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My theatre was never open on Thanksgiving or Christmas before I purchased it. I have experimented with showtimes on these holidays, but patronage is bleak. I know these are supposed to be the best days of the year, but I think my patrons just aren't used to me being open. My question is:

What is your best showtime during the day or evening on these two days? I am playing H.P.2 and by Christmas, LOR2 so length is a consideration. Thanks.

I always found the day before Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas to be better than either holiday.

The holiday afternoons seem to be snooze city, as most everyone is busy with family gatherings and having dinner. Evening showtimes are the only ones that seem to work.

However, matinees on New Year's Day can be absolutely boffo!

Personally, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve are family times best enjoyed at home and in church.

But the days after Thanksgiving are sometimes so hectic in the stores, that getting out to a good movie is needed respite. I find the same in the days just before Christmas.

Likewise, once the Christmas presents are opened, getting out to a movie can be a family event later Christmas Day. And the holiday week between Christmas and New Years is often movie "catch up" time for me,where I've gone to 4 or 5 movies.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

I think,both on Thanksgiving and Christmas,late afternoon and early evening work real well.The Friday after Thanksgiving is always great.New Years Day is also big all day.

The day after Thanksgiving is GREAT as are any of the days after Christmas. I have noted that after 4:00 is best on Thanksgiving but Christmas can usually work a little earlier because Christmas presents are often opened earlier and earlier these days. I wouldn't start before 1:00-2:00 even (or especially) on Christmas.

Having said all that it depends a lot on what movie you have. Kiddie movies are going to do better on either holiday than 3 hour long adult films like LOTR2. We did a bit better on our 8:00 LOTR than we did with the 4:15 show last year on Christmas day. Last year Monsters, Inc was equally able to pull them in on Thanksgiving Day at 2:30 4:45 and 7:00. The late show did not run at all.

Hope this helps.

I have always worked theatres that were open on both holidays.

Thanksgiving has a pretty good crowd for the first show. Then attendance tapers off for the rest of the day. However the day after Thanksgiving has set attendance records in every theatre I have ever worked.

In my experience, Christmas is very well attended but the day after is good as well. In a city there isn't much to do after Christmas morning so many people have made it a tradition to go to the movies.

If you are in a small town without any competition, go ahead and take Christmas and Thanksgiving off. Or run one show early show on Thanksgiving Day.

We close the evening of Christmas Eve and the last show on New Years Eve and the last show of one random Monday in December for the staff Christmas party.

Large wrote: "...for the staff Christmas party."

Don't forget to show your appreciation and celebrate with the staff during the Holidays (or you may see three ghosts on Christmas eve).

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

One more thought on Christmas Day...does your area have a significant Jewish population? If so then I would definitely do a regular day on Christmas Day. The Jewish seniors will love you for giving them something to do while the rest of the world ignores their existence and everyone who needs a break from the family by the evening would be appreciative.