pile on some more.

And it goes downhill from there. And I'm the one being unfair and irrational? Sheesh.

Good, Lord, you Haslamites have delicate sensibilities!

If you think it's insulting to suggest that a politician might have political motivations, I suggest you take some hide-toughening lessons before 2010 rolls around.

Me: Look, if I do good work at my job, it benefits me as well by beefing up my resume and making me more marketable. That doesn't mean I shouldn't get credit for doing a good job, especially if by doing it I have a significant positive impact on my community. I don't see why the Mayor should be any different.

Bean: Rachel, with all due respect, that just sounds silly.
Politics is not a parlor tea party.

Actually, it's sad that you would say it's silly.

I am in no way trying to downplay the existence of political or self-serving motives in the actions of public officials (or individual citizens, for that matter). That would be silly.

And I'm no babe in the woods when it comes to politics either.

I just allow for the possibility that people can actually be motivated by improving their community as well as by enriching themselves. If that makes me naive, so be it.

First I would like to say that I am working on Isa's campaign Link.... I believe she will be a great Mayor for Knoxville.

I am concerned that the downtown theatre is being financed by the public. I would like a downtown theatre and probably will watch a couple of shows a year. I had imagined the downtown theatre starting out small with just two screens and growing over time. I had hoped it would be an independent operation meaning not an established large entity that would show films that normally do not get a lot of play. I believe the process has not been transparent because the "investors" were not revealed to the public early on in the process. It would be important for the public to vette the mayor being one of the investors before hand. I assume that is why this was not openly stated to the public because he and his supporters felt uncomfortable about it. That internal voice should have told him this is a conflict of interest. Did city council know that Bill Haslam was an investor before they voted to approve the project? If Cynthia Finch was mayor would it be ok for her to invest in such an endeavor? It doesn't matter the Mayor's intention the "end doesn't justify the means".

Did regal cinemas recieve a check from KCDC and for how much? Who recieved the TIF? This financial structure needs to be made a little more clear.

How much business will be needed before the taxpayers see a return on our investment?

Martin Pleasant

"Snark about the Haslam's taste in movies (my original comment was specifically about that and not about electioneering in any way shape or form as you claim). And Lyons made up some wild fantasy about Haslam influencing movies shown downtown, not me."

Randy, you're backpedaling. Read what you said.

"hope they run some of the indie flicks that the Downtown West cinema has been the only place in town to see, as someone suggested earlier. Given the hipster loft set makeup of downtown residents, it might make good business sense, except it might grate on the politics of our local leaders who have so graciously made such downtown amenities possible."

"Might make good business sense?" And why wouldn't it? "except it might grate on the politics of our local leaders who have so graciously made such downtown amenities possible." Downtown amenities such as, say, a taxpayer funded, city-owned cinema, which said business leases from the city.

Maybe that's a matter of Haslam's "taste." But it also pretty directly implies some payback if Regal runs afoul of that "taste". Lyons didn't concoct the fantasy, he merely called you on dropping some pretty big damn hints that such things could shape Regal's business decisions: "might make good business sense, except."

Maybe it was snark, but snark has a way of becoming urban legend.

True you're initial point wasn't about "electioneering." I was mistaken. It was Bizgirl's reply to Bill Lyon's response about things not being "politically motivated" spun things off in that direction.

But it also pretty directly implies some payback if Regal runs afoul of that "taste".

Wow. Are you kidding? Or are you secretly #9? You're pretty good at making up conspiracy theories where none exist.

I would be insulted if I believed you actually thought I was that stupid.

Could someone report the amount of city and county funding spent on the Tennessee Theater. I heard its mostly closed on Saturday, because it would attract the wrong kind of people.

Let me put it in the vernacular, then:

Pot, Kettle.

Let me put it in the vernacular, then:

Pot, Kettle.

Such uncivil discourse. You really need to back that up, though. So far, I think it's pretty clear to anyone reading that you haven't, and can't.

But thanks for playing!

Let's see, which one of us was prone to panicking about the publisher under his bed?

Can't the subject change to some other new business being built? Surely you can all agree to hate something at Turkey Creek.

It appears after reading “Ear to the Ground” in Metro Pulse that Mayor Haslam holds an advanced degree from the Mike Ragsdale school of public administration: “The mayor confirms that he bought ‘a substantial” sum of the bonds …. He says he doesn’t recall the exact dollar amount.” Written with tongue in cheek; I understand why the mayor would not make an issue of the amount of his personal investment.

On the other hand, the Ear also heard that the mayor purchased about half of the $4 million in outstanding bonds. The bonds may not be “a great investment vehicle,” but they will generate approximately $100,000 in tax-free income for the mayor over each of the next four years and for quite a few years after that.

I find it interesting that the Ear concludes with the statement, “The city already owned the State Street Garage, without which the project would not have been feasible.” Let’s see if I have this straight. The State Street Garage made the Riviera feasible, which made the Market Square renovations feasible, which made the Walnut Street Garage feasible, which made the Market Square Condominiums feasible. As I recall, that’s not the way I first heard the plan.

I think we all understand the you, Bill Lyons, cannot always provide an immediate response to issues raised on Knox Views; however, there appear to be unanswered questions regarding the Regal Riviera Funding -- to use the NS caption. Specifically, if the IDB does not pay real estate taxes and neither the city nor the IDB pay federal income taxes, how is the $1M TIF subsidy to be repaid and who benefits from the $2M federal tax credit?