Comments from jcholmes

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jcholmes
jcholmes commented about Regal Westborough Stadium 12 on Jan 3, 2011 at 2:47 am

This theatre opened around 97 and built by Hoyts. As an employee of Hoyts at the time, I was in attendance for the opening.

The opening also had many delays due to construction. In fact, if you look up in the lobby, you can see the cieling was never completed.

BTW, the location for the Solomon Pond Mall is Marlborough as per the USPS, however, the cinema is physically in Berlin – If memory serves correct, the entire cinema portion is in Berlin.

jcholmes
jcholmes commented about Harwich 6 on Jan 3, 2011 at 2:20 am

This theatre was originally designed and built by Interstate Cinemas, which was later aquired by Hoyts. This location as well as Mashpee and Franklin were of similar design and built in the late 80’s, possibly early 90’s. I was at Franklin 6 shortly after opening and later on prior to it’s closure. If I remember correctly, that was the newer of the three built in 89.

jcholmes
jcholmes commented about AMC Chestnut Hill 5 on May 4, 2008 at 7:52 pm

The most prominent time was at your cinema for an interview, when I was trying to leave Hoyts and you had an open manager position (probably 96). We also met once or twice at TONE meetings.

jcholmes
jcholmes commented about Showcase Cinemas Dearborn on May 4, 2008 at 2:18 am

Ray B –

Showcase Cinemas NA is owned wholey by National Amusements, which is owned primarily by Sumner and Shari Redstone (That is important to note as they have not agreed in years, and Sumner is trying to buy her out). National Amusements is considered the Parent company of Viacom, as it is the largest corporate share holder, and third largest, with Shari and Sumner holding the second and first largest shares (respectively) of Viacom.

jcholmes
jcholmes commented about Route 495 Cinema Centre on May 4, 2008 at 2:09 am

I started my 15 year carreer in Movie Theatre Operations here. At the time, it was recently purchased by Hoyts. The theatre maintained fairly high admits when it was a discount house, until Hoyts decided to make it first run (primarily a defensive action to ensure they maintained first run agreements with distributors to open Milford 10, which never happened). When Bellingham 14 opened, Hoyts bought out the lease with the provision that the site could not be used for Motion Picture exhibition. The staff was moved to Hoyts Franklin 6, which then became an “overflow” house for Bellingham. Franklin was ultimately closed, as Hoyts began expiriencing financial difficulties due to the heavy capital investments in new construction.

I have fond memories both working there and attending as a customer in the 80’s prior to my employment there.

jcholmes
jcholmes commented about East Providence Cinemas on May 4, 2008 at 1:54 am

I was employed at this site after Patriot took it over from Hoyts. The Sr. Leadership team did a great job in converting it over, and although may not appear it, many repairs needed to be made. As a former Area Director at Hoyts, I can tell you maintaining facilities was not a high priority – just building them (one reason they went bankrupt). In the two years I was at the East Providence cinema, the Sr. Leadership of the company was consistently customer focused – they wanted lower costs, so they could keep the cost to the customers low. The projectors are the same make and model of the pre-90’s theatres of most major chains and features surround sound in a few of the Auditoriums, so the picture and sound quality is similar to many first run houses. Definitly the best deal going for seeing movies in RI or SE MA.

jcholmes
jcholmes commented about AMC Chestnut Hill 5 on May 4, 2008 at 1:44 am

dwodeyla,

Are you still affiliated with this site? Curious as we have met several times in the mid 90’s. I was with Hoyts Cinemas at the time until shortly before their bankruptcy, when I went to National Amusements.