New Vision for the 5 Points Theatre, Riverside

[david-massett]

I'm not going to knock the San Marco Theatre too hard.  That could be a whole separate thread, and further as a potential theatre owner in town, well... it just wouldn't be cool. 

I will say though that the 5 Points will benefit greatly from a more aggressive booking policy.  We can book a film like The Hangover and know that, when attendance wanes in week three, we'll be able to split the screen (i.e. alternate screening times) with the smaller fare that the 5 Points Theatre has become known for.  It's a great balance, and the only way a single screen can survive.  With or without food.

What people aren't talking about is that a single screen cinema is not sustainable when its screen is devoted exclusively to those (often fantastic) smaller films.  Straight up from someone in the business for more than a decade: no matter how high the profit margin on beer and wine if a Friday night opening screening brings in 13 people, simple math tells us those patrons are gonna have to be too drunk to walk out of the theatre in order to consume the amount of beverages needed to keep that place open.

[Tacachale]

Looks like the funding has come through!

http://www.ulule.com/5pointstheatre/news/praise-lord-and-pass-peanut-sauce-2631/

Congratulations to Tim and Shana. Urban Core, your theater is in good hands.

[John P]

I have enjoyed many films and am looking forward to the new environment.

[Purplebike]

Hurray! Congratulations guys! Looking forward to the future, and all that you will bring to the theatre. Good luck!

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Straight up from someone in the business for more than a decade: no matter how high the profit margin on beer and wine if a Friday night opening screening brings in 13 people, simple math tells us those patrons are gonna have to be too drunk to walk out of the theatre in order to consume the amount of beverages needed to keep that place open.

Wait a sec?  I am these people.  I am the 7.7%.  Occupy 5PT!

Will be seeing Moneyball this week.  I've read the book and was genuinely excited when I saw the promos for the movie.  Extra excited when I drove through 5 Points today and saw the marquee.

[Miss Fixit]

Yippee!  Can't wait to see the new and improved theatre.

When is the projected soft opening?

[NavyRet]

What's the latest on this project? I am a big fan of the Five Points area. Spent many glorious days in that area in my youth. What I wouldn't do to get a job in that area....

[Tacachale]

It's open and renamed the Sun-Ray Cinema. It's an awesome setup.

http://www.sunraycinema.com/

[CityLife]

If you haven't checked out the new 5 Points Theater, this is a great week/weekend to go.

They are having a Wes Anderson marathon all day Thursday with Moonrise Kingdom finally making its Jacksonville debut at midnight. I'm not sure if its playing at any other theaters in Jax, but its at Sun Ray for the next few weeks.

If Tinseltown and AMC do not pick it up, that would be a strong statement against culture in Jax.