Mar 26 2008Exclusive New Theaters for Rich Turds!
Movie theaters have long been one of the few places in America where people of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of their social or economic standing, can meet to partake in a communal experience. So it's about time someone fixed that.
Australian conglomerate Village Roadshow has begun a 5-year, $200 million venture to create a line of swanky, upper-class cinemas that boast "plush reserved seating, special parking privileges and upscale food and beverage offerings with seat-side waiter service," (no exclusive water fountains?) plus "a 40-seat-maximum patron capacity and an even higher-end atmosphere [than existing deluxe theaters]". But, of course, such luxurious amenities come at a price: an inflated $35-a-ticket price tag, just high enough to keep out the hoi polloi.
If you want to be one of the first affluent assholes to find their movie experience disturbed exclusively by iPhones, it sounds like the first Gold Class Cinema will be heading to the Chicago area.
Reader Comments
1. douchenumber1 - March 26, 2008 5:32 PM
bad idea.
instead of making theaters uber rich - try delaying dvd's to the market, so people have a reason to go to the movies.
2. Harris Cloves - March 26, 2008 5:38 PM
We already have everything those guys are offering in Toronto. VIP theatres with lazy boy chairs, alcohol service, sushi on the menu and a waiter to serve you on bended knee throughout the film. It only costs $14 here though. It's a terrible idea. Everyone hates it. It is not successful. But who knows, maybe there are more rich shit heads who need to feel exclusive in chicago than there are in toronto.
3. reverence - March 26, 2008 5:40 PM
We have a group of theater that do this already.
They are uber nice, leather seats, huge ass screens, digital, thx certified, sushi, etc...
The thing is, it doesn't work, the novelty of paying extra for the movie (in this case for a reserved seat), and way more for your "nicer" food wears off and you end up at the cheaper theater after a few flicks, or worse yet, infront of your own 60 inch plasma and blu ray player.
The theaters in question have suffered and the high end chain has changed ownership recently.
4. reverence - March 26, 2008 5:42 PM
Ha - I'm not the only one.
Yeah, this will tank.
5. Lisa - March 26, 2008 5:46 PM
No thanks, I'd rather be distracted by chatty teens than the tinkle of ice as a waiter brings some douchebag his scotch on the rocks.
6. spoco2 - March 26, 2008 6:06 PM
Wow, you don't have these in the States? These are awesome, whenever my wife and I can, we get to one of these, they really are a brilliant (if expensive) way to see a movie.
You get a great lounge/bar area before you go in, and a nice menu, and you chose at which point in the movie you want the food to arrive.
You don't get bothered by other people's waiters because there's so few seats in the theatre.
These things are brilliant, you're going to love them. Mmmm, can't wait to go again and have the sticky date pudding (ahem)
7. princess - March 26, 2008 7:02 PM
We have these here in Oz and I love them. It actually is a great experience. Not for every time, just those special flicks. Will be seeing Dark Knight at one for sure!
8. Allan - March 26, 2008 7:32 PM
Yeah these are fantastic, we have them here in Australia and definitely much better then you make these sound.
9. mielle - March 26, 2008 7:44 PM
mmmm Mexico has them too , they go from the standard 4 dollars regular ticket to 6 dlls for the VIP theatre, and you get spacious leather couches, crepes and sushi bar, no waiter service though. i think if they charge that, then yeah that's a good price. but 35 dlls, is an abomination. But still it's a great idea, lets marginalize the classes even more.
this is a good article if anyone has time to read it http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2005/aug/25/tijuana-better-my-memory/
10. BadGurl - March 26, 2008 7:47 PM
I recently moved to the US from Sydney where I was a regular patron of the Gold Class cinemas in Bondi. It was a wonderful experience especially when you wanted to catch the latest blockbusters without the crazyness younger teens would bring to a movie with all the talking, cell phones etc.
When I moved to San Francisco it was a bit of a shock that these cinemas weren't here in the US. I think your article was a bit prejudiced as these cinemas weren't for the rich. It was for the adult who wanted better service, a more intimate setting, and a good atmosphere.
11. mgroves - March 26, 2008 8:19 PM
communal experience my ass--theaters suck
12. Beth - March 26, 2008 8:38 PM
We just got one of these in Colorado, it is $14 and well worth it! The seats were so comfy, it's all you can eat popcorn and soda and a great menu with a server and a full bar. I'll never go to a regular movie theater again!
13. ellen - March 26, 2008 8:51 PM
maybe i am an elitist ass but i would definitely go to one of these for a movie i cared about seeing. im sure it cant just be my area but the idiot kids who go see movies in the local theatres have literally stopped me from attending movies
14. Haylan - March 26, 2008 9:22 PM
Bleh, it doesnt sound worth it. Austin TX is the home to an awesome type of theater, the Alamo Draft House - www.alamodrafthouse.com. every other row is taken out and long tables put in where they serve tons of food and drinks. ticket prices are no more-ussually less than normal theaters. they have all sorts of awesome movies, current movies, special shows, sing alongs, its a very special place.
15. anonymouse - March 27, 2008 9:27 AM
they're opening one of these in miami this year. but the tickets are 25 not 35. and it's a 21 and over theatre. I would SO pay 25 bucks not to have to sit through a movie with whiney children or obnoxious 18 year olds talking through the whole movie (and i'm 25... so i'm not like ancient... i just hate teenagers lol)
16. samuel - March 27, 2008 1:36 PM
We've had these for years.
However, we don't have iPhones (cause they aren't 3G, come on Apple, get with it...).
Australia 2
American Suckbags 0
17. Sam - March 27, 2008 4:27 PM
The Warren Theaters in KS has been doing this for about 6 years now. Old, old news.
18. counterruck - March 27, 2008 4:55 PM
We'v had them in NZ too for some time. as mentioned above, for certain movies it's worth it, especially if you run the risk of "there will be blood" Interupted by 2 16 year old girls and their wannabe gangbanger brother screaming and talking the whole movie through,.
I was so upset i amlost dropped my monacle into my port.
19. Vinkoniggma - March 27, 2008 9:26 PM
http://www.thebridgecinema.com
20. Dasha - March 28, 2008 8:10 AM
I actually work at gold class and its awesome. The higher price tag is very much worth it. You get normal everyday people come in for anniversaries, birthdays and other special events. We also get quite a few visitors from the US come in and they all love it. I think its going to go off in the US.
21. ans - March 28, 2008 10:18 PM
There had better be someone in the bathroom to wipe my ass.
22. Kate - April 2, 2008 3:16 PM
I like the concept (not the pricetag), only because it means I don't have to deal with the obnoxious ass people I sit through movies with all of the time. When I was a young lass who frequented the theater, I was not a loud, obnoxious bitch. Giggling, occasionally. Whispered comments, you bet. But not yelling and making a general nuisance of myself. There are quite a few older people being completely oblivious of everyone else's enjoyment of the movie as well. I fucking hate the movies. I won't go unless it's during the middle of the day, preferably during the week. $8 is a rip off if I have to be plagued with this idiots.