Jan. 26, 2001-- Reported by News Specialist Kirsten Sorenson
Your
choice of movie theaters may be drastically reduced soon.
The nationwide Loews Cineplex theater chain is contemplating a shutdown.
It's possible that in the next few weeks, moviegoers won't be able to see a movie at Trolley Square or Trolley Corners theaters, or several others along the Wasatch Front.
Officials at Loews Cineplex headquarters in New York City won't confirm if they will close any of their 10 theaters in Utah.
But nationwide 112 Loews theaters have closed.
It was a topic for Doug Wright's Movie Show on KSL radio this week.
The critics say the chain can't compete with newer mega-plexes, with stadium seating being a major feature.
Doug Wright/KSL: "THE BATHROOMS HAVE DETERIORATED, THE SEATS AREN'T AS GOOD, THEY'VE MISSED THE STADIUM SEATING AS I MENTIONED. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SERIOUS MAINTENANCE ON A LOEWS CINEPLEX OPERATION IN A LONG, LONG TIME."
Local industry experts predict the following theaters will all close:
- Holladay Center
- Midvalley
- South Towne
Others will stay open at least to the end of this month:
- Broadway Centre Cinema
- Trolley Corners Theaters
- Trolley Square Mall 4 Cinemas
The theater complex at the Layton Hill mall may survive, probably because it features stadium seating.
The theater at Crossroads Mall is already closed. And there's no word yet on theaters in Utah County
and Bountiful.
Steve Salles, another movie show critic, says some of the theaters may be attractive to another owner.
Steve Salles/Movie Show critic: "I'M HEARING ALSO THAT POSSIBLY ANOTHER CHAIN IS CONSIDERING COMING AND BUYING SOME OR MANY OF THE CINEPLEX THEATERS, SO HOPEFULLY WE WON'T BE WITHOUT."
If the Cineplex theaters close, the Tower Theater and Brewvies would be the only theaters in the central Salt Lake City area.
Doug Wright/KSL: "SINCE THE CROSSROADS CLOSED, NOW IF INDEED BROADWAY CLOSES, THERE WILL BE NO MAINSTREAM MOVIE THEATERS IN DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY. I CAN NEVER RECALL IN MY ENTIRE LIFETIME THAT BEING THE CASE."
If you have any of these movie passes to a Loews Cineplex theater it would probably be a good idea to use them up in the next few weeks.
You can get more information and updates from the Loews Cineplex website at www.loewscineplex.com
Loews operates 2,965 screens in 365 locations, primarily in major cities throughout the U.S.,
Canada, Europe and Asia.
