o_1997ofqor1r1t4up1q001q301bgea.pdf

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Columbus, Ohio Mid States Theotres
976 THEATRE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TOTAL 298
tost of 786 Screens Set at $151384,000; 242 Units Open; Focus Still on Shopping Centers
KANSAS CITY — Construction of mo-
>n picture theatres in the U.S. and Canada
ring
1976 continued brisk despite the connt
upward spiral of material, real estate
d labor costs. While considerably below
e record-breaking levels reached five
ars ago ($188,270,000 for 540 theatres
1971), the total number of building projts
launched last year—298—was slightly
her than the 285 units reported during
75, when a short-lived recessionary peri-
I caused some depression in the overall
omy.
According to reports in Boxoffice and
formation received from circuits as well
independent exhibitors, the estimated
tal cost of hardtop and drive-in construcn
in 1976 was $151,384,000. While this
ure amply reflects the inflationary influice
prevalent in the building trades, the
celeratcd expansion program accounted
;>r the eventual addition of 786 motion
cture screens, indicating an optimistic atde
in exhibition regardless of oft-repeati
laments concerning a "shortage of topality.
playable, first-run product."
The 285 construction projects recorded
> 1975 accounted for 801 screens, just a
d more than the number started last year,
nd the overall price tag on theatres
lunched in 1975 was pegged at $128,250,-
00.
238 Indoor Theatres Opened
With multi-auditorium theatres counted
s one unit, the Boxofficf survey showed
38 hardtops opened in 1976. compared to
12 in 1975, and four drive-ins, compared
o 16 ozoners in 1975. The decline in outloor
theatre construction generally has
>een attributed to skyrocketing land costs
n suburban areas and, with national metro-
'olitan expansion reaching unprecedented
evels. an unincorporated area is becoming
i
rarity.
A total of 640 new indoor and outdoor
screens became operational in 1976. Of the
hardtops. approximately 226 units were in
shopping centers, continuing an established
trend, with the multitheatre breakdown tabulated
as follows: single screen. 11; twin,
65; triplex, 68; fourplex, 59; fiveplex, 5;
sixplex. 15; sevenplex. 1. and eightplex, 2.
Drive-ins unveiled included one singlescreen
facility, three twins and one threescreen
underskyer.
Conversion Method Popular
Apparent discrepancies are created by the
rise in the popularity of "conversion"
changing an existing one-screen theatre to
a twin, triplex or quad. In fact, because of
certain economies available through this
construction route (both for indoor and outdoor
theatres), sixplexes have become eightplexes
during 1976. Such multi-auditorium
theatres are included in this report as new
facilities.
Not all expansions, of course, have been
accomplished through this type remodeling.
In many situations, as many as three or
four screens have been added to multitheatres
by constructing adjacent auditoriums
or splittting single drive-in properties. It
has been noted that during the past year
46 hardtops were enlarged through the conversion
approach, as were five drive-ins.
Less Remodeling Reported
Remodeling of indoor theatres in 1976
lagged far behind similar projects completed
in 1975. possibly because of increased
costs—and certainly higher general operating
expenses have been a
determining factor
in discouraging updating by the SO-oalled
"small theatre" owner. During '76. indoor
theatres remodeled numbered 48, representing
58 screens, as compared to 87 units
withl()6 screens in 1975. Drive-in remodeling,
however, held steady. In 1976. 14
ozoners were modernized, representing 15
screens. I he previous year, l l drive-ins with
13 screens were remodeled
I he state-by-state report on 1976 construction
follows. Those theatres marked
with an asterisk (*) were opened during the
reporting
period:
INDOOR THEATRES
Gadsden—Gadsden
ALABAMA
Twin cinemas, 800 seats, Georgia
Co.*
Mobile—Bel Air Village IV. 250 seats, converted to
quad from triplex.*
Mobile—Springdale 6, 1.562 seats, American Multi
Cinema.*
Mobile—Village IV theatres, converted to quad from
triplex, Giddens