[Halpan]

Does anyone know what is happening with the Rialto Theater? There is no construction activity and progress updates have stopped in The Villages Daily Sun. Neither the Entertainment Division, Recreation Dept. or Sales Dept. in Spanish Springs know anything.

Construction started over 18 months ago. It took less time to complete The Sharon.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Halpan

Does anyone know what is happening with the Rialto Theater? There is no construction activity and progress updates have stopped in The Villages Daily Sun. Neither the Entertainment Division, Recreation Dept. or Sales Dept. in Spanish Springs know anything.

Construction started over 18 months ago. It took less time to complete The Sharon.

The Corona Virus did slow down the work on the Rialto.

[stanley]

Wasn't there an exact same thread a couple of days ago?

Rialto not coming back?

[Irishmen]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

The Corona Virus did slow down the work on the Rialto.

You mean the our govt decided to use a virus excuse to slow the work on the Rialto.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Irishmen

You mean the our govt decided to use a virus excuse to slow the work on the Rialto.

OH PLEASE.

If I owned the Rialto, I would close it, with fewer and fewer people going to the movies and more and more people streaming things at home.

Maybe that is being considered. The developers are smart cookies.

[Stu from NYC]

Last weekend went to our first movie in 18 months. Afternoon performance had about 12 people in the theatre. Does anyone make any money on using so much real estate to show movies?

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

OH PLEASE.

If I owned the Rialto, I would close it, with fewer and fewer people going to the movies and more and more people streaming things at home.

Maybe that is being considered. The developers are smart cookies.

.
.
+++
But, since the 'reconstruction' has been in place for what?... well over one year now? Must wonder how much $$$ was spent during this time - we know they were going to 'upgrade' so much, incl "stadium seating" etc etc. Does anyone here have insight or insider info how far along the reconstruction has gone so far?

For us personally it would take something special for US to attend a movie theater soon. We're spoiled with in-house movies and convenience.
.
.

[Taltarzac725]

Lots of movies at the Rialto over the past 15 years we have been here have been sold out. They do a good business and given the growing population of the Villages, more movie theaters are needed, not less.

And the Villages' theaters serve a lot of other people as well who come from areas that are not close to movie theaters.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Lots of movies at the Rialto over the past 15 years we have been here have been sold out. They do a good business and given the growing population of the Villages, more movie theaters are needed, not less.

And the Villages' theaters serve a lot of other people as well who come from areas that are not close to movie theaters.

Anyone reading this Forum knows that Tal is a dedicated movie goer. But assessment of movie theaters as a business is dim.

From PYMTS.com


The head of a Southwestern-U.S. theater chain that has closed all its locations and reduced its employee headcount to five from 1,250 due to COVID-19 told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Wednesday (Dec. 30) that he expects the long-term effect of the virus will be a drop in attendance by as much as a quarter.

"The total attendance, based on the traditional curve, might be down 15 percent to 25 percent on a permanent basis. That’s the way we’re gaming this out permanently," Flix Brewhouse Chief Executive Allan Reagan told CNBC.

Reagan said the industry is struggling not only from forced closings but also from a lack of films to show due to the virus.

Cineworld Chief Executive Mooky Greidinger made a similar remark to CNBC in the fall, saying that the lack of films has left the industry "like a kind of a grocery shop that (has) no food to sell."

According to Comscore data cited by CNBC, theater-goers in the United States spent $2.28 billion on tickets in 2020, compared with $11.4 billion in 2019.

Forecasts immediately before Thanksgiving weekend exemplified up the industry's gloomy expectations for the year. Experts anticipated that a weekend that usually generates about $250 million at theater box offices instead would produce $20 million in ticket sales. Overall, expects cited by CNBC foresaw a 77 percent full-year decline for the sector in the U.S.

As if things weren't tough enough for theater operators, COVID-19 coincides with a wave of improvements in streaming technologies and household access to high-speed internet.

"We’re hoping that the industry, which is a little bit over-screened right now, loses some screens due to natural attrition," Reagan told CNBC. "I don’t think anybody is going to be head over heels building new theaters right now."

[justjim]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

OH PLEASE.

If I owned the Rialto, I would close it, with fewer and fewer people going to the movies and more and more people streaming things at home.

Maybe that is being considered. The developers are smart cookies.

They are “smart cookies” but even the smartest cookie sometimes gets derailed by things like COVID 19. Nobody could predict the changes Covid has made. Besides the Rialto there is the Barnstorm (my favorite) in Brownwood that has been “sitting” for over a year. In our world today, change comes quickly and without little or no notice. “I’m a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first is to be flexible at all times.” anonymous.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by justjim

They are “smart cookies” but even the smartest cookie sometimes gets derailed by things like COVID 19. Nobody could predict the changes Covid has made. Besides the Rialto there is the Barnstorm (my favorite) in Brownwood that has been “sitting” for over a year. In our world today, change comes quickly and without little or no notice. “I’m a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first is to be flexible at all times.” anonymous.

The market for movies is very different here in the Villages than anywhere else. The Entertainment section for the Villages has scheduled many film festivals here even though many of these I have gone to have mostly empty seats. But they sure filled films like Boynton Beach Club, Wild Hogs, The Bucket List and the Judy Garfield biography Judy.

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

OH PLEASE.

If I owned the Rialto, I would close it, with fewer and fewer people going to the movies and more and more people streaming things at home.

Maybe that is being considered. The developers are smart cookies.

or turn it into one of those retro theaters that show classics. i'd PAY to see 1 of those on the big screen

[bandsdavis]

A couple years ago we went to a screening of "White Christmas" at the Rialto. The place was full. I don't remember if it was the only showing. We have seen the movie probably 50 times on TV or via VCR/DVD, but it was special seeing on the big screen.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by bandsdavis

A couple years ago we went to a screening of "White Christmas" at the Rialto. The place was full. I don't remember if it was the only showing. We have seen the movie probably 50 times on TV or via VCR/DVD, but it was special seeing on the big screen.

I went to a number of classic horror movies at the Rialto about two years ago. They had The Birds, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy, Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man and another Wolfman sequel if memory serves.

Few people at these.