Boxoffice-July.1997

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EXHIBITION
BRIEFINGS
CINEMARK'S FIRST BRAZIL SITE
Cinemark International, a subsidiary of
Cinemark USA Inc., opened its first Brazilian
multiplex. The Cinemark 12 Shopping Collnas
in Sao Jose dos Campos opened its doors
in May. Cinemark plans to build a total of 1 70
screens in 1 5 theatres in Brazil by the end of
1998. Newly announced are the Cinemark 1
Tambore in Sao Paulo; the Maxi Shopping 1
in Jundiai; the Novo Shopping 1 5 in Ribeirao
Preto; the Shopping Uberlandia 10 in
Uberlandia; and the Central Plaza 15 in Sao
Paulo. In the Sao Paulo Metropolitan area,
Cinemark is also building the SP Market 1 1
the Santo Andre ABC Plaza 1 0; the Interlagos
10; the Tatuape 8; the Aricanduva Shopping
Leste 14; the Eldorado Jardins 5; and the
Panamby 16; and in Rio de Janeiro, the Barra
da Tijuca 1 2. Several of these theatres will have
stadium seating, which will be a first for Brazil.
EDWARDS TO BUILD
18NEWMEGAPLEXES
Edwards Theatres Circuit Inc., which
opened three new megaplexes in April, has
unvei led plans for construction to begin on 1
new megaplexes in Southern California
within the next 1 2 months. Each will offer DTS,
Dolby and SDDS sound systems; high-back
chairs; stadium-style seating; and loveseats.
Edwards currently operates 560 screens in 89
SoCal locations. The chain is projected to
have 750 screens by the end of 1 998.
MARCUS EXPANDS GROWTH PLAN
Milwaukee-based Marcus Theatres plans
to accelerate its growth plan in Wisconsin,
Illinois and Michigan. "Two years ago we
announced plans to double the size of our
circuit from 200 to 400 screens by the year
2000," says Bruce J. Olson, president of Marcus
Theatres. "After a 32 percent expansion
In our screen count last year, which was far
and away the largest in company history and
the second highest growth rate among the top
40 theatre circuits in the country, we're confidently
raising our goal for the year 2000 to
500 screens." The initial goal of 400 is anticipated
to be met by the end of 1 998. Marcus
currently operates 297 screens in Wisconsin
and Illinois, and has begun retrofittingexisting
theatres with stadium seating.
AMC COLONIZES IN TEXAS
AMC will build a 24-screen, 5,000-seat
megaplex, due to open in December, at the
First Colony Mall in Sugar Land, Texas. Its
"enhanced moviegoing environment" will
offer stadium-style seating with 46-inch spacing
between rows; loveseats with extra-wide
retractable cushion cupholders; and AMC's
exclusive High Impact Theater Systems
(HITS), including Torus compound curved
wall-to-wall screens and SDDS sound systems.
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SHOWMANDISER PROMOTION OF THE MONTH
Extraterrestrial personages were out in 'force' to promote the re-release of "Star
Wars" at Cortland, N.Y.'s Plaza Theatres. Plaza owner Sam Mitchell of SjM
Entertainment and manager Dave Wayman convinced local businessmen Bill
Cleary and Joe Balas to dress up as Darth Vader and the iarge-craniumed creature
pictured above, respectively, to celebrate the intergalactic festivities. The Force was
truly with the Plaza on opening night, when the theatre sold out every single
showing of the sci-fi classic.
REGAL'S NET INCOME
INCREASES 78 PERCENT
Regal Cinemas president and chief executiveofficer
Michael Campbell announced that
the company's net income increased 78 percent
for the quarter ending April 3, 1997, with
total revenues increasing 40.6 percent. "Regal
had an outstanding start to 1997, producing
financial results for the first quarter than exceed
expectations," says Campbell. "In addition
to the continued substantial expansion of
screens in operation and increased operating
efficiencies, our results benefitted from a
strong slate of films, which generated record
first quarter results for the industry. "Campbell
adds that Regal's screen count grew 26.6
percent to 1 ,325 screensat 1 59 locations from
1 ,047 in 1 35 locations at the same time last
year.
Regal recently announced several new upcoming
builds, including a 22-plex in
Warrington, Pa.; a 16-plex in Willoughby,
Ohio; a 1 2-plex in Hampton, Va.; an 1 8-plex
in Henrietta, N.Y.; and an 8-plex in Morganville,
N.J.
LOEWS OPENS 1 8-PLEX
IN STAFFORD, TEXAS
Loews Theatres (formerly Sony) has opened
an all-stadium seating 1 8-plex, the Loews
FountainsTheatre, in Stafford, Texas. Referred
to by Loews as a "modern-day movie palace,"
the Loews Fountain combines the grandeur of
"golden era" moviehouses with the latest in
technologies and amenities. The theatre
showcases the Loews "Star" design, featuring
a huge art deco-styled lobby with a dramatic
arched glass atrium ceiling. Each auditorium
will range from 200 to 700 seats, with total
seating for 4,800. The Fountain will anchor
Stafford's Fountains On The Lake retail center,
located on Fountain Lake Drive.
CINEPLEX BREAKS GROUND
ON CHICAGO PLEXES
Toronto-based Cineplex Odeon and its
Chicago-based development Inner City Entertainment
broke ground on the first of three
new multiplexes to be located in Chicago's
inner-city communities. The theatres mark the
continuation of Cineplex's plans to build
state-of-the-art complexes in urban areas
across the United States. "(We're makingj a
pledge to not only bring entertainment to the
community, but also to provide employment
for its residents," says Allen Karp, president
and CEO of Cineplex. Over 400 permanent
and part-time jobs will be available through
the three developments. All three sites will
open in late November.
CENTURY BITES INTO
ORANGE MARKET
Century Theatres, headquartered in San
Francisco, has broken ground in on its Stadium
Promenade 25 in Orange, Calif. The
multiplex will anchor a 1 79,000-square-foot
retail entertainment center developed by
Syufy Enterprises (Century's parent company).
The theatre will be all-stadium seating, with
the latest in sound and presentation technologies.
Its architectural character is described
as being reminiscent of the art deco style of
the '30s and '40s, with dramatic lighting and
tall vertical palm trees gracing the facade. The
Stadium Promenade is slated for a Thanksgiving
opening.