Boxoffice-August.02.1976

— 2 New Shopping Center Theatre Construction Trends Toward Expansion on Existing Sites By ALLEN M. WIDEM Statistically, 51 per cent of the 605 centers in various stages of development by ICSC members are new projects, and 49 per cent are expansion of existing centers. At the same time, those new projects differ distinctively from the neighborhood, community and regional prototypes that characterized the industry. Downtown development, mass transit usage and multi-use facilities are no longer isolated instances. Rather, they represent the bulk of in-work centers. (Multi-use alludes to offices, et al). Fewer Multiplexes? hotels, Of the new developments, over half (56 per cent) contain under 100,000 square feet of floor space. Less than a third (31 per cent) contain between 100,000 and 300,000 square feet, and the balance (13 per cent) will "go" for the 300,000-plus bracket. The era of the multi-multi auditorium complexes (four and more) on the part of cinema developers—both circuit and independent seems to have been winding down since the enormous surge of the mid-1960s. Isolated circumstances continue to occur, but. in the main, what theatres are being built in shopping centers, per se, are in the two- and three-unit category. Costs, of course, have proved a deterrent in massive projections in the shopping center field, but developers continue to seek There is a marked new trend in out locations where population growth is shopping center development across the anticipated, with short-term construction U.S. Nearly half of the projects to be completed loans seen to be in a more accessible position than in the past several years. This in the remainder of 1976 reflect ex- pansion, according to a survey of International Council Shopping Centers (ICSC) situation, according to an ICSC money market survey, is expected to continue through of members. A decade ago and even more recently, was new summer, the financial costs indicated to be in line with the prevailing commercial bank the pattern for entirely developments. prime rate. Expansion-minded shopping center developers/owners nowadays are extending floor space for existing components, among them cinemas. Increasingly, both circuit and independent theatre circuits are finding that the addition of an auditorium to an existing single unit, and for that matter expanding a twin to a triple, make for a better "mix" of audience appeal. Richard J. Wilson, vice-president of SBC Management Corp.. which has some 50 screens in the New England states and adjacent New York, notes that "as the given geographical location grows in terms of population and resultant economy, it is fitting and proper to add an auditorium to an existing complex. This is based not only on the actual hard-cash, boxoffice performance to date, but. equally important, on growth factors, determined by in-depth analysis." Prime ingredients for audience appeal, as far as cinemas are concerned, are accessibility to major thoroughfares and interstate highways: ample, adjacent parking; proximity to the so-called anchor-store; and, most emphatically, nearness to main entrance and exit roads. Inevitably, in the rush to get going to be Continued on paee 12 CHRISTIE THE NAME BEHIND THE SYSTEM There's a very important difference in automatic film handling systems — the name behind the system. The name Christie has been synonymous with DC power engineering excellence for nearly 50 years. That's one reason Christie has the edge. If you take a close look al our Autowind 2, you'll find that it has been engineered for long-range needs, and has a great record for dependability and durability. That's one reason why Christie Autowinds are currently being used around the world by such leaders as United Artists Theatre Circuit, American tVlulti-Cinema, Pacific Theatres, Loew's, Cinema National, Gulf State Theatres, plus Rank in England, Filmways in Australia, A.C.F. Kinekor in South Africa and many others. When the Christie name is on the system, it's a system you can depend on. CHRISTIE'S AUTOWIND- The only UL listed film handling platter system. WHEN YOU'RE NUMBER ONE YOU FIND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOUT! WE'VE NEVER MISSED AN OPENING'- BUILDING BETTER THEATERS EVERY DAY INEVERY WAY * DESIGN • ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION * ECONOMY * • TWINNING * TRIPLEXING • FOURPLEXING * DELIVERY * uuoocbou con/truction if^"° : sie ^ CORPORATION CKQ.lOQfl 555 CHESTNUT STREET • CEDARHURST • NEW YORK 11516 90«7 l9«7V^ LOOK FOR US, THE QUIET ONES,' OCT. 11-13. 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