The Ohio Sci-Fi and Horror Marathons

Drexel Grandview is 305 seats. Studio 35 is 360. I believe the old Drexel North was 760 or 780. Drexel Gateway was 302 or 303.

Wow I would have guessed the gateway was larger than that. So the Capitol theater would be overkill. I saw on CAPAs web it holds 903 seats.

Scott

If the Gateway and the Arena Grand are out of the question, Studio 35 is a definite no, the Riffe Center doesn't want us back and I don't think the Continent is an option: Is there any other option in Columbus other than the Drexel Grandview? I'm not very familiar with any of the smaller or older theatres in Columbus so I was just wondering.

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"The Sleeper has awakened!"

Was 360, before they brought in the new seats several years back. It's now closer to 300.

I would think that the Gateway or the Grand wouldn't turn down money to hold the marathon at there locations. What would hold that idea down would be Jeff Franks ego getting in the way. The marathon could always look towards going to the one of the two Marcus locations or Movie Tavern (formerly Movies 12 @ Mill Run), I think those would be a major long shot unfortunately.

I didn't think the marathon brought in all that much money when you consider that we are monoplizing the screen all day and night Saturday. Which is prime time for most theaters. They could have several showings of this weeks popular teen comedy during the time we are there.

Scott

The thing is, I don't think the marathons are big money makers. You tie up a theater on a Saturday night. Looking at the Grand, they charge $8.50 after I think 6. $6.50 before. The marathon typically used the bigger theater there, and let's use the 500 seat number, which would likely be used by the most recent films. Let's say you only filled half the seats for the noon, 2pm and 4 pm showing and came close to selling out on the rest of the shows. That's $4,875. Let's say you only sold 80% for the 6, 8 10 and midnight shows. That's $13,600, for a total of $18,475.

Now, let's say we sell the place out and everyone pays full price (no early ticket purchase). 500 folks at $36, thats $18,000.

So, being optimisitic, you are only down about $500 from what you would usually bring in at the box office. We likely spend more than the regular movie goer at the concession stand, but if you through in the free refills, etc, we cut into that as well. Now you have to keep staff on site all night manning the concesion stands, cleaning the bathrooms, running projectors, etc. I think we got the Continent, in part, because we were able to bring in more people than what that theater would usually bring in. I recall the place was pretty much a ghost town.

I haven't even gone into what you have to pay to get the movies, print up the programs, etc. If we don't go to the Grand or the Gateway it will be economics, not ego.

One note, I am not a theater manager and actually never worked in a movie theater. I'm basing my numbers on what I have seen going to the movies, but my recent movie experiences are colored by living in DC 9 out of the last 10 years. If anyone has a better guess at what turnout at theaters is on a given Saturday, please feel free to set me straight.

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The wages of sin are royalties.

I have often wondered if the marathon ever makes a profit. I don't think money is what motivates Bruce and Jeff to throw this party for us every year. I think they are motivated by passion. To say that our location is based on ego is just silly.
If they were worried about profit they would probably charge us 50 bucks a pop like they do over at the marathon in Boston where Bruce migrated from.

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Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"

Actually, I would bet the economics are actually in favor of the marathon.

Assuming that your numbers are accurate above (I think 80% full is pretty optimistic), you must remember that during the first weekend of a film, the theatre will only keep about 20% of the ticket sales with 80% going to the studio (depending upon contracts). Based on the above number, the theatre is only keeping about $3695.

Film rentals for the marathon are likely minimal ($250 or so per print) with some of the premieres possibly being considered word-of-mouth screenings and offered for free. Some of the older titles are also likely coming from collectors... free except shipping charges. None of these should be subject to the 20/80 cut mentioned above.

Add in concession sales, I would think we are much more profitable to the theatre than all but the most successful new films. It may be contractually more difficult for some theatre chains to give up a screen for a full Saturday.

I should note that I have no idea what the economics of the marathon are... how much the theatre keeps, etc. I don't believe Bruce and Joe do this to profit; it's out of love for film. If they do turn a profit, good for them, they deserve it.

How about a date? It is usually held in late March or early April - late march is 3 or 4 weeks away and early April is 4 or 5 weeks away and we have heard nothing.

Flights start getting more expensive as time goes by. If it isn't announced soon I will not be able to go. Plus I need to request off work. I really enjoyed last year, so Jeff...if you are reading - Please announce a date soon.

As far as a venue - why not the Drexel in Bexley. I always thought that would be a better location anyway because you have the Radio Cafe attached to the theater. It holds more, the projection system is better, the sound is better, and if I remember correctly - it is more comfortable than the Grandview. Parking would suck though.....

I am officially starting to get antsy
I need my fix!

Just guessing here, but I don't think it's possible to set a date if they don't even know where the marathon will be.

Since things are so in flux - AND, the usual date is rapidly approaching ---

why not push the date to Memorial Day weekend or some other suitable date down the road.

Myself and other folks who go to the Boston Marathon might be more inclined to go if the 2 events were more spread out --

AND ---

It would give everyone involved more time to get a new location and get the word out.

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Long Live the Orson Welles Cinemas

I think the "second week in April" plan was working. That is sufficient time to plan and it doesn't interfere (probably) with a busy weekend for the theater. This year, the problem is all of the sudden without warning we are without our comfy new "permanent" home. Aaaaaaaargh!

I think anytime after April would be extremely difficult if not entirely out of the question for a major theater. Could we really expect to take away an entire summer weekend of revenue from a theater? Especially on Memorial Day weekend? I don't think so.

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Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"

Well, the Gateway hasn't been officially ruled out yet, has it? I'd much rather have it April 19 at the Gateway than April 12 at the Grandview. (If the new Gateway people are willing to put up with us on a date of their choosing.)

The impression I'm under is that it would be much easier to have the marathon before the summer movie season unofficially starts on May 1. Memorial Day seems unlikely. (Though if for some reason the theater makes May 10 or May 17 available, I certainly wouldn't complain.)

At this point, I just hope we're able to have the marathon at all this year. If it gets delayed until August or September, then it gets delayed. That wouldn't be the worst news ever.