Judging from some of the early recaps after this year's Marathon, it does seem like THIS particular incarnation of the "Marathon" is on its last gasp. I emphasize THIS version.
In Boston, we went through a fairly long and deep valley. We jumped theaters 4 times in 4 consecutive years. Attendence dipped. Fewer and fewer younger folks seemed to be attending their first Marathon. Etc. Etc.
But, this year, 2013, saw the best attendence in 15 or more years. More younger folks. More women. What happened?
1. We stabilized into one theater, The Somerville. Further, that theater has 35MM, DCP and DVD capability.
2. We began a Festival attached to the week prior to the Marathon. This has caused some issues, but, overall, it has increased Media, Internet and word-of-mouth attention to the big enchilada that concludes the week - The Marathon.
3. We have a set date. I know this is one of the big issues in Ohio. This is 2013. We live in a fast-moving, short-attention span era. You can't expect folks to plan their whole lives around keeping EVERY WEEKEND open between the end of March and Mid-May open just in case that is the particular weekend that ends up holding the Marathon. Pick a #$#$ing Date and stick with it! ("Easter" isn't an excuse. You can set up a 5 or 10 year advance date calendar around Easter)
4. Food. In Boston, there have NEVER been any restrictions on bringing in food (save for alcohol, bottles etc). It makes a difference. You're stuck in a theater for 24 hours, you need light healthy snacks to go along with a couple of heartier meals. Pizza, burritos are brought in and sold, and, sometimes, sandwiches and the like have been sold from the concession stand along with the traditional Popcorn etc... Since just about everybody has a decent home theater nowadays, if you are going to convince folks to get off the couch and watch stuff at a theater for 24 straight hours, you better allow them their creature comforts!
From the sounds of it, 3 if not all of the 4 above things that have 'saved' the Boston Marathon seem difficult to achieve under the current Drexel structure. It's not the Marathon that is beyond saving, but the management behind it.
_________________ Long Live the Orson Welles Cinemas
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