Comments on: The “Dollar” Theater Closes – An Economic Sign? http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/ Frugal living and debt reduction tips for a better financial future. This is one family's story. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:52:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alison@This Wasn't In The Plan http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-82533 Alison@This Wasn't In The Plan Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:22:11 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-82533 Our local dollar theater (where prices are actually closer to $2, unless it's family night) is doing very well. I keep hear of people going only to find the movie they wanted to see was sold out. Our local dollar theater (where prices are actually closer to $2, unless it’s family night) is doing very well. I keep hear of people going only to find the movie they wanted to see was sold out.

]]> By: Emma http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81726 Emma Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:47:22 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81726 Theaters make most of their profits on concessions--so at the 1.00 theater, the chances are those buying tickets were less likely to shell out 3.00 for a candy or soda. That's probably what drove them under. At the regular theaters, most of their ticket profits are sent to the movie studios--they keep a small fraction of tickets sold. There isn't a $1 theater, but there is a $3 theater and I've gone their a couple times. I admit, even though I am saving money everywhere else, I go to the movies. And the movie theaters are still doing really well in this recession. I plan to see Confessions of a Shopaholic tonight--ironic huh. Theaters make most of their profits on concessions–so at the 1.00 theater, the chances are those buying tickets were less likely to shell out 3.00 for a candy or soda. That’s probably what drove them under. At the regular theaters, most of their ticket profits are sent to the movie studios–they keep a small fraction of tickets sold.

There isn’t a $1 theater, but there is a $3 theater and I’ve gone their a couple times. I admit, even though I am saving money everywhere else, I go to the movies. And the movie theaters are still doing really well in this recession. I plan to see Confessions of a Shopaholic tonight–ironic huh.

]]> By: rosemarie http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81695 rosemarie Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:56:44 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81695 I haven't seen a dollar theater is a long time (we have the $4 matinee places that I love since they run pretty recent movies). I haven’t seen a dollar theater is a long time (we have the $4 matinee places that I love since they run pretty recent movies).

]]> By: Funny about Money http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81624 Funny about Money Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:44:33 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81624 A buck? Gosh. That's unheard-of around here. I'd probably go to more movies if that's all it cost to get in. Truth to tell, though... If you're a cheapskate who's willing to wait a few months to see the Hottest New Film so you can get in for a dollar, you're probably not going to stuff yourself at the concession stand. You might even (yipes!) sneak in some pop and a bag of popcorn on the bottom of your purse. If they closed because they were going under (as opposed to "the owners wanted to retire"), it probably was because they couldn't sell enough outrageously overpriced junk food to pay the overhead. Drive-ins. Gosh, those were the good old days! A buck? Gosh. That’s unheard-of around here. I’d probably go to more movies if that’s all it cost to get in.

Truth to tell, though… If you’re a cheapskate who’s willing to wait a few months to see the Hottest New Film so you can get in for a dollar, you’re probably not going to stuff yourself at the concession stand. You might even (yipes!) sneak in some pop and a bag of popcorn on the bottom of your purse.

If they closed because they were going under (as opposed to “the owners wanted to retire”), it probably was because they couldn’t sell enough outrageously overpriced junk food to pay the overhead.

Drive-ins. Gosh, those were the good old days!

]]> By: Kiran http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81620 Kiran Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:23:46 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81620 At theaters its all about the refreshments. At the $2.50 theatre in my hometown, you actually buy your tickets AT the concession stand. So you have no choice but think about it. At theaters its all about the refreshments. At the $2.50 theatre in my hometown, you actually buy your tickets AT the concession stand. So you have no choice but think about it.

]]> By: HeatherS http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81575 HeatherS Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:22:43 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81575 I've always heard that the concession stand is where theaters really make their money and I imagine that is especially true at the $1 theater. My guess is that while people might be willing to lay down $1 for the movie, they have probably said no to the snacks at the concession stand therefore causing the economic problem for the theater. I’ve always heard that the concession stand is where theaters really make their money and I imagine that is especially true at the $1 theater. My guess is that while people might be willing to lay down $1 for the movie, they have probably said no to the snacks at the concession stand therefore causing the economic problem for the theater.

]]> By: Mr. Plasectomy http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81547 Mr. Plasectomy Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:25:51 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81547 Omg, $70 for a movie? No wonder the attendance has been decreasing over the years. We go maybe once a year as we 3 small kids. That price is in my future with 3 little ones. Omg, $70 for a movie? No wonder the attendance has been decreasing over the years. We go maybe once a year as we 3 small kids.

That price is in my future with 3 little ones.

]]> By: Dan http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81520 Dan Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:11:29 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81520 All theaters around here charge 10.50, more for films over 2 hours. My wife took our kids and a few of their friends to a film the other day and with 2 buckets of popcorn, it was 70 bucks for one adult and six children on a "special" family price. Hard to cut back on this much though as we only go to movies twice a year as it is. I remember growing up in Canada and going to a triple feature on a Saturday afternoon for 75 cents in 1973. Normally, it was 50 cents for one movie. All theaters around here charge 10.50, more for films over 2 hours. My wife took our kids and a few of their friends to a film the other day and with 2 buckets of popcorn, it was 70 bucks for one adult and six children on a “special” family price. Hard to cut back on this much though as we only go to movies twice a year as it is.

I remember growing up in Canada and going to a triple feature on a Saturday afternoon for 75 cents in 1973. Normally, it was 50 cents for one movie.

]]> By: autumnesf http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81485 autumnesf Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:26:34 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81485 Traditionally the movies theaters are one of the things that do well in a downturn of the economy. Has to do with escaping reality for a little while. But I must say that I can't imagine being able to pay all the bills on $1 admission prices. The regular movies will do just fine during this. (Even in China when hundreds of thousands were starving to death the theaters were still full. Weird. Traditionally the movies theaters are one of the things that do well in a downturn of the economy. Has to do with escaping reality for a little while. But I must say that I can’t imagine being able to pay all the bills on $1 admission prices. The regular movies will do just fine during this.

(Even in China when hundreds of thousands were starving to death the theaters were still full. Weird.

]]> By: MrPlasectomy http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81392 MrPlasectomy Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:44:30 +0000 http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/02/12/the-dollar-theater-closes-an-economic-sign/#comment-81392 What kind of movies were played there? What was their cost on refreshments and such? Overhead must have been expensive. I would have thought a place like that would have been booming. Fast food places are increasing in business because they are cheaper that your standard Applebee’s, Chili’s, and Outback flare. What kind of movies were played there? What was their cost on refreshments and such? Overhead must have been expensive.

I would have thought a place like that would have been booming. Fast food places are increasing in business because they are cheaper that your standard Applebee’s, Chili’s, and Outback flare.

]]>