Local theaters give good reviews of recent attendance

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BY ANDREA HOLECEK
holecek@nwitimes.com
219.933.3316 | Thursday, July 03, 2008 | (3 comment(s))

Area theatres apparently are benefiting from the poor economy as film goers are choosing local venues to compensate for the drop in their disposable incomes.

"Business is picking up because we're local," said Scott Frey, who owns the Art Theatre in Hobart with his brother Dr. William Frey. "I think people are watching their pennies. We've always been the economical choice."

But Frey couldn't pin all the gains on the economy. Since the Freys bought the theatre in November it has been "fixed up" and ticket prices have been increased to $3.50 from $3, which resulted in higher revenues, Scott Frey said.

"There are too many factors to pin it on gas prices, but I'm sure it's some of that," he said. "The economy brings people walking downtown rather than driving somewhere."

The Art Theatre is called a "second-run" theatre because it plays topped-billed films a several weeks after their initial release.

"I don't get the teenagers because they want to see it right of way," Frey said. "I get the family guy with kids, who waits a few weeks to see a movie so it costs him a lot less."

Chris Benavidez, who owns Hammond's Kennedy Theatre with his wife, Lourie, said traffic has increased in the past few months. No month-to-month comparisons are available because the couple purchased the theatre in September.

"June was our best month so far," he said. "We've done good business last couple of months. "I don't know if it's because we cleaned the place up, the good movies we've had, the ($5) price of tickets, or the advertising we've done."

Highland's Town Theatre, which specializes in showing foreign and classic American films, is "doing just fine," although its revenues are down a bit, said Ted Janowski Jr., whose family bought the theater almost 40 years ago.

"It's a slow time of the year for the movie season other than the action films and films like Wall-e that at any time would go big, and super hero movies," he said. "It's the season of junk -- spring to summer. Now they'll start releasing the better movies."

Janowski said the current economic conditions with high food and gasoline prices for "killing people's budgets." If things continue the way they are, it could shutter some of the huge movie theatre chains because of their high overhead costs, he said.

"Their heating and cooling costs are huge," Janowski said. "They can't maintain the cost of those buildings unless they get a certain number of seats filled. They have a turn-key (cost of operations) that I estimate is astronomical."

But Clair Malo, director of marketing for the privately-owned Kerasotes theatre chain, said June was a good month for movie theaters.

"But there were tremendous films out in June, so it's hard to discern if it's the economy or it's because there was such phenomenal products," said Malo, whose employer has multi-screen complexes in Merrillville, Schererville and Hobart.

Joseph Paunicka, who has owned Crown Point's Crown Theater for 40 years, said the theater "is doing better than we did before."

"Compared to a year ago, it's a lot better," he said. "There's a 10 percent increase in revenue because of more volume."

Ticket prices at the Crown are $3, and it costs just $1 for both popcorn and a drink. Plus popcorn is free on Mondays.

"People aren't traveling anymore because gasoline is over $4 a gallon," Paunicka said. "People from here used to go to Portage but it's about 10 miles there and 10 miles back so they're burning up $4 worth of gas. The economy has helped in a way because it keeps people local."

Patty Spillers, marketing director for The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, said ticket sales for the theater's live stage productions are "down a bit, but we're holding our own."

The theater is the Region's only professional equity theater.

"We're close to home and we have free parking," she said. "People have commented they don't have to drive to see the same quality theater ... You have to look at your entertainment budget wisely. It can be cut, but people need that escape from whatever else they're going through."

ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION
LAKE COUNTY
DYER
Although Dyer doesn't have an exact attendance count for its recent four-day festival called Freedom Fest, Town Manager Joe Neeb said it's the largest turnout the town has ever had there.
"The weather was very nice to us, and I think that, overall, we had a banner crowd," he said.

LOWELL
Buckley Homestead County Park manager Becky Crabb said it seems like the park has had more visitors this year than in previous years, but it doesn't keep track of the number of visitors, so she can't say definitively.
"We do have more people coming out and walking around the park in the evening," she said.
The park, 3606 Belshaw Road, is open at 7 a.m. and closes at sunset.

PORTER COUNTY
The director of the Porter County Museum said he has noticed an increase in the number of residents visiting the facility as well as how they are arriving.
"It's a neat thing to see more people walk up and bike up to the museum rather than drive," Kevin Pazour said. "We've definitely had more people coming in and bringing their whole families or even their friends. I certainly hope that's something that continues throughout the rest of the summer."
Hoping to respond to the increased interest in the museum, the facility is planning additional programs for the duration of the summer, Pazour said.

PORTAGE
Portage Public Marina Director Alan Ekdahl isn't seeing a decrease in boating activity this year, but he is seeing that boaters are becoming creative.
They're "boat pooling," he said. Instead of 16 different boat owners taking their individual boats out to Lake Michigan, there may be only eight, with the same group of people. Groups are taking turns using individual boats for the short trip from the marina to the lake. He said the proximity of the public marina to nearby beaches on the lake may diminish the effects of high gas prices and troubled economy. It's about a three-mile trip to a beach where boaters often anchor their rides and enjoy the day.
The marina is full this year and has been busy, especially this past week.

VALPARAISO
City Parks Director Steven Doniger said even if people don't have the money to travel to Walt Disney World in Florida, they will look for recreation opportunities closer to home. Doniger said there are more daily fee users at the city's two municipal golf courses this year. Park staff also are noticing more people at the city's two "destination playgrounds" -- Valplayso and Butterfly Meadows.
At Zao Island, manager Ryan Wright said business may be up from last year but not dramatically. He said it could be because of the economy or perhaps the new attractions offered at the amusement park.

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Me wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:54 PM:

" Personally, I prefer the Town Theatre in Highland. "

Tom wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:03 AM:

" Kerasotes has the 5 buck club if you can wait a couple weeks after the movie comes out! "

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:15 AM:

" I live in Schererville. I actually travel farther from home to go to the movies. I pass 3 theaters on my to the Kennedy Theater. Their prices are half of Showplaces prices for admission and concessions. With a family of 5, I save more in entertainment than in gas!
Thanks Kennedy! "

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