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.
Handles 4y2 hours of continuous
programming
Easy, plug-in installation
Reinforced platters guaranteed not to
sag or warp
New braking system utilizing DC motor
Ultra-stable speed control
Injection molded rollers with Teflon
bearings
Solid-state controls and LED light
source with no moving contacts
High speed motor allowing make-up
and tear-down of a complete feature in
less than 30 minutes
SINCE 1923
ELECTRIC CORR
34^CI\A/EST B7TH STREET
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORMIA • 90043
1213) 750-1151 .rvVX 310-321-3eS7
lOXOFFICE :: August 2. 1976