Flickgrrl

Isn't it just a movie theatre? Aren't there more important things going on than a "forum discussion" about a movie house?

Sure, there are more important things in the world, like terrorism and world hunger, but the world also has room for the pleasant side of life, like art and film. Would you say that about a sports team or event?

If you think it is just a movie theater, that's fine, but for those of us who go there, it is a place to spend a quiet relaxing evening or afternoon--and the atmosphere, the ambience is changing.

Obviously NE thought it was just a little chain owned by a family (as I was told) and they didn't realize the backlash they were going to get with their changes and new polices. Maybe they will listen, maybe not.

deni

I'd love to attend this but I also don't want to waste my time. So, I'm leary. My fear is that the panel will ask Ms. Redstone soft questions and that audience members who ask tough questions of her will be interrupted and censored by the panel. I've been through many q-&-a situations where the moderator is far too respectful of the interview subject, almost to the point of fawning. Carrie, can you assure me, and other concerned moviegoers, that Ms. Redstone will be challenged and that hardball questions will be asked of her?

I pledge to do my best. Which hardballs do you want me to throw?

I understand the concessions might change because of contracts that NA has, but

Why change so many other things when they were clearly working? The theater lot is always crowded and it doesn't seem any more so now.

why admit children and why saying not admitting them is in "bad taste"?

Why relegate all of the cine art films to the teeniest theaters at the very very end? Why isn't it half and half like they acted like they were going to do?

What about kids running all over the place and making noise (been there several times with this happening already)?

What about the cine art films once the films already booked are finished?

How come the kids working there could tuck in their shirts and look neater before the takeover than they do now?

Did they understand what kind of theater they bought when they bought it and do they care?

Why do we need another copy of the cinemark or loews? Why not have something completely different?

Redstone doesn't want movies to go straight to pay for view cable because it doesn't benefit anyone but the cable company to paraphrase her in EW. Isn't she doing the same thing at the Ritz 16?

Why not a Bridge or Cine de Lux? Why a Showcase?

Are they going to do what they did to the Showcase in Louisville? Let it run itself down over the course of a few years, shut it and buy more land and build another theater somewhere else?

I am going whether hard questions/answers are addressed or not. I figure if we don't go we don't have any chance on having any of the ambience stay at the theaters there.

They must be paying some attention to complaint letters because when I called to reserve seats for myself and my husband they recognized my name and knew they had gotten emails and snail mails from us.

deni

Dear Ms. Whitson:

I will attend your June 27 Showcase at the Ritz forum. I am very concerned about changes you have made there. There is no reason to be showing so MANY blockbuster films on multiple screens. There is plenty of screen space for them elsewhere. There is also no reason to allow young children in this theater. You have already lost a number of your bread-and-butter patrons who are afraid to return. This theater was not built with youngsters in mind, it was built with foreign and indie flicks in mind.

The first time I tried your theater after the changeover, I had to complain to management about the disgusting status of the ladies' room. No toilet paper anywhere, overflowing trash cans etc. I learned it was not so much having children there as it was having fewer staff available to keep the place spic and span. Or perhaps a combination of the two.

Why are you charging tax over and above the cost of refreshments? I used to pay $1.75 for a large coffee, which was convenient and included the tax. Now I have to pay $1.87 because you raised the price to $1.75 PLUS tax. I am seriously afraid that when whatever contracts you have run out you will take away all the good stuff at the coffee bar and leave us with junky stuff like popcorn and soda.

You had a little gem here and there was no need to change it. If it's not broken, why fix it?? You fixed it, all right. You NEUTERED the Ritz!!!

Carrie, I know that Ms. Redstone will make a lot of promises - that's the PR spin that will be put on this. But what about the promises her company made re The Bridge in Philadelphia. Not one of them was kept. That theater is just another multiplex, although one with a fancy name. Please ask Ms. Redstone about those broken promises. And don't let her blame those plans/broken promises on the Sundance outfit that originally optioned The Bridge as one of its theaters. When N.A. took over that theater, its management very definitely made promises - to repeat myself, all broken. That's the only thing we should be concerned with at this point - Will Redstone and N.A. stand by their word. Nothing else matters at this point because it's a done deal - the theater is theirs. Our only hope is that they will try to preserve it, although so far, it doesn't look like they will.

Please say which promises were made, but broken at the Bridge in University City?

How do I register for the forum?

June 27th at 6:00 pm at the Showcase at the Ritz Center. Light refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, so please RSVP as soon as possible to Wanda Whitson, at wwhitson@nationalamusements.com or 781-461-1600 x336.

WHY ARE YOU NOT SHOWING "SICKO?"
WHY ARE YOU NOT SHOWING "SICKO?"
WHY ARE YOU NOT SHOWING "SICKO?"
WHY ARE YOU NOT SHOWING "SICKO?"
WHY ARE YOU NOT SHOWING "SICKO?"
WHY ARE YOU NOT SHOWING "SICKO?"

Robin:

To answer your question, Sicko opens Friday the 29th at the Ritz 16 -- under the Cine Arts brand.

Why did Shari Redstone cancel her forum tomorrow?
I guess I should have seen this coming.

Ersatz:

I was told it was an emergency. I have no reason to believe otherwise. I have been assured that she will reschedule.

It is shame that the forum was canceled. I do hope that the forum is rescheduled. The questions I was going to ask were how far in advance are the films booked? Did National Amusements book the current "Cineart" films or this the Ritz book these films? If National Amusements booked the current "Cineart" films, what is being booked for the future? I did attend the sneak preview Wednesday night. There were a lot of suits there and everyone was really polite. I want to make a comment about something other than the movie or the theater. I was very disturbed that the theater had two employees standing outside in the EXTREME HEAT opening and holding the door for us.
There was a heat and unhealthy air advisory up until 7:00PM. It does not matter that they were young, the extreme heat affects everyone. Please do not treat your employees this way. It says a lot about a company when they mistreat there employees. If management felt that the doors needed to be opened for us, maybe the corporate suits should have done this themselves. We are perfectly capable of opening the doors for ourselves at any other time. Please treat your employees better in the future. Thank you.

Carrie please keep us informed as to if and when a new date will be set for the forum. Will they still honored our reservations for the cancelled forum? Let us know.