This thing about the IMAX theater subsidy from the student… err, city council is just one more example of Sacramento making it a priority to bring features into the city that residents just don’t want. Has anyone heard of a subsidy for the Crest? It seems unlikely that this has ever happened. Well, it’s only the latest detail in a history of public infatuation with IMAX.
In 1998, the city gave $6 million to the Esquire Plaza’s previous
owners – led by developer David Taylor. That project included office
space and the 450-seat IMAX theater.
The city gave the money on the condition that IMAX remain open for at
least five years. When it became clear that IMAX was struggling,
Taylor’s group reduced the theater’s rent in its second year.
I’m not saying there isn’t a place for the giant screen at IMAX and the … also giant screen down the way at The Crest. I’m not saying people should not eat at Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden. All I’m saying is, if the IMAX is failing, couldn’t that be because it is not competetive? Couldn’t it be because K Street has become a terrible location for any business? If the Crest is thriving, which I assume it is since it’s still in business, couldn’t that be because it is giving the people something they want?
The Sac Rag 
IMAX is a dead media. This hand-out should have been to the film community in Sac, NOT to some corporate tent-pole project that Sacramentans obviously are not interested in. Attendance is down, and no one really cares to pay $12 to see a 2-D, 55-minute feature on sea urchins or what-have-you. Corporate socialism is bullshit!
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actually i refrained from mentioning ticket prices because it turns out it’s actually only about $9… but yeah, for a 45 minute film.
is Crest really not doing that well? it’s not for lack of good fare…they’ve got “Goodnight And Good Luck” right now (watch George Clooney end racism!!) and “Cache” which you and DB both enjoyed, and the opinions of 2 sac film bloggers is enough for me. fuck hollywood!
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“The City of Sacramento has always been the place to live, work, learn and play, but it’s changing and getting better everyday. You can see the changes – brand new office buildings, new private employers in our business parks, hotels, lines forming on Saturday night at the Crest and Imax Theatres in Downtown, wedding pictures taken in Capitol Park and on our new Riverfront Promenade.”
{http://www.cityofsacramento.org/econdev/msc/mayors_message.html}
Heather, Heather, Heather, let us count the ways…
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Obviously, the City of Sac is trying to create a downtown destination for entertainment. They may be taking the view that having an IMAX gives more reasons to come downtown, which perhaps, indirectly helps the Crest too.
I’ve lived in several cities that had vibrant IMAX theatres. There’s no reason why Sacramento can’t have one also. I think the problem with the IMAX in Sacramento isn’t that people don’t like IMAX, but that they just don’t like downtown. Can’t say I blame them, but this is the issue that the City is trying to address.
And on the topic of popcorn, the Crest’s popcorn is pretty bad.
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You point out that the Crest has good night and good luck right now, a movie which has been playing for months at the Tower. That’s part of the Crest’s problem right there. As I’ve said before, I don’t think there are enough indie and foreign film lovers in Sac to barely support two theaters. That’s why it was so dumb that the city was trying to give handouts to UA to build another one. IMAX is straight overpriced. I wanted to go see Harry Potter there and it was fifteen bucks. That movie had been out for months at that point and I’ve heard that regular movies transferred to the big IMAX screen look like crap anyways.
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I didn’t foresee this turning into Crest bashing so quickly! Does “Good (Night, Luck)” really count as indie?
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The kind of moviegoers there probably isn’t enough of is the kind who could fill one screen of “Brokeback” and one of “Transamerica” like they have right now at Tower. They should space those two out and give us some movies about real cowboys, the wife-lovin kind, and men who dress like men.
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GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK’s production budget was a cool $7 million. indie … ???
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This is ridiculous, the Tsakopoulos’ just totally worked the city. They probably wouldn’t have made the IMAX cough up the extra money in the end because finding a new tenant for that place would be a bitch. It’s not like they need the money. Why does the city always refer to the IMAX as some sort of mecca of fun anyway? Is K street supposed to be northern california’s grown-up Disneyland?
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mel, that’s exactly what they’re going for:
https://sacrag.com/articles/002018
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Years ago when the IMAX was first open, we went there for a late night show. Part of the reason some of us see movies on the big screen is to scarf on theater popcorn. Alas, because it was the late show, and the IMAX employees had already turned off the popcorn machine so they could leave work right on time, they would not serve us any. With the profit margin of theater concessions compounded over several years, there’s your budget shortfall right there (OK, maybe not quite, but that’s a definite management issue.)
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Not to be all “city planning” all up on ya, but wouldn’t these locations thrive if there was an interesting and creative way to get there? Maybe if cab rates in this town weren’t $1 per foot?
Me, I think IMAX is super, but am not willing to brave the crowds and pay the parking rates for a $12 movie if it’s prom night at the Sheraton, South Pacific playing at the Community Center and NAMBLA meeting at the convention center. It’s just not worth it. Build a huge parking lot at the train depot and shuttle people in on a monorail…I’m just spitballing here.
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heckasac: maybe “Good Night and Good Luck” is playing at both indie theaters because people find it eerily relevant in today’s world. You know, because ruthless enemies of freedom and democracy are infiltrating our society and the government is doing its best, however awkwardly, to fend them off? Oh, wait…
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One interesting point is that IMAX theaters are almost totally dependent upon children and field trips for their business. Money is tight in our local schools, so field trips to IMAX are down. So, instead of giving more money to our schools, for things like education, we simply cut out the middle man and give it directly to IMAX.
What a load of crap.
Maybe, just maybe, people aren’t interested in shelling out $10+ for a giant movie. Maybe, just maybe, IMAX will be back at the City Council’s chambers in 5 years with the same story. Gee whiz, revenues are still down, please give us another hand-out.
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If the city doesn’t subsidize the Imax, you know what happens? Remember the Alhambra building? Me neither, but I’ve shopped there (http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1442/). If only we had a forward-thinking, downtown-focused city council way back in 1973, we might today have a Sacramento icon we can be proud of with a real art/movie scene (and not just the city council) to support it. Imax isn’t the Alhambra, you say? True, we’ve regressed since those boomtown years. But you’ve gotta start somewhere, and if the people can’t do it, it’s up to the government to start changing our minds.
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Call me crazy, but the last time I was at the Century (I know, it’s the Mac Grill of movie theaters), the admission was $9 or so. IMAX isn’t that far off base with their pricing. We need the IMAX. Being a public school teacher, we use the IMAX theater to reinforce lessons. The schools, by the way, don’t pay for the movies, the kids do. Their documentaries are of high interest and relevant to California teaching standards. My students also talk about how they hit the IMAX throughout the year with their family. I think your comparing apples and oranges when mentioning the Crest and IMAX in the same sentence.
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the schools may not be paying for the movies, but if you read the article you’ll see that the city is paying for the theater. pick your poison. if my kid’s teacher asked for $10 to take my kid to the movies I’d say no thanks.
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