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Has it been slow? It was the lowest January gross in 4 years.

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Michael Hurley
Impresario

Mike,

My sympathies. We actually had a great january, which makes up for a lousy Oct, Nov. and 3/4 of Dec.

Maybe DD2 aka Havanna Nights will heat up February. If not, there's always Mel Gibson.

Hang in there!

Yes Mike--I had the same experience you did--in 5 different locations. Actually was the largest one month operating LOSS I have ever had. Weather was part of the problem, but I mainly blame the fact that there was such a lack of great Christmas releases which usually get me thru January along with nothing for families to speak of.

I played the heck out of even "Peter Pan" stayed poorly steady.

My January was a bit behind 2003, but still ahead of 2002. 2003 was my best year ever, and 2002 was a very good year as well.

Thus, so far I'm not complaining. I think much of what I am behind was due to the weather.

Believe it or not, even though this was the coldest January in 75 years, my heating bill was down 30% from last year. That is because I converted from gas to oil in September and locked in the price of oil at $1.049 for the season. Now just think, if I saved 30% from last year and this year is much colder, I have to wonder what the cost with gas would have been this year. Therefore, the savings is actually much higher.

hmmmm, moveover has been great lately. I thought there was a good crop of December flicks to choose from. I had:
Master & Commander (did pretty good)
Timeline (now that one didn't do too well)
Something's Gotta Give (best ever for this newbie)
Return of the King (really strong)
Mona Lisa Smile (also really strong)

What I'm worried about is the crapola that's coming out now and in the next few weeks. I think I'll see that dry spell you're talking about when it makes it down the line to me.

Please don't even tell me how bad Peter Pan performed. That's this weeks movie.....

I'm in the same boat with Leeler. We're a moveover house and we had a great January! We showed Station Agent, Love Actually, Something's Gotta Give, House of Sand and Fog, and 21 grams. Our February's looking pretty sharp with The Cooler, Big Fish, Calendar Girls, and LotR: RotK.

I hope February is better for you first runners!
Rance

My gross was up about 20% over last year, with LOR3, Something's Gotta Give, Cold Mountain, and Cheaper by the Dozen. I haven't played Peter Pan yet and don't know if I will get a chance to show it. I am finally bringing Brother Bear in next week with Calendar Girls.

Burney,

you should do good with brother bear. we had it before the holidays and it did great. lots of kids and lots of concessions. stock up on the candy case!

Lee

Mike you have to remember what year this is......just like 4 years ago....THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR!

My uncles started in this business back when projectors had cranks. I myself have been in this business for over 40 years. My uncles repeatedly claimed (and my experience has borne this out over the past several decades) that the movie theatre business takes a major dive during an election year. I don't know why, but I know that it is true.

(If you doubt this think back.... you all should remember the dive that business took during the summer of 2000)

I wan't reporting my numbers: I was reporting industry numbers. It's the slowest Jan in 4 years.

Up North: down a bit from last year
Coast wise: 2 nd best year after 02 in ten years.

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Michael Hurley
Impresario

so what you might be asking is how are we doing so well when the industry is suffering the worst January in ten years? I can tell you what I think (for whatever it's worth). There hasn't been anything decent out of the studios since the holidays. I'm still pulling from the December crop and will have to keep it that way for as long as I can with the stuff they've been peddling recently.

Moviebuf---interesting, just for kicks I compared year to date with 2000 and sure enough--we are actually ahead by about 10% from day and date in the 3 theatres I operated at that time--and I have not had any price increases during this period.