i gave my son $16.00 to go to a movie tonight. popcorn and soda. he didnt have enough.

[seabeyond]

geeeez. it has been a long time since i have gone and last couple times used card adn paid for bunch of kids and daytime.

he and a friend bought large popcorn to split and two sodas. he didnt have enough money left from ticket to split evenly with friends.

crazy out there.

life as we know it. kids said was funny

[ingac70]

1. Popcorn and drink cost more than the movie. n/t

[seabeyond]

3. oh, really? wow. even when i went to movie didnt buy the popcorn and soda.

would buy the kids one of those kid packs.

[Freddie Stubbs]

130. 1st run theaters make more money on food and drink than they do on movie tickets

[liberalmuse]

2. I hate to say this, but...

if he had a man purse, he could smuggle all that stuff in. I mean, who wants to pay $7 for a watered down, medium coke?

[seabeyond]

5. ah hahaha

there is that. think a backpack would be too obvious. i dont know htat i could get him to wear a man pack. though he is my confident and secure boy, and doesnt mind going against stream. he might be the one.

$7 huh? wow

[Posteritatis]

11. I kept a backpack on me for a long time and didn't get any flak over it

I mean, maybe if it was audibly sloshing or something, but I usually had a bunch of stuff in it and could just sneak anything I wanted to in a lower layer or the like.

[seabeyond]

15. yawl are bad. thanks for the tip. didnt realize how high

worth the man purse

[theHandpuppet]

92. Buy him a sporran

The ultimate man-purse.

http://www.hendersongroupltd.com/cart/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=456
http://www.sportkilt.com/category/220/Sporrans.html

[ingac70]

7. My sister used to pretend to be preggers.

Snacks for everyone.

[KansasVoter]

30. Hurts the theaters a lot. I never do it.

[NickB79]

96. Then the theaters shouldn't charge $7 for $1 worth of popcorn and soda

If that's the only way they can make money, they need to reconsider their business models.

[NoPasaran]

102. That business model works fine for the theatre

You're the one who is having a problem with it.

[NickB79]

103. Obviously I'm not the only one having a problem with it

Based on the number of similar replies here that also have a problem with their prices.

[Dorian Gray]

126. I think Lots of people

are having a problem with that business model, which is why so many people sneak snacks and drinks into the theater.

There has to be a more reasonable price-point that would actually be more beneficial to the theater.

[nessa]

112. or maybe if you can't afford or don't want to afford it go elsewhere for entertainment..

Their place, their rules.

If there are many like you, the model won't work. Since pretty much all theaters do it, I'm guessing it works for most.

[seabeyond]

113. and i have never bought any refreshments. just watched a movie.

should i find other entertainment. i dont think buy refreshments is a requiement to watching a movie.

[nessa]

121. No, I think not buying refreshments is fine..

It's the sneaking stuff in that I have an issue with.

They have a rule, don't bring your snacks into our place. Their place, their rules. They don't have a rule against watching without eating.

[uncommon]

123. If you bring your own, you are still "not buying refreshments" - so it doesn't

hurt the theater, it just benefits the consumer. They should reconsider their pricing which consumers have taken issue with for years.

[closeupready]

129. I just don't care.

There it is. Do not give a shit.

[uncommon]

122. They should stop counting on consumers to pay $10 for $2 worth of product.

I have no sympathy for them.

[seabeyond]

62. nt

[MattBaggins]

93. Watered down soda with a cup 90% filled with ice.

I always ask for my sodas with no ice so I don't get screwed even more.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I don't send my kids out with less than $25 each these days, just in case. And these guys aren't

even teenagers yet! LOL

[seabeyond]

6. wow. all these lessons. my older son doesnt do this stuff. this younger one

will.

hm

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Mine only go out a couple times a year, tho. How sad is that, but who can afford it?

[Dappleganger]

22. Ours rent redbox quite a bit and watch it in their room

with their friends. 1$ a movie is tough to beat.

[Posteritatis]

8. Yeah, $25 is standard movie-and-snack price around here give or take a few bucks

Rather lower when my friends and I go to one, but we're those vile types who smuggle snacks in.

[ZombieHorde]

10. My wife loves to sneak food into movie theaters.

One time she heated up some lasagna, put it into some Tupperware, and sneaked it in. I sure people smelled it, but no one said anything.

[seabeyond]

13. who would care. never thought of sneaking stuff in. dont know why. you delinquents....

it seems to be the way to go....

[KansasVoter]

31. It is wrong and hurts the theaters. Studio takes a lot of the ticket price.

[ZombieHorde]

50. No, we are not hurting anyone, unless they hate the smell of lasagna. nt

[KansasVoter]

69. Cheap ass. Buy food in the theater. Jesus, people are selfish!

[ZombieHorde]

71. The food our local theater sells is both very expensive and very unhealthy.

Why would I purchase it?

[seabeyond]

72. or poor. $7 for a med coke cost theater .50, at most. greed? theater ultimate in selfish?

do they need it to pay employee? do they need it for a huge profit to pocket as they pay minimum wage?

the few times i went to theater, in a couple decades i buy no popcorn or soda. does that make me selfish?

[JustAmused]

84. Actually they do Sea

I work part time at a drive in theater here in Kentucky. We are affiliated with a local indoor theater too. The truth us that we make very little from the ticket prices. Remember all of the blockbuster number ones this year? Well out of a $7 ticket price (for two movies) we get about $5 for the first two weeks. Each week after that the percentge changes. As ridiculous as it sounds, we could not stay open without concession stand prices. We measure what we call "per cap", which is total concession sales divided by total attendance. If we don't average about $3 per person, we lose money.

The movie companies also have a lot of control over what we show. We have two outdoor screens, with a double feature on each one. Certain companies will not let us show some companies films with theirs. With some films, we have to agree to keep the film as a first feature a certain number of weeks.

This drive in opened in 1949 and is one of the oldest still operating in the country. Last night, after ten years working there, I heard the funniest customer line ever.

A young couple with two kids came in. I told them the price and they fiddled for a few minutes, and then the girl said, "We will come back another time."
Then the guy leaned over and asked, "Hey, is it cheaper for the matinee?". I wanted to tell him, Yeah matinees are free. Come out at noon and watch all you want for free...lol.

Sea, sorry about the high prices, but it really is the way we pay the bills.

[seabeyond]

85. ya... but the joke was funny. cute. nt

[Dorian Gray]

78. Why should I spend

$5 on a small popcorn that has 700 calories? I can make my own for 30 cents and it's only about 100 calories?

And a bottle of water at $4.00? That's highway robbery for the Dasani water that you can buy in a store for $1.00. Or just drink tap water.

[gmoney]

73. why can't they price it like a fast food joint?

If Taco Bell can make money on $1.50 nachos and $1.79 for a large drink, why does a theatre need to charge 4 times as much, except for the fact that they have no competition once you pass the turnstile. I guess because there are only people buying crap for a part of the day...

[Berserker]

86. For real?

Fuck them. It costs so much to go to a movie and pay for popcorn and a drink it sucks. I feel real sorry for those money grab-in bastards. How about when you go to a gas station and knowing full well the station makes only 3 cents a gallon on your $2.95 gas you pay $5.00 for your soda and feel sorry for them? Does that work out for you?

[JVS]

88. If gouging people for snacks is how they stay in business, they need to find another thing to do.

[NeedleCast]

94. If theaters charged anything resembeling a decent price, I wouldn't do it

but knowing I'm going to pay $3.50 or more for a medium soda, and that it costs the theater a few cents on the dollar to make that soda, I don't feel very bad about it.

[alphafemale]

99. Then they need to find ways to make people feel good about going to the theater again

Going out to the movies feels like getting f--ked by a gravel dick nowadays.

Going to the movies with a tub of pop and two pops is going to sink at least $50 and that is stupid.

I'll be able to watch the movie on my giant screen at home in two months on my Netflix.

Why should I go to a theater to get ripped off?

[seabeyond]

100. +1. and you have the pause button. nt

[alphafemale]

101. The theaters could charge $2 for the bucket of popcorn and $1 for syrupy bubble water

And still make a profit.

And I'd bet WAY more people would go to the movies if they did that.

[doc03]

108. Exactly, I went to a movie a month or so ago and I was the only

person in the theater. They could probably cut prices about 75% and fill the theater and make more profit.

[onenote]

120. they could cut the price to nothing and some movies wouldn't draw

Its hit or miss for theaters. Sometimes you have a surefire hit, sometimes a surprise hit. And a lot of times you have dogs that don't draw

[onenote]

119. they'd "make a profit" on the cost of the popcorn and soda

But what is going to pay the hourly wage of the employees, the electric bill, the rent for the space, etc? Its not the movie itself, since they don't get to keep that much of the ticket price and there are a lot of movies that draw badly (or only draw well the first few days of release) and the fixed costs for showing those money in terms of overhead -- employees, electricity, rent, etc. is no different than the days on which they theater is full.

[closeupready]

131. It is not wrong. I suppose you'll repeat this 1000 times, but it will still not be wrong.

n/t

[Fumesucker]

12. I took my granddaughters to the discount store for a few things the other day..

They had $24 to spend.

A few pieces of plastic crap toys, two bags of candy and two pieces of posterboard, the nicest thing they got was some colored chalk to draw on the driveway.

We had to take three items off the register because we went four dollars over, one of the bags of candy was four dollars rather than the two we thought it was going to be.

I was astounded at how little a quarter of a C note buys now and what absolute junk most of it was.

Truly, the chalk is the only thing that will keep their interest for more than a day or so if that.

[seabeyond]

14. i loved chalk for kids. still have it around for the little kids. we keep there pictures

for a long time.

the best...

[lonestarnot]

91. I carry a can around in my car in case I the mood strikes me for a sidewalk protest.

:evilgrin:

[seabeyond]

16. i bought a large coffee today at convenient store. .69. i jumped back in surprise

i told the guy, i am not use to a dollar covering ANYTHING anymore... and i got change. the dollar is like the penny of the past.

[Fumesucker]

17. Funny, my brother says the same thing..

Personally I think it's more like a nickel was when I was a kid, you could get a nice candy bar or a soda for a nickel..

[Monique1]

26. This is really telling my age

I remember buying candy for a penny, sometimes 2 pcs for a penny. Bag of chips was 5 cents and soda the same if you brought an empty bottle back.

I also remember us kids looking for empty pop bottles to cash them in for candy or bubble gum. Sorry, I am not a young one here. You are being screwed at the stores and today I am also.

[Fumesucker]

29. Bubble gum, suckers and that sort of thing were a penny..

And yes, we used to scrounge soda bottles for the deposit too.

[seabeyond]

33. ya. and it was even called.... lol, penny candy, lol. i know. it is bad. nt

[Bozita]

43. I remember the Coke machines going from 5 to 6 cents.

These were the small bottles.

If you banged real hard on the retrofitted machines' penny slot, and then popped a nickel into the proper slot, you would find your bottle sliding down the chute.

Beating inflation, 1950's style.

The amazing thing was, ... nobody ever yelled at us or tried to stop us from ripping off the Coca-Cola Corporation.

On a side note, that made me think of Dr. Strangelove.

[tblue37]

48. Remember penny postcards? And nickel stamps? nt

[Gaedel]

125. I remember three cent stamps and penny post cards. nt

[salvorhardin]

21. If your granddaughters really like to draw with sidewalk chalk...

It's super easy to make at home, and a really fun project for the kidlings. Plus that $25 will buy you enough materials to keep them in sidewalk chalk for years!
http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-make-sidewalk-chalk.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G0Z9bbcAyg

[Fumesucker]

24. Bookmarked, thanks for that..

The chalk they got will probably last a while, I get them some on a fairly regular basis though.

I think they will get a kick out of making their own chalk.

[noamnety]

23. You need to find better ways to shop.

I bought a bag of apples, a head of red-leaf lettuce and a box of frozen pretzels today. I spent 83 cents and took $5 off the bill of the woman ahead of me, $3.50 off the bill of the guy behind me while I was there.

[Fumesucker]

25. It wasn't my money to spend..

I was just escorting them and providing transportation, didn't even pick the store.

If it was up to me we would have gone to Big Lots or the thrift store or maybe the surplus store.

I can squeeze a nickel until the Buffalo shits, I do most of my shopping at thrift stores and Craigslist.

[JVS]

89. Wait, what?

So 83 cents got you a bag of apples, a head of red leaf lettuce, and a box of frozen pretzels? Where and how?

[noamnety]

104. Shopping smarter and planning.

The 83 cent trip:

A few weeks back I bought some stuff and it was supposed to generate 2 catalina coupons (the register coupons for $ off your next trip). I told the cashier there was a problem because only one printed, she hand wrote a rain check for $2. Then I looked online, Meijer had canceled that offer as a printer error.

So I went back this week and found the cashier, told her what happened and tried to give back the raincheck to her. She told me to keep it for "being honest." I had a frozen pretzel coupon for 50 cents off, they double the coupons, I held onto it til the pretzels went on sale for half price and got them almost free. Apples were on sale 59 cents a pound and the lettuce is cheap because it's loose (not commercially bagged and overpriced) and doesn't weigh much. I had that $2 coupon burning a hole in my pocket so I blew it on 6 apples and lettuce.

Today I used rebates at riteaid to finance my groceries at meijer and the fruit market. I had riteaid coupons and spent them mostly on freebate stuff (see the back page of this week's circular), so I made a profit and turned the coupons into real cash I can spend on anything after the rebate check arrives. Incidentally, when the dollar store overpriced candy was being bought - entire bags of it could have been gotten free at riteaid. So those kids may have chosen to go to the dollar store but if the'd been given better information, I'm guessing they'd have asked to go to riteaid on that day.

Anyway, today after cancelling out profits and expenses, I am out $11.34 and came home with:

9 pounds of fresh fruit (pears, plums, peaches, nectarines)
2 jars of pasta sauce
1 bottle hot sauce
8 cans frozen concentrate juice (blueberry pomegranate and cranberry pom)
8 boxes barilla pasta (1/2 whole grain, 1/2 regular)
1 tube of colgate
2 boxes quaker instant oatmeal
1 fuze drink
2 six oz jars almonds
1 dark chocolate mint lip butter (feels decadent, recommend - free at riteaid)
1 box coldeeze chewy things
1 multisymptom cold syrup
1 blistex ointment
2 boxes of emergenC energy drink things (was cheaper to get them than not)
1 giant bottle tea tree mint shampoo from organix
1 small bottle of dish soap
1 box comtrex
1 box berry pomegranate sucrets
1 moo cream lotion
2 idaho instant cheesy potato pouches (food bank item)


If you're looking to cut your own grocery budget, http://mypricesavings.com/forums/Forum-Show-me-the-Savings is a great place to get started with your local grocery and drug stores. Here's a post from last month where I was talking about people testing out the system and using the savings to fund local food banks while cutting their own expenses: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9117865#9118211

It takes some getting used to to shop like this. I had to adjust to the concept that it's cheaper to take things I don't need sometimes than not take them. Those items either go in the cupboard or to the food bank.

[uncommon]

137. I retract my snark - I have been glued to the website you posted for a little while now and

am very excited to implement some of these very good ideas. Thank you!

[uncommon]

124. Magical penny food land?

Even with coupons and sales and shopping at the discount supermarkets here, you couldn't get that.

[SoCalDem]

64. Staples usually has a "bargain" section

$1, $2, $3 bins.. I give gag prizes to my adult bowlers at the end of the season, so I always check those bargain bins throughout the season.. I always find lots of fun stuff that is really for kids (but my big kids get a kick out of them too)

Just yesterday, I found a dry erase board with pen for $2... and a package of "winners" medals with ribbons for $1.00.. packages od sparkly markers for $2..and assorted other goodies.. I only spent about $15 and got a whole bunch of fun stuff..

sometimes the "discount" stores prices are higher..and the stuff is pretty junky..

[snooper2]

128. I bought a Kobalt Air Hammer with Chisels for $20 at Lowes

Guess you need to know where to find a good deal :)



Kobalt Air Hammer with Chisels
Item #: 232168
Model #: LGA-620
( 19 Reviews )
$19.97

[flvegan]

18. I feel bad for today's teens starting to date.

So few after school jobs. Parents with less money to help out. Buying a first car? Going on a date that might cost $30 or more?

[seabeyond]

34. i dont know where son got it, but he believes the guy pays. even in my day, i never thought that

fair and i absolutely dont now. the guy could buy the dinner. i would do the movie... or whatever entertainment. i made good money.

but i dont like seeing just one having to do all the paying.

i had really hoped that would change in time.

[flvegan]

44. Tradition, I think.

I believed the same thing. Tradition trumps economics in these cases, I think.

[seabeyond]

45. well, not that this is the right thread for this

but if us women want to get rid of other "traditions" it might behoove us to get rid of this one.

[flvegan]

47. I tip my hat to you in respect.

[SocialistLez]

19. The movie theater about 10 mins from my house

charges $8.50 for movies after 6/7pm.
The popcorn and drink prices are reasonable but it costs so much to get into the door.

I used to work there back when prices were a bit more reasonable.

I hardly go to the movies these days. I used to go about twice a month.
Now it's once every 2 or 3 months...if then.

There's a dollar movie a bit further (half a mile) from the expensive movie theater. I just go there Sunday afternoons by myself.

[Dappleganger]

20. We used coupons for the popcorn and soda tonight.

Got them from a popular dealsite, $1 for small popcorn and $1 for small drink. The tix were 10$ apiece, though.

[hayu_lol]

32. During the real start of dating for me(1950)...

Went to either a palace movie house(Hollywood)or a drive in with $5 in my pocket. We enjoyed the movies(2), had popcorn and a drink, went out for burgers after and I had enough left over to put some gas in the car(gas was .19/gal.). As others have already posted...the kids today don't get jobs cause their parents have taken the jobs teens used to do.

[seabeyond]

38. wow. lol. was in convenience store other day with son. they were both picking up

a couple 20oz sodas. he said... i remember when $2 would be enough. (couple years ago) told him, i remember .50 for soda and .50 gal of gas.

well, you beat me. lol

[seabeyond]

35. that helps... nt

[Bozita]

27. I'm thinking minimum wage and first-run movies and snacks. How many hours of work makes this a fair

... trade-off?

[Monique1]

28. If I go to the movies

I go early in the day when it is cheaper. Mornings are a great deal if you are available.

[seabeyond]

39. i gasped at grocery bill today. (ya ya, i am floored at escalation of prices all over)

i said something how she must be tired of it, but sheeeit. told everything has gone up so much

but wage.

we got a good chuckle. but really wanted to

:cry:

[sce56]

36. $9.50 at the new movie theater but we have a $3.00 theater also. Best deal..

[seabeyond]

40. geez. if he spent 10 on the ticket and soda is 7, no wonder 16 didnt cover it and popcorn

too

:crazy:

[B Calm]

57. We have a three dollar theater too. It;s a beautiful restored old theater.

[UndertheOcean]

37. Damn , you just revealed your age real bad . $16 for a movie and confections ?

:rofl:

[seabeyond]

41. lol. i have never done movies much. last decade has only been special treat kiddie movies.

and i use a credit card so dont pay attention.

but ya... old and tired.

[mainer]

95. That's what I thought, too!

Hubby and I never go to the movie theater without $40 between us.

[AnArmyVeteran]

42. Make your own popcorn at home and take it to the theater.

No one should be forced to buy their deadly popcorn. A small bag has 54 deadly grams of saturated fats. Pop your own with an air popper and coat it with fat free spray-on butter and substitute salt. Bring it into the theater in a shopping bag. That will save you $5-$8 and your kids will have more money for the movie and a drink. No one should have to be subjected to the deadly foods offered in theaters. I've been popping my own popcorn for years. It's a damned free country and no capitalistic company has the right to screen what you eat or drink. They don't even offer a healthy alternative to the deadly popped corn they sell.

[proteus_lives]

46. I work at a movie theater. You're right, it's not enough.

At my theater:

One adult ticket: $9, $12.50 if you're seeing a 3D flick.

Small drink-3.75

Small popcorn-$5

Small deal-$8.

Gotta slip him a twenty for a decent evening and if he's taking a little date, then he needs more.

My advice, skip the over-priced theater food. Stop at a gas station and get candy there.

[JVS]

83. Drive in is best. Bourbon and popcorn from the gas station.

[2Design]

49. Take backpack and put whatever you want in it - just don't show on outside drink

movies in AM at AMC are reasonable price before noon which doesn't solve the problem of going at night

too much money for snacks

Frequent movie card helps to get snacks sometimes

[elocs]

51. He probably had trouble cashing that 16 dollar bill.

Or was it two 8s?

[seabeyond]

60. ten and 6 ones? gave him all i had.... nt

[Bombero1956]

52. Geez I went to the movies with a dollar

I remember going to the Strand theater in my hometown and paying half a buck to see Gran Prix. The other half dollar paid for popcorn with real butter and a soda. Now I mostly wait until a movie I like comes out on DVD and watch it then.

[Touchdown]

54. I remember Star Wars was $3 when I was a kid.

This was California too!

[JCMach1]

53. or wait for it to arrive at the $2 cinema? Do they even have those any more?

[seabeyond]

61. i asked son if we had a dollar movie in town he says.... we have a cheaper one. lol

at the mall. so i guess it isnt dollar anymore, but cheaper

[Selatius]

55. The problem is lack of competition. Chain movie theaters are developing into monopolies.

A little bit of competition would go a long way towards pushing down some of these prices.

[mwb970]

56. I haven't seen a movie in a theater since Fahrenheit 911 in 2004.

Theater: High prices, rude attendees, corporate commercials, and second-or third-rate movies, most apparently aimed at 8th-grade boys.

Home: Big screen TV hooked to cable, DVD player, and Hulu. No talking, no cell phones, no loud trailers and commercials. And cheap snacks!

Who needs it?

[hayu_lol]

58. As a little kid going to the Sat. morning kids movies...

1940:

ticket: ten cents...two movies, two to 5 cartoons in 'living color', intermission for a toy drawing based on your ticket stub number.

attached candy store: fifteen cents(two pockets full

WWII: we were all bent out of shape, 13 cents for entry(war tax). Sure cut into our candy stash.

This was all for the under 12 crowd.

WEEKLY ALLOWANCE for cutting front and back yard: a silver quarter.

[blueamy66]

67. and you can pause the flick

when you gotta go to the washroom!

[CraftyGal]

74. TrogL and I agree with your assessement...

we had to see Avatar 3 times before we finally understood everything. The first time we went we had a lady talk through the whole movie. I got a headache because I was having difficulties seeing the 3-D images. The second time we could at lest hear I still had difficulties seeing the 3-d images though. The third time we finally saw it in Imax, yeah I could see the 3-D images clearly, TrogL was chuckling as I kept ducking.

Here is the cost for the 3 days...

3D General (14-64) $15.75 X 2 = 31.50
Snack/dinner = 20.00
Total Cost 51.50

51.50 X 2 = 103 (approx)

IMAX General (14-64) $17.75 X 2 = 35.50
Snack/dinner = 20.00
Total Cost 55.50

So for the 3 days of trying to see Avatar it cost us a grand total of 158.50.

The only time we go to the theatre is if it is in 3D or it is a show we need to see in the theatre such as Batman or Harry Potter.

Crafty

[femmocrat]

79. Same here! LOL

I did see "Charlotte's Web" on a school field trip, but the PTO paid for it. LOL

[NYC Liberal]

59. $13 for a ticket here. $18 for 3D.

But AMC theatres charge $6 before noon, which actually isn't horrible.

[seabeyond]

63. hubby said.. gonna pay 7 for a coke, gonna be something else in beside just coke

i was telling him about this thread this morning. he figured 21 yrs since movie. i took kids to the kiddie movies. hadn't thought about that. he came close with avatar

[SoCalDem]

65. Hah.. the last time we went to a theater was for "Aviator"

and before that was "Pretty Woman".. If the movie industry had to rely on us, it would have gone bankrupt a LONG time ago,,.

I just don't enjoy GOING to the movies..

too cold inside
sound hurts my ears... waaaaay too loud
kids who will not stop crying
people on cell phones of just yakking in general

that's what comes to mind when I think of going to the movies..

I am patient.. I'll wait until HBO has the movie & then I'll DVR it & watch when I feel like it :)

[seabeyond]

66. pretty woman??? lol. mine is i dont "sit" well, for long stretches.

i watch a movie here and all the pauses, could take hours and hours to watch. hubby hates watching a movie with me.

it was fun as i waited in the lobby for kids. they were 12, late and not best crowd and parking lot big. so was going to let them wander looking for me. standing there watching the people and all the dates.... ah, just reminded me of the times, so long ago. was fun to watch.

[TBF]

76. lol - i agree with your hubby!

I'll buy snacks for the kids but not myself, and my hubby sneaks food in (cargo pockets).

[elocs]

68. Where I live $16 would be plenty for a movie and eats at the Rivoli, a 2nd run theater:

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/806/

Built in 1920 as a vaudeville theatre, the Rivoli Theatre was designed by architects Bernard Dockendorff and A.E. Parkinson in a Spanish style in an 'Atmospheric' garden setting.

Now somewhat run-down, the Rivoli still operates as a movie theater. Thanksfully, its original interior architecture is still present and in good condition.

The Rivoli's second screen is located in a former lounge.

Locals know the theater as being a great place to grab a movie, pizza, and a beverage.

This is the movie theater I went to as a kid, where I saw my first movie by myself when I was 5 for a quarter (we lived only blocks away and 53 years ago was a different era). Even today there is a chance that I would be sitting in the same seat I was in 50 years ago. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for students and seniors, $2 for kids. It can make for a very affordable family outing and kids are still fascinated by the interior which looks like a castle and has a more than 30 foot ceiling and is as wide as it is deep.

Plus, it supports Democratic candidates. Read the first complaining comment:

YOUR COMMENTS

The Rivoli openly supports Democratic political candiates, and evenly is tacky enough to hang their political signage in the front lobby.
Republicans might want to choose another theater.
Why a business would want to alienate 40% of the voter pool in an effort to influence the undeiced/independent 20% is beyond me. Speaks heavily on the attitude of the management, and their negligent upkeeping that is leading the theater into a slow deteriating demise.

posted by happytheatergoer on Sep 4, 2004 at 8:55am
Indeed, the political signage amounted to one sign in the former ticket booth, not exactly offensive as might have been inferred from the previous comment. Anyway, the upkeep does need to be improved and the restrooms are in dire need of repair and renovation. With some care and renovation, this theater could become the Spanish palace it originally was.

[LWolf]

70. I take my grandson to the movies every other month or so.

First, we always see matinees. As a matter of fact, we DIDN'T go see the Ga'Hoole movie yesterday because none of the local theaters were showing anything until 4:45. We both had the day off; a cut school day to balance the budget.

When we do go, we go to the park and have lunch first; no popcorn, etc.; a bucket of popcorn and 2 medium drinks costs more than both of our tickets put together.

When we watch movies at home, though, we pop lots of popcorn. Not that young people wanting to get out and do something with their friends want to necessarily hang out at home, lol.

[Missy Vixen]

75. We have four sets of passes burning a hole in our kitchen drawer right

now. I don't eat at the movies, unless it's something I can bring in my purse. My husband spent $12.00 the last time we went on popcorn and a soda. I HATE spending $12.00 for something that will cost us $2-3.00 at home. As a result, we rarely go to the movies, and people keep giving us passes. It also makes me crazy to spend $22 to see a movie I don't love.

I can't even imagine how much it would cost to feed and water teenage boys at the average movie theater.

At the very least, I hope he had fun, and I hope he liked the movie.

[seabeyond]

77. he had fun. was actually special. first time he and a friend, without older brother, going out

at night. or not having a parent.

one of the thing that you encourage the kid to do to get off the hip, lol.

"life as we know it" was the movie AND they enjoyed it. they said lots of humorous parts. but it was being big kids now, that was really the big deal.

[Missy Vixen]

87. Good for you, Mom

Life must be full of these little moments for parents. He gets a little independence, but you get the peace of mind that he's safe and having a good time with a friend.

When we finally leave the house, ;-) the groups of young teens at the early show on Saturday night always make us smile. No matter how old any of us get, we remember those first few steps out into the world on our own.

[Kat45]

80. I believe the theaters make most of their money from the concessions

They don't get much from the movie itself; the studios get that.

[TK421]

81. It is criminal what a bag of fucking popcorn and soda cost in theaters now

and lately, AMC is monitoring what people bring in to the theaters ( more so, in recent months ) I grabbed a coffee at the Dunkin Donuts in the mall, and they wouldn't let me in with it...but I like that coffee..perhaps if they had one at the concessions stand it would be different? :shrug:

Anyway...popcorn and soda came to around seven-eight dollars or something like that, and I know these people are making a killing with this shit to begin with. I think the ticket itself is $9.00

ripoffs

[JVS]

82. I only do the $5 matinee thing if I'm going to a movie at all.

And I make sure to get my milk duds or junior mints at the grocery store.

[Umbral]

90. I won't set foot in a movie theater anymore - and the MPAA can suck it...

...the same goes for ANY politician that crawls into bed with them.

[Cleanelec]

97. Theater's make their money on concessions

That's where the profit to keep the doors open comes from.

They make suprising little on the movie ticket itself.

[Skidmore]

98. We don't go to the theaters anymore....

wait until movies come out on DVD and then go on the $5 rack at the local Wallyworld, then I buy the ones I think would be worth keeping. Usually by then you can see them on one of the movie channels.

[rainbow4321]

105. Not that this helps you now but

the theater my daughter works for (Cinemark) is selling soda in a huge, reusable plastic cup for I think 5 bucks...but you can bring that cup back with you each time you go to the movies for the rest of the year and I believe for most of if not all of 2011----they will fill it up for $3.
The early bird (first showing of the day for each movie) costs $5, rest of the day tickets are 7.50, and after 6 pm is 9.50
Once in a blue moon we go together to see a movie and because one of the theater workers' bennies is that immediate family get in for free IF the worker is going to the movie WITH that immediate family member(s), I can get in for free. But, the odds of both of us being available on the same night to go see one together is kinda slim.
She gets in for free with no limits and can "get a friend in for free" once a week.
Problem is, as she works at the theater, going BACK to the theater, even if it is just to go see a movie, makes her feels like she is going back to work again.

Funny incident when a boy took her on a date to see a movie and he was insisting that "he would pay" for her movie ticket...poor kid was just trying to be a gentleman..took my daughter a while to convince him "noooo, ***I** can get us BOTH in for free"!

[seabeyond]

106. ha ha

that is funny. we were talking above why boys/men are still exclusively paying. i am going to do a op on it one of these days. but one of the things is hearing men complain about it yet was one of the toughest things for me to get aross to the date that i was not having him pay my way... very hard for a guy to allow, even though they may resent, be bothered about it.

thanks for info

[doc03]

107. Back in my day we could hitchhike to town go see a double

feature, have popcorn, pop and go to Isley's for a Skyscraper cone all for less than a buck.

[AwakeAtLast]

109. The theater near me (a chain) has a discount card

I signed up for it online. The card will get you a discount on first run movies after their opening weekend. I print coupons from newsletter e-mailed to me that are at least 50% off the popcorn and soda. Medium size was $3.00 for both I think.

Worth checking out in your area I think.

:hi:

[doc03]

110. The Carmike Cinema near me has $1 dollar popcorn and

soda on Tuesday afternoons. They call it stimulus Tuesday.

[seabeyond]

111. i will do that

thanks.

[Liberal_in_LA]

114. No, you didn't give him enough money. Dip deeper into the pocket next time

food at movies is EXPENSIVE.

[seabeyond]

116. hey... it was ALL my bills. i coulda dug out quarters if i had known

it was so expensive, lol. next time, i will know to hit the ATM

[Art_from_Ark]

115. In 1968, my mom gave me $1 to watch a Saturday matinee

Admission was a quarter, and a bag of popcorn was 35 cents. I had enough money left over to get 4 ice cream bars from the little ice cream truck that used to go through the neighborhood.

[seabeyond]

117. lol. isnt it sumthin... nt

[Art_from_Ark]

118. Back then, a kid could do a lot with a buck

Public swimming pool-- 25 cents
Roller skating rink-- 25 cents (plus 25 cents skate rental)
Bowling-- 35 cents per game (plus 25 cents shoe rental).
Saturday matinees-- 25 cents

[AngryAmish]

127. Last three times I went to the movies I fell asleep.

I stopped going. Jeez, I'm getting old.

[seabeyond]

133. ha ha ha. hubby and his father says it is "thinking" not sleepin.... even with the snore

i dont go, cause i pause movies and take forever. i cant sit in one place

but

if i fell asleep at the theater, i would stop too. especially $10 a ticket

[ThatsMyBarack]

132. Charles Schultz once said...

"Happiness is...Fifteen cents for the movie, ten cents for popcorn, and a nickel for a candy bar."

:cry: RIP and all that.

[raccoon]

134. I rarely go to the movies these days, mainly because there is hardly ever any

movie playing that I consider worth going to see.

I think "The Time Traveler's Wife" was the last movie I saw at the theater.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

135. Hmmm... around here a movie ticket is $9...

I have a hard time believing popcorn and a soda are more than $7.

Should've told him to buy candy/coke at the grocery store before going to the theater. Stick it in those big pockets and baggy pants kids like to wear.

[Blue_Tires]

136. Holy damn....There are still people who actually BUY concessions?

You son should leave the house a little earlier, stop by the gas station, and get his candy/popcorn/soda there...And the gas station isn't even cheap, but compared to the theater it's cut-rate...

The high prices would make at least a little more sense if they had some good, high-quality stuff...But it's the same you can get anywhere...