Thank you for adding my newsletter, Notes From the 10th Row, to your Film and Television Newsletter Directory! Also, we don't have any AMC theaters here in Lincoln, Nebraska, where I live. In fact, all of our local theaters are owned by Marcus, (ugh), and going to most of them is like stepping back into the late 1980s/early 90's because none of these theaters have been upgraded since then. Even so, after reading your post I worry that Marcus could eventually embrace automation in their theaters too. How I miss my childhood days of Roadshow presentations that required patrons to reserve their seats in advance, dress up to go to the movie, and interact with a well-dressed staff of ticket sellers, ushers, consessionaires, and coat checkers.
I don't think I've ever been to any Marcus theaters. So, happy to hear that so far the situation there is different. I personally really like the smaller, independent theaters now, where the seats are larger and the screens smaller. Those ones still seem to run things old-school, digital projection notwithstanding.
Marcus is a national chain that operates theaters mostly in the midwest. They're awful. Here, they own four older multiplexes in my college town of Lincoln, Nebraska. And they all show the same 4-5 movies. But, before you can see your limited selection of movie, you have to endure 30 minutes of ads, trailers, and public service announcements. Then, the owner of the chain, Greg Marcus, comes on screen and does some schtick that isn't funny (but he thinks is hilarious). Of course, people talk during the film and often have their cell phones out scrolling the internet - even while the movie is playing. It's so bad that I drive up to Omaha 60 miles away to go to my nearest Alamo Drafthouse to see every film.
Ugh yeah the automation is soooooo depressing. Movie theaters feel so void of life and sad and grey lately. I want to support the medium but supporting the companies stripping us of a simple joy is hard. I try to get out to independent theaters but in NYC that’s a lot of travel time.
Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people working behind counters at the AMC Dine-in I went to the other day. But yeah, the decline in people is just putting me off going. And that's before you consider how bad the technical quality of the screening can get (eg. sound, focus, brightness).
If it helps, I’ve seen this increasingly with Regal and AMC theaters in the Dallas area, too. It’s been going on for at least the last three years, with maybe two people working the whole multiplex. (This makes things particularly interesting for 3D movies, such as the “Dawn of the Dead” rerelease in 2022, because trying to get glasses from the front counter can be entertaining.) Combine this with venues that increasingly offer alcohol to draw in new audiences (speaking from experience, most of the crowds at RiffTrax events are drunk as hell), and it’s as if Regal and AMC are trying to drive off moviegoers.
Yeah, I have noticed that so many places are trying to eliminate humans from the process people go through in day to day life. Several of the grocery stores I go to have people who’s only job is to encourage you to use the self-checkout stands. They’re literally training people to fire them.
I’ve seen this movie before and it doesn’t go well.
I've been to a CVS, where the only cashier told me about how the self-checkout machines to the side had cost co-workers their jobs. Also an Ikea, where huge lines had formed for the only checkout desk with a person behind it. It's bleak.
Hi Mikhail,
Thank you for adding my newsletter, Notes From the 10th Row, to your Film and Television Newsletter Directory! Also, we don't have any AMC theaters here in Lincoln, Nebraska, where I live. In fact, all of our local theaters are owned by Marcus, (ugh), and going to most of them is like stepping back into the late 1980s/early 90's because none of these theaters have been upgraded since then. Even so, after reading your post I worry that Marcus could eventually embrace automation in their theaters too. How I miss my childhood days of Roadshow presentations that required patrons to reserve their seats in advance, dress up to go to the movie, and interact with a well-dressed staff of ticket sellers, ushers, consessionaires, and coat checkers.
Welcome! And thank you for the comment.
I don't think I've ever been to any Marcus theaters. So, happy to hear that so far the situation there is different. I personally really like the smaller, independent theaters now, where the seats are larger and the screens smaller. Those ones still seem to run things old-school, digital projection notwithstanding.
Marcus is a national chain that operates theaters mostly in the midwest. They're awful. Here, they own four older multiplexes in my college town of Lincoln, Nebraska. And they all show the same 4-5 movies. But, before you can see your limited selection of movie, you have to endure 30 minutes of ads, trailers, and public service announcements. Then, the owner of the chain, Greg Marcus, comes on screen and does some schtick that isn't funny (but he thinks is hilarious). Of course, people talk during the film and often have their cell phones out scrolling the internet - even while the movie is playing. It's so bad that I drive up to Omaha 60 miles away to go to my nearest Alamo Drafthouse to see every film.
Oh wow, sorry about that. Marcus sounds quite awful.
Ugh yeah the automation is soooooo depressing. Movie theaters feel so void of life and sad and grey lately. I want to support the medium but supporting the companies stripping us of a simple joy is hard. I try to get out to independent theaters but in NYC that’s a lot of travel time.
Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people working behind counters at the AMC Dine-in I went to the other day. But yeah, the decline in people is just putting me off going. And that's before you consider how bad the technical quality of the screening can get (eg. sound, focus, brightness).
If it helps, I’ve seen this increasingly with Regal and AMC theaters in the Dallas area, too. It’s been going on for at least the last three years, with maybe two people working the whole multiplex. (This makes things particularly interesting for 3D movies, such as the “Dawn of the Dead” rerelease in 2022, because trying to get glasses from the front counter can be entertaining.) Combine this with venues that increasingly offer alcohol to draw in new audiences (speaking from experience, most of the crowds at RiffTrax events are drunk as hell), and it’s as if Regal and AMC are trying to drive off moviegoers.
Thanks for sharing!
Wasn't aware of the alcohol stuff, that's interesting! I also wonder how other non-Regal and AMC theater chains are faring.
Yeah, I have noticed that so many places are trying to eliminate humans from the process people go through in day to day life. Several of the grocery stores I go to have people who’s only job is to encourage you to use the self-checkout stands. They’re literally training people to fire them.
I’ve seen this movie before and it doesn’t go well.
I've been to a CVS, where the only cashier told me about how the self-checkout machines to the side had cost co-workers their jobs. Also an Ikea, where huge lines had formed for the only checkout desk with a person behind it. It's bleak.
And yet people complain about how no one is willing to work.