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Ever been alone in a theater?

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Old 08-25-09 | 05:50 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Yes, whenever I'm watching anything with Paris Hilton in it.
Old 08-25-09 | 08:00 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

I see 4 or so movies per week, and I'm alone maybe once per month.

I think theaters are legally obligated to run the movies even if no tickets are sold for that showing, right?

They at least have to run the first 30 minutes I imagine, in case someone shows up late. So at that point maybe it's just easier to always let them run through.
Old 08-25-09 | 08:16 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

October 2001--I was alone during a maintee for From Hell.

I rather be by myself than with just one person. That always creeps me out.
Old 08-25-09 | 09:26 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Treasure Planet - after the black hole sequence I did a loud 'Woohoo!' much to my own delight

Mamma Mia! 'Sing Along Version' - I sang waaay of key, that was by far the weirdest film to see alone.
Old 08-25-09 | 10:26 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

The only time I got caught sneeking into another movie was for FIERCE CREATURES. I was the only one in there, so I guess they saw that no tickets were sold. It's always wise to sneak into a movie theater with people all ready sitting there!
Old 08-25-09 | 10:33 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

I was alone for most of Pieces of April. One guy came in a little less than half way through, sat down for 5 minutes, then left.
Old 08-25-09 | 05:45 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

The only time I can recall is back in '86 when my uncle took me to see Critters. I wouldn't consider it even remotely scary, but it definitely added a certain creepy vibe to it.
Old 08-25-09 | 08:07 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Twice. The first was Small Soldiers, my friend and I were so bored by the shit on screen that we ran around the theater chasing each other. Hey, we were young!

Also, just recently my friend and I decided to go see Burn After Reading again. We got there about 10 minutes after it started (we really were in no rush considering we already seen it the week before) and no one was in the theater, yet the movie was still running. It was a 10pm showing and the latest showtime by far in the theater. I wonder if they would have cut it off early to send everybody home if we didn't show up?
Old 08-25-09 | 09:43 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

My second viewing of The Two Towers. It was still at the first run theater but there was a 9, 9:15 and 9:30. I picked the 9:15 thinking it would be empty.
Old 08-25-09 | 10:12 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Fight Club opening night. It was completely empty except for me and a friend.
Old 08-25-09 | 10:24 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

As a general manager of a movie theater, if someone shows up for a movie we have to play it. In small town America during a normal school week, ALOT of movies will show for just 1 to 2 people especially during a matinee. For example, I had only 2 people show up for Shorts all day. No one showed up for X-Games nor Post Grad. (The only movie in recent memory I can think of that did worse than X-Games is Delgo). Now if you're late for a movie by more than 20 minutes, chances are we've already turned that movie off. Sorry, but you can buy a ticket for the next show.
Old 08-25-09 | 10:52 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Originally Posted by Trevor
I think theaters are legally obligated to run the movies even if no tickets are sold for that showing, right?
You are correct. I still remember when I used to be an usher and Mystery Men in its 2nd week, almost nobody showed up to watch this movie. Yet the film still had to be played in its entirety. At least for the large multiplexes. I'm sure in a smaller theater they can do whatever they want.
Old 08-26-09 | 12:34 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

No, but when I worked at the theater and checked in on "America's Heart and Soul" it would be completely empty several times a day.
Old 08-26-09 | 12:47 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

I wasn't alone but there was only one other person in the theater with me when I saw Drag Me To Hell. I remember that I picked up on a scare before it happened and kept an eye on the lady because I knew she was gonna jump up in fright. Sure enough, she did and her popcorn flew everywhere.

Great movie and I cannot wait for the BD.
Old 08-26-09 | 02:12 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

I've been the only one in the theater for:

Roll Bounce
The Cat in the Hat
Catwoman
Marie Antoinette
September Dawn
Epic Movie
Date Movie
Disaster Movie
Basic Instinct 2
Hannah Montana The Movie
The Unborn
Superbabies: Baby Geniouses 2
Bill Maher's Religulous
Borat
When A Stranger Calls
House of Wax (the Paris Hilton remake)
Fool's Gold
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
The Brothers Grimm
An Americal Carol
Happily N'ever After
Hoodwinked
Nights in Rodanthe
21
Rambo

I always go on a Wednesday or Thursday for the matinees, at our local 20-screen megaplex. Usually a week or two after these movies were released, and they are down to only two showings a day. Guaranteed solo! Such is the price one must pay when you love going to movies and will see anything that plays!


Last edited by E. Honda; 08-26-09 at 02:28 AM.
Old 08-26-09 | 02:41 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

many times and enjoy it
Most memorable Fun with Dick and Jane opening weekend, got off work early since it was dead it was showing in a huge theater and I was the only one.
Old 08-26-09 | 07:16 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

When I was in college I had Tuesdays off, so I would usually go to a first showing around 10am on Tuesdays and was almost always the only person in the theatre. So from 1998-2002 or so, I saw probably close to 200 movies alone in theatres.

Also the first year I lived on my own it was a brutal Summer and I couldn't afford an air conditioner. I lived in a third floor apartment in an old building so it was brutal. A friend of mine worked at a movie theatre about a three minute walk from my apartment and it was part of a large chain. They had to show movies even if no tickets were sold, so a lot of times I'd end up going to the last showing of a movie during the week (around 11pm ish) and be the only one in the theatre, after the first time I watched the movie, I'd usually end up sleeping in there for a couple hours in the A/C.
Old 08-26-09 | 08:05 AM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Originally Posted by jnyahay
As a general manager of a movie theater, if someone shows up for a movie we have to play it. Now if you're late for a movie by more than 20 minutes, chances are we've already turned that movie off. Sorry, but you can buy a ticket for the next show.
Sounds independent. If not, which national chain and what are the written guidelines?
Originally Posted by ChineseCheckers
You are correct. I still remember when I used to be an usher and Mystery Men in its 2nd week, almost nobody showed up to watch this movie. Yet the film still had to be played in its entirety. At least for the large multiplexes. I'm sure in a smaller theater they can do whatever they want.
I imagine each national chain has it's own set of rules, but I imagine most of them play the films no matter what.

And that's a shame, Mystery Men was pretty good.
Old 08-26-09 | 12:23 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

[QUOTE=Trevor;9669672]Sounds independent. If not, which national chain and what are the written guidelines?QUOTE]

Whatcha trying to do? Get me in trouble?
Independent. All the box office attendents know on the weekdays to radio up to the projectionist what to play. If i don't have to strike a bulb, I won't do it. A technician told me once that everytime you strike a bulb, it takes away an hour of life to it. So i do what i can to preserve the life of the bulb. Ever watched a movie and the bulb blew or exploded halfway through the movie? It sucks changing it.

I said the word "bulb" alot in that paragraph. Sorry.
Old 08-26-09 | 12:34 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Caught a matinee of Event Horizon and I was the only one there. I think that may be why I like the movie as much as I do.
Old 08-26-09 | 12:37 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Originally Posted by jnyahay
Originally Posted by Trevor
Sounds independent. If not, which national chain and what are the written guidelines?
Whatcha trying to do? Get me in trouble?
Independent. All the box office attendents know on the weekdays to radio up to the projectionist what to play. If i don't have to strike a bulb, I won't do it. A technician told me once that everytime you strike a bulb, it takes away an hour of life to it. So i do what i can to preserve the life of the bulb. Ever watched a movie and the bulb blew or exploded halfway through the movie? It sucks changing it.

I said the word "bulb" alot in that paragraph. Sorry.
No trouble, just curious as to the "rules". It sounds like your policy should be universal. We could save a lot of energy. I go to a lot of movies, and see a lot of empty theaters. Seems incredibly wasteful.

But I'm wondering if there are any official "rules" from the studios/distributers. Or even local ordinances stating that posted performances must be shown.
Old 08-26-09 | 05:05 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

I went to see Watchmen on the day it opened at 8:30 in the morning and school was in so nobody was there
Old 08-26-09 | 07:27 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

A few friends and I saw The Horse Whisperer alone back in high school. I was almost alone for Harry Potter last week, there was only a couple in the back (probably snogging ).
Old 08-26-09 | 07:34 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Monsters vs Aliens. Opening Night...9pm showing. Me and The Wife. That was it.
Old 08-26-09 | 07:37 PM
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Re: Ever been alone in a theater?

Went to the six-screen multiplex that was on the lower level of the Virgin Megastore in Times Square for an after-work screening of BEST IN SHOW. Comedies are very weird when you are sitting in a big theater all by your lonesome....


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