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Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:06 am
by Maitre D
Everyone I know is rooting hard for the re-development of downtown, incl. the Empire Room.  (The KC STar had a glowing front page article)

I do encounter the Doubting Thomases.  But it seems like every person who does, says, "Man, I don't know about this, but it would great if....."

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:15 am
by KCMax
They talked about this on "Ruckus" as well with everyone pretty supportive to excited about it. I'm pretty pumped about it! Is it going to be a massive megaplex first run blockbusters or more of an art house?

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:21 am
by Gladstoner
KCMax wrote: They talked about this on "Ruckus" as well with everyone pretty supportive to excited about it. I'm pretty pumped about it! Is it going to be a massive megaplex first run blockbusters or more of an art house?
It'd be cool if they'd use it occasionally for sneak preview events.

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:59 pm
by KCMax
From Hearne Christopher today:

The art of the deal: AMC’s experiment-to-be at downtown’s Empire theater — mixing mostly indie and foreign films with smashes such as “War of the Worldsâ€

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:13 pm
by KCN
Gee, never thought I'd see Hearne Christopher pointing out someone's skepticism about a downtown project.

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:31 pm
by KCMax
Empire will rule an older market

When the Empire reopens in a couple of years (nearly nine decades after it first opened as a vaudeville venue) it will be a key element in a plan to revitalize downtown by creating an urban entertainment district.

The new Empire will house a restaurant and six auditoriums showing movies. AMC’s announcement described the screens as “state-of-the-art digitalâ€

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:59 pm
by ComandanteCero
well, i hope the empire theatre offers an alternative to the Fine Arts Group, because rarely do they screen indie movies i'm interested in.

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 5:19 pm
by cdschofield
I respect Wade Williams but I think he forgot about the Angelika Film Centers. By no means is Angelika a big corporation but I wouldn't classify it as a "mom and pop" operation either. The more I hear about the plans for the Empire the more I feel like AMC is stealing Angelika's concept. Indie/art films with some quality Hollywood films mixed in and a restaurant/bar that can be open for lunch and dinner regardless if a movie is showing.

I've said this before, but  Hearne Christopher represents this 70's-80's KC generation of that have seemed to become their parents. Any change is met with skepticism and resistance. I suspect after the P & L district is open Hearne & Co. will go on about how it will die after the honeymoon period and Westport will still be where it's at. After a new NHL or NBA team moves into the Sprint Center we will hear how it will move out of town within 5 years by the Hearne experts. Remember it's the Cowtown Confidential, he has a vested interest in keeping KC from putting on airs.

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 7:50 pm
by Long
cdschofield wrote: but  Hearne Christopher represents this 70's-80's KC generation of that have seemed to become their parents.

Plus, he has a last name as his first name and a first name as his last name.  Can we really take him that seriously?

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 6:35 pm
by staubio
cdschofield wrote: I respect Wade Williams but I think he forgot about the Angelika Film Centers. By no means is Angelika a big corporation but I wouldn't classify it as a "mom and pop" operation either. The more I hear about the plans for the Empire the more I feel like AMC is stealing Angelika's concept. Indie/art films with some quality Hollywood films mixed in and a restaurant/bar that can be open for lunch and dinner regardless if a movie is showing.

I've said this before, but  Hearne Christopher represents this 70's-80's KC generation of that have seemed to become their parents. Any change is met with skepticism and resistance. I suspect after the P & L district is open Hearne & Co. will go on about how it will die after the honeymoon period and Westport will still be where it's at. After a new NHL or NBA team moves into the Sprint Center we will hear how it will move out of town within 5 years by the Hearne experts. Remember it's the Cowtown Confidential, he has a vested interest in keeping KC from putting on airs.
I don't know, I've seen him at Bulldog on numerous occassions.  I think he is a "VIP" there... so he isn't totally out of the loop as far as the new and hot locations.  I always try to talk extra loudly with my friends, saying "that guy over there is a joke... Hearne Christopher, heard of him?" hoping he'll overhear.  :D

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:00 pm
by kcdcchef
am i deranged or did we not aleady try the not so run of the mill theaters at union station, and they did not do to well. yes, they were not digital, however, they do not show the average cinema. oh well, something, is better than nothing.

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 8:48 pm
by myxomatosis
The movies in Union Station are neither mainstream nor art house flicks.  In general, they show short educational films that are geared towards children/family.  I just hope the Empire doesn't attract the kiddy crowd currently loitering at the Crown Center Theater Friday/Saturday night.   

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 9:26 pm
by kcdcchef
yeah, we dont want the kiddy crowd, we would do so much better with the middle aged suburban screw the city crowd that has so much loved downtown for so long

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:06 pm
by myxomatosis
yes, the same middle aged suburban crowd that voted for the downtown arena....the folks that know not to talk during a movie.

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:13 pm
by kcdcchef
yeah, they voted for it about as much as i did from new york. dont kid yourself, look at the demographic of that vote, same as the power and light vote of the mid 90's, apathetic voter turnout, and the majority of it was kcmo residents. dont fool yourself. thank god they did turn out to vote though!!

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:14 pm
by KCPowercat
the majority of it was kcmo residents
the arena vote was a KCMO ballot issue only.

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:01 pm
by myxomatosis
kcdcchef wrote: yeah, they voted for it about as much as i did from new york. dont kid yourself, look at the demographic of that vote, same as the power and light vote of the mid 90's, apathetic voter turnout, and the majority of it was kcmo residents. dont fool yourself. thank god they did turn out to vote though!!
When isn't there apathetic voter turnout?  btw...there is an election August 2 for a water rate increase (I love voting in Liberty Memorial).

My only point is that bashing the middle aged suburban crowd as out to screw downtown is an overgeneralization and doesn't jive with their support, which was necessary to pass the arena ballot item.  As I'm sure you know, most of the KCMO population is suburban. 

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:04 pm
by KCN
There was quite a bit of northland support if I recall correctly (>50%).  The arena definitely was not carried only by young urbanites.

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:29 pm
by Long
kcdcchef wrote: yeah, we dont want the kiddy crowd, we would do so much better with the middle aged suburban screw the city crowd that has so much loved downtown for so long

The "kiddy crowd" refers to the middle and high school kids that show up, talk on their cell phones, talk to each other throughout the movie, put their feet up on the chairs in front of them (whether or not people are sitting in them), etc. etc. that make the movie-going experience completely suck. 

Re: AMC/Empire Theatre on FOX 4 News

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:12 am
by tat2kc
exactly, Long.  Parents dump their kids at the movies and expect that they'll be entertained and out of mom and dad's hair.  I have no problem with kids at the movies. I have a huge problem with rudeness and inconsiderate jerks who think the world revolves around them and haven't been taught how to behave in public.