I was here before. I'm here all day, ask away. edit one proof edit 2 enthrall me with your questions and I promise to try to return the favor in my response. Sc'mOn everyone. 3 thank everyone who had kind words for me, and those who didn't, thanks for having an opinion, I upvoted you anyway. help me out here Australia!!!!!!! edit 4 thanks Australia or keeping this while the US slept, cause the big day is upon me, LAST DAY OF WORK! LAST DAY OF SLINGING POPCORN :( Ask me questions about stuff. I'll try not to disappoint you! ** Edit, [Video of my employees chopping off my handlebar moustache at the "Holiday" party(https://www.facebook.com/photo.phpv=612479055722&set=vb.82100188&type=3&theater)** Edit whatever, I'm done working, I'M OUT!

Comments: 355 • Responses: 108  • Date: 

SolidCree58 karma

How do you get a hold of movies and how do you order them?

fremontcinemas54 karma

We went through a booker, "Clark's Theater Service" out of Port Huron, MI. I would give a tentative list of what we wanted for about 2 months out and they would do their best to make an exciting schedule for us.

KyleDComic46 karma

Are you being bought out or is business just bad?

Did you make the switch to digital or were you a 35mm theater til the end?

What's the thing you've done in a theater that no customer should know about?

fremontcinemas62 karma

We rent so I do not know if there is another renter in the works. We are still 35mm, 2 screen theater in Fremont Michigan. And I haven't really done wrong in the theater. I would be honored to show customers our inner workings because I actually am extremely proud of how we turned around the workings of this theater. It was just a matter of me being unwilling to raise ticket and popcorn prices and getting more "butts in the seats".

KyleDComic28 karma

I get that man.

By bad things I mean the usual sex, drugs and rock n roll that goes on in most projection booths.

Also sorry for your loss

fremontcinemas65 karma

Our projection booth is pretty automated and mostly manned by me and a few other people who are a not "party animals" by any sense of the word. It got pretty crazy at our Christmas party. I had a beautiful handlebar moustache at the beginning of the party and by the end it was gone.

KyleDComic22 karma

I worked at a theater during my party animal phase in college and found that I could smoke a joint and not get caught as long as I blew the smoke in the exhaust fan. And after hours shows were usually an excuse to get hammered and watch a movie.

fremontcinemas21 karma

that'd be fun. Most of the time, I was here alone, running the entire operation. It would be too exhausting to try to do it with Jameson running through my system. Might be fun to try though!

Newkd7 karma

Hey it's the last day, go wild.

fremontcinemas21 karma

NO PANTS TO WORK!!!!

SaddestClown1 karma

Rubbed it off?

fremontcinemas2 karma

in life, yeah. here? nah.

blindest_of_all_mice2 karma

[deleted]

fremontcinemas2 karma

out of sight, out of mind, just don't be a fool, wrap your tool. our jam your clam (with an IUD)

FrankenBerryGxM-5 karma

how would raising the price get more "butts in the seats"?

fremontcinemas7 karma

it wouldn't. that was my dilemma.

pteroso35 karma

What movie was your last big draw?

fremontcinemas64 karma

Iron Man. Still didn't sell out though.

sirnoah2713 karma

Iron man one?

fremontcinemas13 karma

  1. And now that I think about it, if forgot Avengers. OR Maybe the last hunger games did better, i don't have the numbers in front of me. Or the last twilight installment.

jalpotato-23 karma

No offense, but if you didn't sell out come the FIRST Iron Man movie, how'd you honestly keep thinking your business was going to be profitable? I mean you have a 2 SCREEN THEATER! Honestly, were you just an old money inheritance kid fueled by a stupid dream or are you just that dumb as to think you could keep going?

fremontcinemas9 karma

You speak out of ignorance and this will be the only response you receive from me.

fremontcinemas5 karma

not you Gamur, you are cool in my book!

jalpotato-11 karma

I don't speak out of ignorance... but I guess this response is in vain given your a-hole response.

But let's say you read this none-the-less.

I've lived in small towns, I've seen theaters rise and fall. If competition exists, sadly the small shall fall (ignore the consonance). If you cornered the market because you're the only game in town, and yet you still can't bring in a crowd for a huge blockbuster hit, you probably have a service issue, i.e. people would rather not come to your theater than ever see a good movie; that or you have a non-sustainable business model and should pull the fuck out.

fremontcinemas9 karma

Your dad should have pulled the fuck out. You don't know the circumstances surrounding this in the slightest. Thus: Ignorance.

jalpotato-4 karma

Please good sir, fill me in on the facts, or hell even give me some bold and random speculations on how they could have succeeded til now and then, of no fault of their own, failed. And your random speculation can't include "the economy is down" or "fewer people go to movies" because these are FAR from new issues.

fremontcinemas2 karma

Iron man 3 was never sold out, and YES that did raise concerns in me as to, maybe I should start getting this thing ready to go down because no matter how much I personally work the theater ALONE for 13, 14 hour days, to cut down on employee overhead, or personally driving to our supplier with my own car and my own gas to cut the cost of delivery so I didn't have to price gouge my customers. You assume far too much about how MY small town operates. I don't speculate and open my mouth, like some. It went down because I wouldn't bend my personal and moral beliefs. Better answer son? Thanks for rubbing in and drawing out and belaboring a stupid answer that you probably already knew the answer of, from all of your experience with it. Or maybe think about packaging your question in a manner less becoming of a prick.

Quizzelbuck32 karma

Was it digital projectors that killed your business? Because i imagine if it wasn't, it was about to be the reason really soon.

fremontcinemas8 karma

no it totally was part of the reason, very astute! Upvote this man!

WulfSpyder26 karma

Do you have any promotional material that a collector might be interested in? cough cough subtle hint cough cough

fremontcinemas37 karma

such as, tylenol pm? ;) we're hooking up our locals first, I'll see what I can do wulfspyder. and btw, i'm resisting with all of my power not to roll up a newspaper and squash you right now lol

WulfSpyder33 karma

Fair enough. I'm all for supporting your local movie buffs but if you do have anything left, let me know! And that's not cool man! I'm just sitting here, eating all these flies that are trying to puke all over your food and what do I get? I get to watch the stock market fall, right on top of me! No respect, no respect at all

fremontcinemas23 karma

I've seen what your bite can do. There is practically a whole subreddit devoted to it.

miogato226 karma

on a small business like yours, how you split the money with whoever provides the films?

fremontcinemas24 karma

They expect a certain percentage of our sales of tickets. It varies depending on the distribution of the movie, age of the movie and who made it.

miogato214 karma

so if you don't excel the expectations of the distributor, they give less priority?, less commission?, or something like that?.
Thanks for doing this AMA

fremontcinemas29 karma

No, it just means that we are a very small market meaning we have the least amount of priority because of how little we are likely to bring in, so by no I guess i mean, absolutely correct.

fremontcinemas5 karma

also, you're welcome for doing the AMA, it really is my pleasure! Thanks to you for being you!

Tirpstil21 karma

What arguments would you use in response to those who say that technology has made watching movies at home more comfortable and enjoyable than going out?

fremontcinemas38 karma

But to give you a deeper answer, it is a large driving factor. Also I refused to up my ticket prices. Most people in the area make about min. wage, and we sell an average ticket price of about 6 dollars.

thefem19 karma

good lord 6$! why arent you down the street from my house id throw money at you lol i live in a small town outside of orlando florida if you ever decide to "retire" you could always try a movie theater here :D

fremontcinemas18 karma

cause the world isn't fair. Trust me.

THECapedCaper14 karma

That's very admirable of you. Always know your customers!

fremontcinemas22 karma

well it was the same knowledge a medic has when he sees a guy who just stepped on a landmine and lost both his legs, you're pretty much f'ed no matter what you do, so I figured, do the right thing.

Theecats8 karma

Thats really badass of you, and being a highschooler who doesnt have a lot of money that helps a lot. Thank you.

fremontcinemas8 karma

for sure broheim.

call_me_bropez7 karma

I dont understand why your theatre wouldnt be fucking packed...the sole REASON I dont go out to the movies is because between me and my wife its a minimum 20 dollars just to get in the door. Snacks and share a drink? Shiiiiit

fremontcinemas4 karma

me neither. 1000 different reasons, including myself, why we didn't make it. Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit is right.

mistychristie2 karma

Being from Grand Rapids- I would have DEFINITELY drove up to visit your theater if you were just a touch closer... Fremont is kind of in the Boonies :-(

fremontcinemas3 karma

I personally tried to save money by picking up our inventory shipments from Grand Rapids Popcorn (just across the street from 5/3rd Field) and its actually a very beautiful drive. To me, that drive alone makes the trip worthwhile. But I understand, you're here in spirit.

call_me_bropez2 karma

Maybe u answered it somewhere and I just missed it but what do you think the reasons were? I mean in all honesty if there was a theater here with 6 dollar tickets I would be there twice a week

fremontcinemas2 karma

Lots of reasons that look like excuses. So, we are just too small to work properly, to compete with netflix, or ondemand, or a list of other services which cater to you with no human interaction and a lot more convenience.

call_me_bropez2 karma

thats shitty. Maybe it was just the market? I feel like where I live you would have been successful. Maybe relocate and try again if at all feasible

fremontcinemas2 karma

for me it isn't feasible. I'm a min. wage kind of person I guess, no matter how much I've worked to not be that way. ;)

fremontcinemas16 karma

Microwave popcorn.

Tirpstil15 karma

Witty, and true! On the other hand, (1) domestic hardware is impressive these days, (2) screening starts when you want and you can pause the film, (2) no dealing with obnoxious people making noise, for instance by eating popcorn! Seriously, these are strong arguments that will need to be countered if movie theatres are to prosper. But well done for the good work keeping your theatre open till now.

fremontcinemas12 karma

how could I be expected to compete right? Just like print media, this industry is teetering, IMHO, on a very thin rope.

kalei50-6 karma

Way to point out a large factor in his business going under - would you like to go into more detail, or, oh I don't know - SHUT THE FUCK UP? give the poor guy a break.

Tirpstil8 karma

So we're only allowed to ask softball questions here? Didn't know about that rule. BTW, personally I only ever (literally, ever) watch movies at the movie theatre. Almost certainly unlike you. The question asked is important.

kalei508 karma

You had stopped asking questions and were basically just making statements which, while valid, were pretty obvious to anyone who has watched movies in the last decade.

But by all means, ask away.

Tirpstil3 karma

Why so cynical? I asked one question. I wanted arguments I can use myself against the ones mentioned – which are the reason this theatre is closing. Perhaps an answer involving socializing, or the sanctity of the experience without interruptions, or screen dimensions (relative versus absolute), or even digital versus analog. I am surrounded by people who take for granted that the home experience is better, and I'm trying to marshall a case. But no, nobody wanted to take my question at face value.

fremontcinemas11 karma

I went back to try to give you a better answer, but you had pretty much hit the nail right on the head, Redbox, ondemand, netflix, amazonprime, all of these services (which I utilize myself) are so convenient and cheap, the only thing I have to really edge them out is my customer service and cheap concession prices. And the best popcorn under the damn sun!

Tirpstil3 karma

Getting the vibe here that your popcorn really is special! Thanks for the feedback and all the best for what comes next.

fremontcinemas6 karma

thanks. I mean, you can pretty much get whatever you want to your computer for free relatively instantly, its all about ambiance that just didn't create enough of an incentive for the people around here I suppose.

fremontcinemas2 karma

awwww, you're a sweetie XD All the gold, to you!

Smash_4dams6 karma

Because you're "having a life" when you go out. Sitting at home on a Friday night just doesn't sound exciting

fremontcinemas8 karma

not me anymore. :( I'm just going to sit inside, and smell. HA!

foodcooker16 karma

How long were you in business for? Its always a shame to hear that a small business like this is going out.

On a lighter note, did you at least have the opportunity to collect some good promotional swag?

fremontcinemas28 karma

I grabbed some posters, actually I met a great lady on Redditgifts that I was able to hook up her brother (a huge fan of movies) with loads of memorabilia, and even though I was having a bad day, I was able to turn it into something positive!

pteroso15 karma

What are tomorrows screenings?

fremontcinemas19 karma

"Epic" by Dreamworks.

tsquared45614 karma

Really sorry that you're gonna be closing man. Do you have plans on what you're going to do after you close the theatre? What was your favorite/least favorite part of your job? Any interesting stories to tell? thanks!

fremontcinemas21 karma

I have no clue what I'm doing yet, it turns out closing a theater is WAAAAAAAAY harder than keeping it running. My favorite part of the job were the relationships I was able to create and maintain through this enterprise. On new years eve 99/2000 I had to clean up like 2, 5 gallon buckets worth of old lady diarrhea. That's what I was doing while everyone was thinking their computers and lights were just going to stop.

tsquared4565 karma

Hahah ew man thats disgusting. hats off to you, I can't imagine how hard it must be running a small business like that.

I would IMAGINE that your experience in business management could do you some good.

fremontcinemas12 karma

I feel like the captain of the titanic. he didn't get another job. lol ;) I'm putting my res out again, which I hate having to do, and just hoping against the odds, like most of us do, right?

Specsonthebeach11 karma

Whats the weirdest thing you've caught anyone doing?

fremontcinemas31 karma

One guy was hiding behind the screen, and when he was caught, he slashed the tires of the employee who caught him. Its weird cause its mysterious...

revoopy11 karma

Planning to rob the place after closing?

fremontcinemas12 karma

Rob myself?

a_soy_milkshake11 karma

Was the guy hiding behind the screen planning to rob the place? Unless that person was you and you slashed your own employee's tires. Probably not the second one, well, I hope not.

fremontcinemas10 karma

We don't know, Marilynn, my manager, told me about it and said her tires were slashed that night after she caught him after we'd locked up. We have NO clue what his deal was. Just funny, if you knew Marilynn, she small and older and the sweetest woman you'd ever want to know, so it just adds to the befuddlement.

revoopy4 karma

Sorry what I meant in my comment was that the guy was hiding in order to rob the place after closing. It's not uncommon.

fremontcinemas5 karma

yeah, we don't know, we assume, but he was also just a 15 year old kid who maybe wanted to break the rules or just be mischievous. I'm assuming the latter because I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.

creau8 karma

[deleted]

fremontcinemas12 karma

yes please. I love showing people around. our shows are at 1, 3, 5 and 7. I'll be here all day.

HeXDeMoN8 karma

Did you try to do any crowd funding (kickstarter ect.) or did you think it wouldn't of mattered? The closest drive-in to me did a kickstarter to save their theater. They actually doubled what they were looking for and now have one of the biggest digital screens in the US. Cascade drive-in in west Chicago.

fremontcinemas8 karma

Tried kickstarter. came here. felt the same warm feeling i'm feeling now that I have to close my passion. Bad.

diepthinking3 karma

You should post your kickstarter link up here!

fremontcinemas9 karma

I tried once before, and it went over like a lead balloon. Here I'll show you! see

Madcatz78 karma

I'm a manager for a large chain theatre. Its sad to see the smaller theatres going out of business and the ones that stayed 35mm going out of business. Sorry :(

fremontcinemas4 karma

thank you. I appreciate hand work, and its sad that a button will be replacing most of these beautiful machines.

Reputed6 karma

I've read most of your AMAs in the past and have always been a huge movie fan. I tried contacting our local theater, Goodrich "Quality" Theaters (the only theaters within 50 miles) about their private screenings to rent a theater out for a specific film and they were terrible to deal with and the whole thing never went down.

I know it's generally cost prohibitive, but did you ever do private screenings for a specifically requested movie if someone was willing to fork up the cash? In my case, it was Lord of War.

fremontcinemas7 karma

Always willing to work with people, but that is part of the luxury of being so small, we have flexibility. Don't hold it against a giant corporation for not caring about a little guy, its in their very nature.

RichieW136 karma

You said you didn't want to raise the price of tickets. But wouldn't the community rather pay $8 (instead of $6) for a movie - as opposed to having no movies at all?

I'm surprised you wouldn't at least TRY the higher prices for a bit just to see if it would solve the problem.

fremontcinemas5 karma

6 was the average ticket price, varying from $5 from 4pm - 5:59, before 4 its 6 dollars and after 6 its 7 for adults 650 for kids and seniors and 675 for military/students. Those are the prices AFTER I raised them and saw a steady decline in attendance since.

minos165 karma

I guess the last movie shown will be...."the last picture show"?

fremontcinemas5 karma

to me it will be "World's End" or "Ender's Game" or "Return of the Jedi". The last one, just cause.

minos163 karma

You could just burn the place down like in cinenema paradiso and collect the insurance money....

Then reopen the greatest theater the world has ever known.

fremontcinemas7 karma

and we name it "The Phoenix".

minos165 karma

Probaly far too late but if need help on digital marketing or web design I could help you out.

fremontcinemas3 karma

The sentiment is what I care about, thanks for the offer!

Taleron5 karma

We have a locally-owned theatre here, 5 auditoriums, that works on a more family-and-budget-oriented approach. It's been popular, particularly for families with the economy in recent times.

It runs films "second hand" - most of the time they just came off circulation from the big multiplexes, so the movies are fairly recent, just pushed off the list for the latest releases (e.g., Oz and G.I. Joe are the big draws this weekend). They offer tickets for $2 apiece, with sales for $1 every Wednesday with slightly better-than-normal concession prices.

Before shutting down, did you contemplate any similar sort of change to your pricing/screening? Or was it very much a thing of needing to keep up with the next blockbuster to stay afloat?

fremontcinemas2 karma

Very much the latter. You know second runs are hard to support unless you're getting great % from the studios. And we operate as a first run, at least we try. But our prices are part of our downfall, if I raise them I lose audience and find myself in the same position I'm in now.

Tristan_the_Manley5 karma

No questions. Just wanted to say that it sucks that you're closing.

fremontcinemas6 karma

Thank you. I appreciate that. It does suck. Hard. In a bad way.

Lh2You4 karma

Are there times when no one shows up for a movie? If so, what do you do when that happens?

fremontcinemas2 karma

I do a deep cleaning of the theater. Don't run the shows. I don't think that is the industry standard though.

doubbg4 karma

Why are you going out of business? Every small town theater I've been to has always been busy, since (I assume) there's nothing else to do in the town.

fremontcinemas5 karma

We are going out of business because we can no longer sustain a profitable business. We, for reason unbeknownst to myself, were unable to acquire the amount of audience necessary.

doubbg3 karma

That sucks. Are there any other theaters in your town?

fremontcinemas6 karma

No within 25 miles.

1234567890094 karma

Do you and other employees/friends/family watch movies at the theater before the official release?

I've always imagined the theater owners doing this.

Apologies if this has been asked before.

fremontcinemas7 karma

yup, we watch/ have preview parties, informal gatherings to reward my employees! They are the ones who I'm going to miss the most, I pride myself on my team building skills, and I had one of the best. Danny Ocean doesn't hold a candle to us. (MOVIE REFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!)

naive_eve3 karma

Hang in there. I've never been to Fremont, but I grew up going to a small town theater and it makes me sad to hear of one closing. Your entrepreneurial spirit will help you get thru.

fremontcinemas10 karma

My spirit is willing, but my body is spongy and bruised.

ryewheats4 karma

If you could go back in time to where you opened the movie theater, what would you do differently? This might include a whole other angle or profession. Thank you.

fremontcinemas7 karma

I only came into "Ownership" on 4/20 of last year, but there wan't much I could have done differently, and I wouldn't trade my experience here for anything. I wish I had known that I had needed to digitally upgrade before purchasing, had I know all of the costs and the repairs that the theater needed and I didn't know about, yeah we may have just let the theater die, but we thought I could turn it around, and I wasn't able to.

semi-4 karma

what would you have done differently over the last year had you known then what you know now?

fremontcinemas2 karma

Not much. I'm proud of the way that we operated and am happy to be leaving with a slight amount of dignity. Most places just close without any notice, and I thought I owed my community more than that, so I've been focusing on making the last weekend we have here the best one as well!

Zerovarner4 karma

If it hasn't been asked, what has been the most rewarding and most frustrating part of the business you're in and the job? Has the shift in technology from 35mm to digital and 3D vs 2D caused any particular strain which made you decide to close your doors for good?

fremontcinemas2 karma

My most rewarding part is discussing the movies with my customers. They want to know what something is about and I have the lucky background of knowing a bunch of useless movie junk. The shift was part of the reason, we are too small to afford the switch since we were not approved for a VPF agreement (simplified its a loan program for getting digital equipment); and I couldn't raise the funds personally to do it on my own.

grumbleofpugs4 karma

What are you going to do next? Have you always been an entrepreneur? Do you see yourself starting a new business (if so, what kind and why?) or will you get a 9 to 5?

fremontcinemas3 karma

I'm going to get all "soul searchy" and weird for a few days i think, at least. Then school again.

greglyon4 karma

I know the owner of the company that makes the sign you're holding in the picture up top... bet there's a sticker on the back at the bottom that labeling it from Impact International...

I'll show myself out.

pamperchu3 karma

Are you scraping any 35mm films? Would love to get ahould of some vintage films.

fremontcinemas3 karma

I have to send them all back. Just Rentals. I'd love some old ones too!

pamperchu2 karma

I have a friend with 35mm set up in his house so im always looking. beats most all digital projectors still and film keeps getting better.

fremontcinemas2 karma

I agree. That set up would be tits, take this upvote and run from all of the trolls! GO! DAMN IT BOY! RUN!

pteroso3 karma

What do you call the rooms where people sit in rows to watch movies?

fremontcinemas6 karma

Theatres. Why what do you call them? (why do i feel like I was just lead into something?)

pteroso3 karma

Because I like to call them auditoriums or even auditoria. It lets me play out my fantasy of being a cinema industry insider.

fremontcinemas3 karma

ahhhh is see, and I will make an immediate addendum to my vernacular when in reference to auditoriums.

imin2film3 karma

Sorry to hear you are closing. I mostly enjoy going to independent theaters when I can I find one. Do you think it was the poor quality of movies coming out of Hollywood that was mostly responsible for your low ticket sales?

fremontcinemas1 karma

hmmmm, well, yeah, but always shoot with buckshot right? Movies are my bread and butter as a lonely fat kid in the suburbs all grown up, so yeah, they suck, I mean, Wolverine:Origins claimed they were ruined by the leak without CGI. NOPE, they just seem to take pleasure in fucking up great characters.

Jehstix3 karma

I'm a little confused, in Australia, $15 is your student/pensioner ticket and your 3d movies on adult can get up to $22/23 dollar mark, these movies sell out massively and there are always crowds, it's sad to see that you're going to be closing down.

fremontcinemas4 karma

its okay, we show movies upside down here too. ;) Thanks for the kind words!

hypergolic1 karma

I believe they are showing older movies not new releases.

Edit: I think I may be wrong, after reading more of the comments they may be showing new releases.

fremontcinemas1 karma

we try to have new releases at all times, its hard to do with 2 screens.

dirksmacker3 karma

Supposedly, Jerry Lewis owned a large chain of 1-2 screen theaters about thirty years ago. The wave of multiplexes ran them out of business and the one near me turned into a sports bar. I love sports, bars, and sports bars, but please tell me your theater will become something more respectable when it closes.

fremontcinemas1 karma

out of my control, i do not own the building in which the theater is located (in a strip mall) so I rented and will have no say in what happens after I turn over my key Monday morning.

fremontcinemas2 karma

maybe it'll become a Ponderosa, when's the last time you saw one of those?!?! I'd eat there.

Met763 karma

I have always wondered, how much does a movie reel cost?

fremontcinemas1 karma

about 25K i think. At least that what they'd charge me if I screwed it up

Hypotetical_Snowmen2 karma

So, um... do you have any flavocol left?

fremontcinemas1 karma

yup

Hypotetical_Snowmen1 karma

That Flavocol is probably the reason I buy popcorn at the theater. Need someone to store it for you?

fremontcinemas1 karma

yes?

grammarRCMP2 karma

What movie are you going to play last?

Also: A goodbye song for when you're on the way out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZW9ez4y2EE

love you Guardsman Bob

fremontcinemas4 karma

Epic. It plans on being, wait for it

fremontcinemas4 karma

EPIC

420heshlaw2 karma

Do you guys ever play older movies at your theatre? Or is it always just the new movies? For me Atleast I very much dislike having to watch movies at home and would prefer the movie theatre atmosphere. So if a movie theatre offered rescreenings of movies that where maybe a little older I would probably end up in movie theaters a lot more.

fremontcinemas2 karma

More new, when ever we could. One of our biggest complaints was that we kept movies too long, but what people didn't understand were the contracts we made to rent the movies. If it made over approx. 1k we kept it over a week.

swskeptic2 karma

Sorry to hear about this. Any plans on getting back into the theater business somewhere else in the future?

fremontcinemas10 karma

Its not something that I've though about going back into. No offers have ever been made, my ability to sell myself to a potential employer right now is slightly diminished as I feel a failure through and through. So, watch the kids and clean the house and make my wife her favorite dinners when she gets home from work. Hopefully.

swskeptic6 karma

Don't feel like a failure, theaters are a tough business right now. Port Huron isn't exactly Michigan's largest city, so I can't say I'm surprised about the closure.

What about moving to a larger town and opening a new theater, or just working at a larger theater in a larger town?

From one Michigander to another, high five and keep your chin up.

fremontcinemas8 karma

No my booker is in port huron, I operate out of Fremont, MI. Look it up on a map. The town is TOO DAMN SMALL!! We took over because the place existed in the first place, so building a new theater would be cost ineffective for us.
SLAP whoa! That stung my hand, you've been working out haven't you?

swskeptic5 karma

Good lord man, the population there is a bit bigger than my hometown... no wonder you had to close up shop.

And I have been working out, if you mean eating a quarter of cheesecake last night working out. Truth be told those last few bites were a struggle, but it was a delicious, delicious struggle.

fremontcinemas4 karma

Great reward came from your sacrifice I'm sure! Your succulent sacrifice...dipping down your chin...sacrifice. I think i might be hungrier than I had previously though.

shutupbabyiknow2 karma

How many customers did you need in order to break even the costs of renting the movies?

Also what was your profit margin on the ticket prices?

Hey thanks for doing this AMA!

fremontcinemas2 karma

We are lucky to get 10 to 35% of ticket sales as income. But to break even would mean that I almost need to have a 1/2 full auditorium for every show. Hey, you're welcome.

tmama12 karma

You worked a job I've dreamed of falling into and unfortunately it wasn't a happy ending. With that being said, I wish you the best mate.

However before I roll on with my well wishes, might I ask how you landed the role?

fremontcinemas2 karma

Luck. I had the right amount of experience combined with the exact amount of ability to bullshit that I was able to talk my partners into going into it with me, the way we did was buying controlling shares of a per-existing theater, that was already on its way out, and I tried to make a go by gutting the overhead and cleaning the place up and giving the people a little more "pizazz" behind the counter, and it just never quite took off like I was expecting.

kyak-122 karma

[deleted]

fremontcinemas2 karma

Who you know, opportunity presents itself. I had someone with enough capital and I had enough time to try to make a run of it.

nvwls42 karma

Hey man! Newaygo/grant native here! I've had you're number memorized for years to figure out what was playing as a kid! I loved the low prices and small setting! I just wanted to say thanks!

fremontcinemas2 karma

You're welcome, come in today for our last hoorah!

fremontcinemas2 karma

You don't need to thank me. Thank you.

sabrepride2 karma

Do you blame reddit for the demise of your theatre?

fremontcinemas3 karma

no, just my personal hygiene, social outgoing nature and otherwise my total ambition.

Concerned_Wildebeest2 karma

I worked in a small town theater for three years and I still work there on holidays. I'm sorry it's shutting down. Do you use film or digital? And what do you think were the major contributing factors to you going out of business?

fremontcinemas3 karma

film, and lack of attendance, interest, didn't want to charge an arm and leg for honest people to get a two hour break from life.

louderandsadder2 karma

[deleted]

fremontcinemas1 karma

netflix

wexfun1 karma

Do you have a favorite film that you got to screen?

fremontcinemas3 karma

Avengers. Just such a fun and joss whedon movie, joss whedon. Joss Whedon. (Oh I hope it works like it does for Wil Weaton)

shotglasss1 karma

Ever thought of becoming a dollar cinema? There's one near here, and I go there a lot so that I don't have to spend $8 to watch a movie. Plus I'll buy two dogs for a buck each and a large soda for $2.

fremontcinemas3 karma

No, I do not want to do a second run theater. Escpecially now that I know how hard the west is pushing Digital. What are second run theater going to do once hollywood has stopped making celluloid and only having digital? Are they expected to drop 50k per projector just to show old movies for a buck? And everyone knows today's quality standards for products, the projectors they make are cheap and built to break once their warranty expires. Not like my Strong International Projectors. Kept clean, these would last for a century plus.

bricquest1 karma

What's your favorite movie ?

fremontcinemas3 karma

The Incredibles.

[deleted]0 karma

[deleted]

fremontcinemas1 karma

taken care off robobro.