A Subscription-Based Movie Theater 308
When the local movie theater in Oakhurst, California went out of business, residents were stuck without a way to watch films on the big screen without driving for at least an hour beforehand. Now, three men are trying to resurrect the theater with one major change: instead of relying solely on ticket sales, their business model revolves around subscriptions. From the article: 'They ran models of Nelson's subscription-based theater idea, showing that to break even they would need 3,000 people, or 15% of the mountain communities, to sign up. For $19.95 per month, a member would be able to see each movie one time and buy individual tickets for friends. Non-members could buy a $16 day pass. While researching the theater business, Nelson learned that studios are transitioning to digital distribution. Thousands of independent theaters that couldn't afford equipment upgrades have closed over the last 10 years, according to industry experts. Hundreds of others — which, like the Met, still show print films — remain on the brink. The subscription business model could pay for the new equipment.'
Re:too expensive (Score:5, Funny)
Re:It is perfectly feasible... (Score:3, Funny)
It's worth mentioning that the summary proposes the subscription model to justify theater upgrades:
" Thousands of independent theaters that couldn't afford equipment upgrades have closed over the last 10 years, according to industry experts. Hundreds of others — which, like the Met, still show print films — remain on the brink. The subscription business model could pay for the new equipment. "
Keep in mind that there are plenty of independent movie theaters which play older/obscure/foreign movies, and having character and not being newfangled everything is part of the experience. San Diego's Ken Cinema, [staticflickr.com] being a good example. Before the movie starts they throw out huge balloons everybody swats around, there are no annoying ushers to see if you're sneaking in the drink, and they play movies you wouldn't find at an AMC, like Pink Flamingos*. The only downside of that theater being that it's in a neighborhood infested with grown up hipster-sissies. Still, those are the theaters which deserve my money. If I wanted to see predictable, stale crap like Transformers 5 or X-men 10 I'd reach for the torrent.
* Whoa, man. What a fucked up movie. A lot of it's chatty gay humor, but where else are you gonna see the main character (a man in drag) suck her son's cock, a man fucking two (real) dead chickens, and a finale of eating dog shit. [youtube.com]
-- Ethanol-fueled
Re:Another idea (Score:2, Funny)
would be the Green Bay Packers model [wikipedia.org] of community ownership. Keep the theater private but sell shares in the company; for $300 you would be part owner, and would be able to buy a subscription for either $15/month or get a $3 discount on individual tickets.
How much would I have to pay to skip the ads?
Re:Not entirely a new idea (Score:5, Funny)
Indeed, season passes are as old as the discovery of fire. The Amalgamated Neanderthal Conglomerate "Ungfrthfrulptlf" (GmbH) used to paint on the cave walls about amazing savings:
Club just one woman and kill two mammoths a year and enjoy a VIP spot of dirt by the campfire!*
MUCH cheaper than a saber-tooth per fire.
*Cannot be combined with any other cave painting. Limited time offer. Dirt spots dependent upon availability and size of mammoth, woman.
Re:Great Deal (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Great Deal (Score:5, Funny)
At $25k he is most certainly no fool.
Indeed he is exactly the type of audio expert who could appreciate the $129-a-piece inter-component isolation sheets I'm selling. (white A4-sized, other sizes and colors available for an additional charge, excluding p+p).
Contact me if you are interrested.
I also have 3x3" partially adhesive yellow noise-covers for sale at a price of just $50 each, but these are only for the true audiophile.