The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Not sure what can be done to improve the situation..

I think that when you let the theater become a craphole then only crappy people will go to it.

That AMC used to be my favorite theater when it first opened.  I went there once about a year ago because I had coupons.  The experience was so bad the manager gave me free passes to come back and I didn't want to use them.

I still like the Promenade since it is less crowded and easier to park at than Woodland.  I also still like their theater and El Chicos.  The crowd in the area is getting more "ghetto" especially at the AMC parking lot.  Some of my friends consider anything north of 51st to be "ghetto".

I feel like the malls in Tulsa are pretty small.  I wish they would build a big 3 story mall with an ice skating rink downtown kind of like the Galleria in Dallas.

We used to have a two story mall with an ice skating rink downtown, the Williams Center Forum.  I think it opened around 1980 and the rink's last year was around '93 or '94.  IIRC, it was converted into office space for one of the Williams entities.

Areas change,  South Tulsa is getting alot of crime lately.  When I was in the D/FW MetroPlex this past April I drove by the Indian Creek Apertments where I once lived back in the 1980's and now they are really getting run down & dangerous from drugs and gangs in the parking lot to section 8 housing. When I lived there it was nice clean apartment complex.

Some of my friends consider anything north of 51st to be "ghetto".

I am beginning to think "ghetto" means "color" or not mostly white.   If white kids hang around outside a theater or in a mall (or anywhere else) its one thing, but if a group of kids that are not white do, then the area is ghetto.  ::)

There you go Kraut...knock it out of the park.

That AMC used to be my favorite theater when it first opened.  I went there once about a year ago because I had coupons.  The experience was so bad the manager gave me free passes to come back and I didn't want to use them.

I still like the Promenade since it is less crowded and easier to park at than Woodland.  I also still like their theater and El Chicos.  The crowd in the area is getting more "ghetto" especially at the AMC parking lot.  Some of my friends consider anything north of 51st to be "ghetto".

In my experience, no matter where I see a movie, if it is one that draws a large number of teenagers, then there will be a lot of dispruptive movie goers who talk throughout the movie and take cell phone calls without a care for those around them (behavior that is not limited to teenagers).

They have a diner style restaurant in the lobby and more options at the concession stand than any other theater I've been to.  A Warren at Southroads would instantly improve that entire center.

As noted by many previously on this forum, a movie theater downtown would be huge for downtown development, especially if it offered restaurant quality food and adult beverages.  A downtown theater would also put a lot of pressure on AMC and The Palace to update or get left behind by mid-town movie goers.

As noted by many previously on this forum, a movie theater downtown would be huge for downtown development, especially if it offered restaurant quality food and adult beverages.  A downtown theater would also put a lot of pressure on AMC and The Palace to update or get left behind by mid-town movie goers.

but.. but.. but there's not enough surface parking just feet from the door.

At 2nd & Elgin there is, to the east.  Urban theaters have succeeded in similar cities like Fort Worth and Kansas City.  Even Chattanooga has one.  I would throw OKC in there but the Harkins in Bricktown is a very suburban design that just happens to be downtown.

I was being sarcastic since that seems to be the first thing people try to gripe about anytime anything new goes in downtown.

I never park in an American Parking lot as I feel they should not exist.  However, I do sometimes use the lots as a short cut as I did walking from Yokozuna to the PAC last weekend.

I never park in them and sometimes ride with people who don't pay.  It is hilarious when they have their parking attendant out there asking for 5 bucks when you can swing around 20 feet away and park on the street for free.  They should seriously lower the parking to $1 and i bet they would make more money.  And people would actually pay.

I think part of this idea has to do with liqour laws in Oklahoma.  I think there is something specifically about booze and movies.  I guess you could do 3.2 as it is considered food in Oklahoma.

Malls in general seem to be in decline.  

Simon Malls ran Eastland into the ground by allowing it's takeover by the scum from the cesspool apartments around it.  

Woodland has decayed a lot in recent years.  (Another Simon Mall).  Probably only a matter of time before Simon buys Promenade and trashes it, too.

Any decline at Woodland would probably mean some of the higher end stores moving to Utica Square.  Though there isn't a lot of room for expansion there.

Hey guys,

Couldn't agree with you more about the current state of the movie theaters in town. With the ever improving TV and audio technology we can afford for our homes and the very short time between theatrical release and DVD/Netflix/On Demand release, the theaters are losing some appeal to former theater goers. Why would we go pay to watch it, when we can wait a bit and catch it at home on Blue Ray with surround sound? Kids go to the movies because it's an event for them. It's not about seeing the movie, it's about seeing each other and having a place to do that.

Like many things (most notably restaurants), just offering the same old thing isn't good enough anymore. Anybody in the entertainment business has to be thinking about creating experiences and bringing people together, lest they become obsolete.

Our plan is for a downtown theater that hopefully does just that. We plan to have a built from scratch theater featuring all digital screens. The current plan is for four stadium seating auditoriums with large, comfortable chairs with little tables for food, a couple of actual tables and some fun seating arrangements. Our grand theater will have a balcony. Additionally, we're planning for one flat floor theater with a live performance stage and round table seating. This will be more like a banquet hall and will be available for special events, but will also screen movies (think second run stuff and film festival screenings as well as live performances).

On top of that, we're planning two outdoor auditoriums. Coming off the patio of the large lobby will be two separate outdoor seating areas with the movies projected on to the side of the building. You'll be able to see the films from the patio seating or watch it in the grass on a blanket...or sit in an old cadillac on one side and an old 57 chevy on the other. These will be cheaper and more for fun than serious film viewing.

The large "lobby" wil be a very cool three story high space with terrazzo floors, a big chandelier, and a huge bar. It will be our "gathering place." Guests will be able to order food and drinks here and can hang in the lobby bar before or after the film, but can also take their food and drink into the auditoriums with them.

This will be a 21+ (or at least 18+) "restaurant/bar movie theater," but not like some of the others you've seen. We will not have wait staff in the auditoriums. You'll get your food and drinks in the regular lobby like at a typical theater. We'll just have great food (think chef prepared apps and small entrées) and drinks (cocktails and beer). The lobby room will really be something special. The big open space, the tall tables, the big round bar, and the respect we're paying to old Tulsa theaters will really make it a unique experience and a fun place to meet downtown (whether going to the movies or not). It will be the prettiest gathering spot downtown (no offense to Orpha's Lounge (the current title holder).

Our theater rooms are named after the old theaters - Ritz, Rialto, Majestic, Orpheum, and The Will Rogers Banquet Hall. Plans are underway right now. We've got more than a few options for a location, and are narrowing that down in the weeks to come. Preliminary sketches have been done (One Architecture is our architect) and are very cool.

You're right. If nobody beats us to it, my team will be opening this theater downtown (hopefully in the Blue Dome District, but land is getting tight there and the ideal spots may be hard to get). Once the site is picked and the final plans are done, we'll make the big $$ push and hopefully be open sooner than later. We'll need some investors for the project, but if I've ever had a project that shouldn't struggle to get investors, it's this one.

I'll sure appreciate your support as we move forward. This is likely to stir up some attention.

:bunch of words about awesome stuff:

Hey guys,

Couldn't agree with you more about the current state of the movie theaters in town. With the ever improving TV and audio technology we can afford for our homes and the very short time between theatrical release and DVD/Netflix/On Demand release, the theaters are losing some appeal to former theater goers. Why would we go pay to watch it, when we can wait a bit and catch it at home on Blue Ray with surround sound? Kids go to the movies because it's an event for them. It's not about seeing the movie, it's about seeing each other and having a place to do that.

Like many things (most notably restaurants), just offering the same old thing isn't good enough anymore. Anybody in the entertainment business has to be thinking about creating experiences and bringing people together, lest they become obsolete.

Our plan is for a downtown theater that hopefully does just that. We plan to have a built from scratch theater featuring all digital screens. The current plan is for four stadium seating auditoriums with large, comfortable chairs with little tables for food, a couple of actual tables and some fun seating arrangements. Our grand theater will have a balcony. Additionally, we're planning for one flat floor theater with a live performance stage and round table seating. This will be more like a banquet hall and will be available for special events, but will also screen movies (think second run stuff and film festival screenings as well as live performances).

On top of that, we're planning two outdoor auditoriums. Coming off the patio of the large lobby will be two separate outdoor seating areas with the movies projected on to the side of the building. You'll be able to see the films from the patio seating or watch it in the grass on a blanket...or sit in an old cadillac on one side and an old 57 chevy on the other. These will be cheaper and more for fun than serious film viewing.

The large "lobby" wil be a very cool three story high space with terrazzo floors, a big chandelier, and a huge bar. It will be our "gathering place." Guests will be able to order food and drinks here and can hang in the lobby bar before or after the film, but can also take their food and drink into the auditoriums with them.

This will be a 21+ (or at least 18+) "restaurant/bar movie theater," but not like some of the others you've seen. We will not have wait staff in the auditoriums. You'll get your food and drinks in the regular lobby like at a typical theater. We'll just have great food (think chef prepared apps and small entrées) and drinks (cocktails and beer). The lobby room will really be something special. The big open space, the tall tables, the big round bar, and the respect we're paying to old Tulsa theaters will really make it a unique experience and a fun place to meet downtown (whether going to the movies or not). It will be the prettiest gathering spot downtown (no offense to Orpha's Lounge (the current title holder).

Our theater rooms are named after the old theaters - Ritz, Rialto, Majestic, Orpheum, and The Will Rogers Banquet Hall. Plans are underway right now. We've got more than a few options for a location, and are narrowing that down in the weeks to come. Preliminary sketches have been done (One Architecture is our architect) and are very cool.

You're right. If nobody beats us to it, my team will be opening this theater downtown (hopefully in the Blue Dome District, but land is getting tight there and the ideal spots may be hard to get). Once the site is picked and the final plans are done, we'll make the big $$ push and hopefully be open sooner than later. We'll need some investors for the project, but if I've ever had a project that shouldn't struggle to get investors, it's this one.

I'll sure appreciate your support as we move forward. This is likely to stir up some attention.

Swake....

On to something.

B

A Chinese conglomerate announced Monday it will buy a major U.S. cinema chain, AMC Entertainment Holdings, for $2.6 billion in China's biggest takeover of an American company to date.

Dalian Wanda Group Co.'s purchase reflects the global ambitions of a wave of cash-rich Chinese companies that are using acquisitions to speed their expansion by obtaining foreign skills and brand names.

Wanda said the deal will create the world's biggest movie theater operator. The Beijing-based company said it will invest an additional $500 million to fund AMC's development. AMC operates 346 cinemas, mostly in the United States and Canada, and says it has 23 of the 50 highest-grossing U.S. outlets.

"We support AMC becoming bigger, not only in the United States but in the global market," said Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin at a signing ceremony for the acquisition.

The deal reflects rising Chinese investment in U.S. corporate assets despite disputes between the two governments over trade and political issues such as this month's diplomatic standoff over a blind Chinese legal activist.

The deal is the third-largest Chinese corporate investment in the United States, according to financial research firm Dealogic. It ranks behind investments by Beijing's sovereign wealth fund, the China Investment Corp., of $5 billion in Morgan Stanley and $3 billion in Blackstone Group LP, both for minority stakes in 2007.

Chinese companies had invested $34.8 billion in the United States by the end of 2011 in industries including auto parts, agriculture and steelmaking, according to data compiled by Derek Scissors, a China analyst at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

Globally, outbound mergers and acquisitions by Chinese companies total $16.8 billion so far this year, up 6 percent from the same period last year, according to Dealogic.

Wanda said AMC's American management will remain in place and the headquarters will stay in the Kansas City area. It said staff numbers were not expected to affected. The company employs some 18,500 people.

Wanda, founded in 1988 and privately owned, operates hotels, department stores, tourism and other businesses and says it had 2011 revenue of $16.7 billion. The company employs 50,000 people and its assets include 86 theaters in China.

AMC's owners include Apollo Global Management, Bain Capital, the Carlyle Group, CCMP Capital Advisors and Spectrum Equity Investors.

AMC has reported losses for the past three years but its CEO, Gerry Lopez, said it has returned to profit this year due to strong ticket sales.

Wang, the Wanda chairman, said AMC's financial problems were due to the cost of servicing high debt. He said conditions should improve once an injection of Wanda's cash allows it to pay off some of that.

"We are confident that after the merger, AMC will turn positive," he said. "We have absolute confidence in the future of the company."

The acquisition comes as Hollywood is looking to China both for its fast-growing audience and for production partners.

Walt Disney Co. has said its next "Iron Man" movie will be co-produced with a Chinese partner and "Chinese elements" will be added to the story to increase its local appeal. DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. unveiled a venture in March with three Chinese companies to make animated and live action material.

Wang said Wanda has applied to China's government for a license to import movies, a right held now by two state-owned companies. But he said the AMC acquisition concerned only film exhibition, not production or distribution.

"We have no plans to promote Chinese films in the United States," Wang said. "Mr. Lopez will decide what movies will be shown" in AMC theaters.

Wanda's investment will allow AMC to speed up renovation of some cinemas and install more 3-D and IMAX technology, Lopez said.

Wang and Lopez said the two companies plan to share experience in the film business and will have executives from each country visit the other. Lopez said they have not made detailed plans about such things as a possible exchange of staff.

Lopez is to join the board of directors of Wanda's cinema unit, while a Wanda executive will join AMC's board, Wang said.

Wang said Wanda is considering more acquisitions abroad for its entertainment, hotel and retail units. He said it might try to buy into a global hotel brand or a hotel management company but gave no details.

"We want to be a big company, not just in China but in the world," he said.

Via Tulsa World Scene: A multimillion-dollar renovation at AMC Southroads 20 is complete, with plush power recliners bringing the creature comforts of home to the multiplex, along with fancy new concessions.

Anyone still going to theaters going to check out the refurbished AMC?

TW FB post:

(http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/0c/50c7fbc8-8906-5b20-b0a1-3e5eac5171a4/5253afbb07604.preview-300.jpg)

Anyone still going to theaters going to check out the refurbished AMC?

TW FB post:

(http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/0c/50c7fbc8-8906-5b20-b0a1-3e5eac5171a4/5253afbb07604.preview-300.jpg)

It's our new favorite.  Go while you can, because those nice seats aren't going to last long.

Can't remember the last movie I went to, might have to wait for a coupon and go one of these days.

Any Superhero movie comes out I'm there. I only do 3-D now. I can watch 2-D standard def at home.

Why even go there  (or to any inside movie house) when you can watch movies in the comfort of your own car at the Admiral Twin Drive-In?

We will give you time to think that one over.....

I've given up wasting my time.  I'm surprised he can use the internet.  He probably thinks it's 'a series of tubes'.  That are all stored in the nation's public library system.

IMAX?

IMAX leaves me exhausted, and the angle of the seats makes it very hard to enjoy my Chardonnay.
(http://www.france44.com/prodimg/bota_box_chard_500.gif)

You know in other states they have drink service in the theater. ;)

IMAX leaves me exhausted, and the angle of the seats makes it very hard to enjoy my Chardonnay.
(http://www.france44.com/prodimg/bota_box_chard_500.gif)

No...the real problem is immediately obvious - Chardonnay..??  Really??  You know better - soft theater seats, popcorn, and a box of Milk Duds....it should have been a Cabernet!!

I don't eat popcorn or candy, and that broadens my alcohol options.

IMAX leaves me exhausted, and the angle of the seats makes it very hard to enjoy my Chardonnay.
(http://www.france44.com/prodimg/bota_box_chard_500.gif)

You mean something like this (http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Revolution-Plus-Jacket.shtml)? You can fit half a liquor store in that one. Ask me how I know.  ;D

FYI...The AMC's recent remodeling appears to be complete.  Lounge chairs in all the auditoriums except the IMAX.  We went there yesterday for the 10am showing of "American Hustle" (a really good flick) and discovered that they are now doing reserved seating.  When you purchase your tickets, you have to pick out the seats you want by looking at a monitor.  Since few people know about this, there was a line and everyone was asking a lot of questions.  I asked if patrons are able to purchase reserved seating tickets on-line and was advised that we could.  However, I just checked their website and discovered on-line ticket purchasing is not available at this theater!  I have always really liked this theater and appreciate the money they've poured into it recently, but coupled with the fact that they don't print their showtimes in the paper any more, and now they've got this reserved seat thing going on, it's becoming increasingly more complicated to simply go to the movie there.  I know they are probably planning to have food service in the auditoriums at some future date, hence the numbered seats...but there are a few bugs to work out...You might want to allow yourself a little extra time during your next visit there...

¿Say what where?
Purchase online:  https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/amc-southroads-20

can also purchase via Fandango, etc

¿Say what where?
Purchase online:  https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/amc-southroads-20

I stand corrected, but I swear that the links on this website were not allowing on-line purchasing when I tried this morning.  I'm happy that reserved seating is available on-line now, and am looking forward to trying it out.  So...you have to print these tickets off on your home printer, using your preposterously priced ink?   ::)

No. You just type in the number from the confirmation email and the tickets print at the kiosk.

I never been to the Promenade AMC - However, I'm a big fan of the Admiral Twin Drive-in, that place is really nice- they use digital projectors now, plus I live just two blocks away from it. They are closed for winter but will open up in a few months. Everything there like the snack bar is all new. You can watch movies without the hassles of  in-door theaters.

I like Admiral Twin too, but:

AMC seats are more comfortable than my car.

I don't have to run the engine for two hours to keep warm.

No surround sound at drive-ins either. I have 7 channels in my living room, I sometimes don't like spending 30ish to take 4 people to a theater to hear cassette-quality sound.

IMAX leaves me exhausted, and the angle of the seats makes it very hard to enjoy my Chardonnay.
(http://www.france44.com/prodimg/bota_box_chard_500.gif)

Went to Cinemark last weekend, and since it had been a year or so since my last movie, I was surprised by the 35 minutes of "previews" and ads - last time was only about 15.  Really pissed me off.  Told SWMBO we are gonna build a theater room and wait for the Blue Ray or the 4k discs to come out... 

Southroads just sold for $57.8 million.