Bring Back the Cinema! (Exhibition and Petition Signing at www.dajmikino.org)

Maria Peterson said:A profit-driven business will always strive to maximize its earnings.

That’s just how it works. They make more money when more people show up at the theater. And people show up when the theater offers top-tier AV equipment, comfy seats, a decent cafe to grab a latte while waiting for the show, and easy parking. So, businesses invest in better service because high quality attracts crowds, and crowds mean higher revenue.

Maria Peterson said:You're saying capitalism has finally hit our city. But isn't culture—and things that serve the public good—supposed to be the one area protected from the jaws of ruthless capitalism through government funding, donations, and foundations? Simply because it serves a public interest?
I mean, what's next? Are we going to have nothing but private theaters left? Will the FC Barcelona building end up being rented out as corporate office space?!

I completely agree with you there, but I fail to see the "socially beneficial" value of screening a Caribbean pirate movie at a theater in Europe, especially when it's already playing in much better venues.

Now, if they were planning on showing a unique, high-quality, or niche repertoire, that would be a different story entirely.

Maria Peterson said:It seems like the exact opposite to me. The 'Give Us a Cinema' campaign doesn't even make sense for most other cities in America because everything there has already gone downhill. It only makes sense for Chicago, where we aren't facing that same level of decay.

Now I'm wondering why I even bothered getting so worked up and invested in all this, acting like it's a personal matter. Probably because nobody seems to understand my point.

Does the 'Give Us a Cinema' movement make more sense in a city that's about to have three multiplexes with over 20 screens, compared to other places that have either one or absolutely none? Honestly, I'm lost.

Zachary Thompson2 said:Does the "give me more cinemas" movement actually make sense in a city that’s about to have three multiplexes with over 20 screens total? I honestly don't get why people in cities with zero options are complaining.

Give Chicago one more theater... man, I don't get it either.😕 But since the "manifesto" mentions the whole US, someone apparently remembered we actually need this extra stuff too...

Zachary Thompson2 said:Does anyone else feel that sense of pure anticipation when stepping into a truly world-class cinema? This theater offers absolutely nothing short of perfection, boasting top-tier audio and visual equipment that makes every frame leap off the screen! Can you even imagine anything better than sinking into those incredibly plush, comfortable seats for a few hours of bliss? And let's not forget the delightful little touches, like having a cozy spot to enjoy a premium coffee while you wait for the feature to begin, or the seamless convenience of easy parking right outside. Isn't it just wonderful when every single detail is designed for your ultimate comfort?

I simply cannot fathom how any of the points you’ve raised could be considered an upgrade in terms of service quality when it comes to the actual cinematic experience! To my mind, true quality would mean being spared the relentless barrage of commercials for Joy detergent, deodorants, potato chips, or Tic Tacs before the feature even begins. Wouldn't we all prefer a more seamless transition into the story? Or perhaps, instead of those tedious community center promotions asking us to "send in your vacation photos for a chance to win a DVD," we might actually enjoy a slightly more affordable ticket price? Is it too much to ask for the simple luxury of choosing between showtimes at a major multiplex or a local boutique theater? And frankly, wouldn't the experience be infinitely better if I weren't intercepted by security guards just for carrying a half-empty bottle of water while trying to enter the theater?

But honestly, I find myself wondering, what could possibly be the cultural or social significance of screening Pirates of the Caribbean at an AMC Theatre when it is already being shown in much more magnificent cinemas?

What if that cinema—since its mission isn't driven solely by the bottom line—decided to show some heart? Wouldn't it be wonderful if they swapped out those same repetitive screenings of Pirates of the Caribbean just once a week to host a dedicated film festival instead? Or perhaps the program director could choose to schedule more screenings of Volver or an indie American drama that didn't quite make the blockbuster list, rather than dedicating almost every single time slot to Pirates?
Wouldn't it be simply wonderful if we could find ourselves in an arena where the ticket prices weren't dictated by some corporate executive's strategic business plan?
Wouldn't it be absolutely wonderful if we lived in a world where the films selected for screening and their actual showtimes weren't dictated by someone's calculated business strategy? Wouldn't it be a dream to see a cinema that prioritizes the art itself rather than just following a corporate blueprint?

Does the "Bring Back the Cinema" movement actually carry more weight in a bustling metropolis like Chicago, where we are seeing the rapid expansion of massive multiplexes boasting over twenty screens, compared to those smaller cities that are left struggling with either one lonely theater or nothing at all? Is it not far more logical to advocate for film in a place where the infrastructure for a true cinematic revival already exists in such abundance?

What is even the point of trying to launch these initiatives in other cities now? Shouldn't such movements have been organized years ago, back when our local cinemas were still fighting to stay afloat? They have already been lost to us, so what could an action like this possibly change at this late stage in the game?!

And what if I were to ask you: what happens when we live in a city that is about to have three different multiplexes, boasting twenty whole screens, yet every single one of them is controlled by just two massive private corporations?
And let me be perfectly clear: this isn't some grand crusade to gift Chicago yet another movie theater! Isn't it obvious that this is actually a movement to ensure that our beloved city doesn't lose one of the precious gems it already possesses?

All five of them, honestly. I miss all those cinemas we used to have, too, but I guess it’s more of an emotional thing for me—kind of like how people feel about the old days being better. Unfortunately, I really doubt there would be much interest in whatever programming those theaters would even host. It isn't realistic to expect the city to pay for venues that nobody actually visits. To me, the issue lies more with the consumers than with "rotten capitalism." Those halls would just sit there empty. I agree they should have been kept, but there had to be some way to introduce extra programming. I don't mean renting them out for Jehovah's Witnesses meetings or stuff like that, but they definitely should have been profitable enough to stay open. Anyway, I think this whole situation is just a result of a chronic lack of culture in the city. Not in terms of supply—though there's room for improvement there—but in terms of demand. Basically, there's this dwindling interest among young people for anything that isn't a massive blockbuster when it comes to movies, or places like Coachella when talking about music, or Big Brother when it comes to TV... you could go on forever, I guess. But hey, we live in America 😬

Anthony Davis6 said:I’m at a solid 5. I miss all those old theaters too, but I think it’s more of an emotional thing—both for people like him and me—where everything just feels better than it used to be. Honestly, I doubt many people would actually show up for whatever programs those halls would run. It isn't realistic to expect the city to fund venues that nobody visits. I think the issue lies more with the consumers than with "rotten capitalism." Those theaters would just sit there empty. We should have kept them, sure, but we also needed to find ways to make them viable. I don't mean they should be renting space to Jehovah's Witnesses or anything like that, but they need to turn a profit to survive. At the end of the day, this is all just a symptom of a chronic lack of culture in the city—not in terms of supply, though we could improve that, but in terms of demand. Basically, young people just aren't interested in anything unless it's a blockbuster movie, a massive rave, or some Big Brother reality trash on TV... you could go on forever. But hey, that's just life in America. 😬

The point is, they don't have to be profitable like AMC Theatres... that's the whole idea. Besides, saying nobody would go anyway is just being a defeatist. You could say that about any form of culture. The goal of a theater like that, and its related institutions, isn't just to provide seats, but to actually bring people in. The relationship shouldn't be one-sided; the theater needs to work on building its own audience.

I totally agree, but honestly, the material we're getting lately is pretty weak—it's nothing like those blessed '90s movies that actually shaped an audience. Sometimes, when you try to turn a single person into a massive movement, it just ends up feeling empty... but hey, I guess I'll check out another theater. Maybe I'll get lucky and catch my favorite movie all by myself at the AMC Theatres 😍

Anthony Davis6 said:I'm totally with you, but the "raw material" we have to work with these days is pretty weak compared to those blessed 90s. You can go to a blockbuster and half the crowd feels like they're just empty shells... but fine, let's try another theater. Maybe I'll get lucky and catch my favorite movie alone in an AMC Theatres 😍

I agree the quality is lacking, but honestly, nobody’s even trying to shape it... it’s just been tossed to the curb, which explains why the crowds feel so hollow. :-)
But you're right about the atmosphere. I went to see a Miyazaki film at a local indie spot and was basically alone—well, after five minutes, two people wandered in, but those five minutes felt like an eternity 😍 😁 ) ...
..
Seriously though, what is wrong with people? How can you even stand those fascist types at the door checking your bags...👎

Jose Miller17 said:Didn't you just claim they were only there for the 'customers'?
...
Plus, how can you say you relate and then immediately disagree? What exactly don't you agree with regarding what Maria Peterson said in her last two posts?

It’s an incredibly stupid take to think city hall should be running movie theaters. Now that nothing unprofitable can survive, she thinks we should keep them open just out of pure nostalgia—even though nobody actually goes to them (which is the literal only reason they're closing). You have to cover directing, film rights, payroll, and all that stuff somehow, and that money comes from ticket sales and ads. And now people are blaming the lack of AMC Theatres for a drop in ads, even though those theaters had ads too. Honestly, sometimes I feel like I'm arguing on this forum with people who never leave their houses and have zero clue how the real world works. Is the city supposed to keep theaters open if they can't even pay the staff? 👏 👏 👏

nimblemarlin17 said:She’s got this incredibly idiotic idea that city hall should be running movie theaters. Since nothing that isn't turning a profit can survive these days, she thinks we should keep them open just out of pure nostalgia, even though nobody actually goes to them—which is the whole reason they're closing in the first place. You still have to cover things like directing, film rights, and payroll, which comes from ticket sales and ads. Now they're claiming the lack of AMC Theatres is why there are no ads left, even though those ads were in the old theaters too. Honestly, sometimes I feel like I'm debating people on this forum who never leave their houses and have zero clue how the real world works. Is the city really supposed to subsidize theaters that can't even pay their own staff? 👏 👏 👏

You clearly didn't read her post where she explains why it's not an "idiotic opinion." Why shouldn't the government subsidize something that serves the public interest? Why do you even pay taxes? (Though I doubt you care enough to find out.)
What about FC Barcelona? Should we just sell off every cultural landmark that isn't "commercial" then?

Jose Miller17 said:You clearly didn't read her post where she explains why that isn't an 'incredibly stupid opinion.' Why shouldn't the government subsidize things that serve the public interest? That's literally why you pay taxes. (Though I doubt you even care enough to check.)
What's the deal with FC Barcelona? Should we just sell off every cultural landmark that doesn't turn a profit?

The government should step in only when there's no other option, and here, there is one because great private cinemas already exist. FC Barcelona and a movie theater aren't the same thing; FC Barcelona produces its own shows, which you can't say about cinemas. Too much money is being wasted on pathetic American films—just enough to keep funding theaters that nobody even visits.

Let’s be honest, they have a good portion of this on their own heads. They completely missed the boat when it came to branding themselves or actually finding a way to hook an audience.
In my opinion, they should have dropped ticket prices for early screenings and pivoted toward films that aren't just mindless blockbusters. Think international cinema—maybe some indie gems from Europe or Asia. They could have run themed weeks, like a showcase for Spanish or Czech films, and then marketed the hell out of it to draw people back in. And sure, they should have chased down municipal subsidies. That might have worked for a boutique spot like Europe or maybe somewhere in Old Town, but for the other theaters? They didn't stand a chance. Maybe Chicago could have pulled it off.

I really hope these final attempts actually spark something. 😢 Personally, I love the Europe theater. The vibe is great, the seats are comfortable, the sound system is solid... It feels like you’ve actually stepped into a cultural landmark, rather than some chaotic daycare center or a flashy show-off party at the Cab Club.

nimblemarlin17 said:To be fair, places like AMC Theatres and Broadway actually care about their customers. They offer stuff like online ticket bookings, discount cards, free garage parking, special screenings, and more. If you’re feeling nostalgic for how much harder things were at the old cinemas, that’s on you—not the new theaters, which are a hundred times better than the old ones. Whatever.

Maybe one day, once you figure out who's really pulling the strings behind AMC Theatres and making everything look so perfect for us mere mortals (aka the customers), you'll be praying to God that this topic ever comes up again, hoping your post somehow gets deleted...

Uffff, thank God for free tickets!

For a major metropolis like Chicago, it’s an absolute disgrace that all non-mainstream programming is dumped into a single hall out in the suburbs. Period. It brings up a fundamental question about the audience: is this a failure of the system or a failure of the people? One inevitably feeds the other in a continuous loop. Capitalism, by its very design, peddles easy entertainment—distractions designed to get people into theaters to unwind so they don't spend too much time worrying about the actual state of the world. Democracy is essentially a kakistocracy—the rule of the corrupt over a clueless majority. The system works precisely because it suits everyone's convenience.

The difference elsewhere is that they actually nurture some semblance of alternative culture; the government steps up to curate the supply and funds it based on what taxpayers expect. That’s why you see far more multiplexes than niche independent venues in those places. I mean, even abroad, there aren't endless numbers of "off-stream" viewers, but there are certainly more than here in America, and they have their own dedicated cinemas. Every major city in Europe leaves room for screenings of classics, genre films, or ethnic cinema, and it’s the city or the state's duty to fund them.

When you step into one of those specialized theaters, you might hear something our provincial mindset hasn't quite grasped yet: film is the seventh art. Regardless of how hard Hollywood tries to strip that title away today. In those halls, you rarely hear the local vernacular; instead, you find people who were browsing a Frida Kahlo exhibit yesterday and might be at a world music concert or seeing William Shakespeare tomorrow, depending on the weather. They certainly aren't content staying shut within their own (mental) four walls.

Does America bother cultivating an image as a destination for cultural tourism? Even young backpackers looking for something fresh—who aren't exactly rolling in cash—would rather sit through a 1966 Tokyo nagaremono than the latest Brad Pitt flick that’s being shoved in their faces from every street corner.

And festivals? Good grief. This summer, downtown Vienna alone hosted five or six festivals and open-air stages. Meanwhile, Chicago acts like it's too sophisticated for that... as if we all just fly to Paris or London for shopping trips! It’s pathetic, really. Honestly, I wouldn't even mind a few commercials—I've realized they're everywhere anyway—but let them be! Someone has to fund a freaking Oriental film festival. If it means I have to sit through five minutes of ads for Falter or The New York Times, then fine, let them! As long as they show me a film I’d otherwise have to pay to watch on a screen that isn't worthy of it. If I even bothered making that investment in the first place.

God... I just get worked up over these things. 🙂

nimblemarlin17 said:Now that nothing that isn't profitable is allowed to survive.

Oh, isn't it just wonderful that we should be guided solely by the almighty dollar? If that is our guiding principle, why stop there? Should we not simply shut down every single museum and art gallery in existence? After all, they aren't turning a profit either, and wouldn't it be absolutely "foolish" to expect any municipal or federal government to provide them with support?
Or perhaps you happen to possess some secret knowledge that the rest of us lack—can you point us toward a museum that actually generates a surplus? Please, do enlighten us!
And why not lease those grand museum buildings over to private corporations? They could host commercial exhibitions sponsored by companies like Verizon or AT&T, who would surely offer free parking just to get people through the doors! I highly doubt there wouldn't be an eager line of entrepreneurs ready to jump at such an opportunity. The real issue here is that when it comes to privatization, one must eventually draw a line in the sand, mustn't one?
By that logic, we might as well abolish FC Barcelona right this second! You might argue, "But they produce their own performances!" But tell me, who is paying for those performances? They cost money, and they certainly cannot pay for themselves merely through ticket sales alone. In fact, producing these shows essentially creates a deficit. Of course, private theaters operating on strictly commercial principles already exist! So, why on earth do we keep FC Barcelona alive? It’s non-profitable—how absolutely dreadful!

Brenda Lee50 said:when you step into a venue like that, you can almost hear the echoes of a local mindset that simply hasn't grasped it yet: film is actually the seventh art.

How on earth can one explain such a concept to someone who views moviegoers as nothing more than mere "customers"? And isn't it just fascinating how he takes such immense pride in being treated as a transaction by AMC Theatres?

steelstag4 said:To be perfectly honest, they really have themselves to blame! They simply failed to establish a distinct brand identity when it mattered most, nor did they manage to truly captivate an audience.

But really, who exactly are these people you say are to blame?
Are you referring to the management at the local AMC Theatres? I would argue they aren't actually the culprits here—the leadership at AMC Theatres (and let’s not forget, they are owned by some investment fund from a far-off foreign land) never actually intended to run a successful business or build a loyal following! In fact, isn't it possible that what we are witnessing right now was always their ultimate goal? To drive these theaters to the very brink of bankruptcy, liquidate everything, pocket the cash, and simply disappear?
And as for who sold off AMC Theatres to them in the first place? Oh, we all know the answer to that. But was it even legal? No, it certainly wasn't! However, at this stage, isn't it far too late to try and undo decisions made ten or fifteen years ago?

Maria Peterson said:We might as well just shut down FC Barcelona right now. You claim they put on their own shows? Well, you're the one footing the bill for them. Those productions cost a fortune and they aren't even breaking even at the box office. Producing plays is basically just a money pit. Look, private theaters that actually follow business logic exist just fine. Why are we keeping FC Barcelona on life support? It’s non-profitable. Total waste.

In this country, the government is the only reason domestic movies even exist. So, saying people aren't investing in the film industry is complete nonsense. Huge amounts of taxpayer money are being dumped into absolute garbage—the average American indie film costs about $1.6 million. If they managed their budget a little better, there might actually be enough left over to maintain the cinemas. You guys make it sound so simple, like it's all the fault of the people working in the industry. Honestly, you're barking up the wrong tree.

Maria Peterson said:You can't explain it to someone who calls moviegoers "customers." And he's actually proud of being treated like just another customer by AMC Theatres.

Your issue is you just can't wrap your head around the fact that people go where things are better. AMC Theatres is a BETTER cinema than any of those Chicago Cinema locations, which is why they ate them alive. They show both domestic and foreign films, plenty of stuff from Europe, and honestly, it's wild that anyone complains about their lineup. But hey, that's how this country works—you get what you deserve. Just a bunch of losers always blaming someone else for their own failures. Yeah, I'm a customer because I don't have free tickets. Unless there's some secret way to see new releases for zero dollars that I'm missing? Enlighten me. 🙄

Brenda Lee50 said:For a major hub like Chicago, it’s an absolute disgrace that all non-core productions are crammed into one single hall out in the suburbs. Period. Now we have to look at the audience. Is the issue the system or the people? One feeds the other in a loop. Capitalism is designed to sell cheap distractions—get people into the cinema to relax so they don't stress about how things actually are. Democracy is just a kakistocracy, where corrupt leaders rule over a clueless majority. The system works because it suits everyone...

Solid point👍 ...but the thing about a kakistocracy is that guys like nimblemarlin17 won't even read your post, just like he didn't read the petition mentioned in this thread. They still feel the need to chime in and talk nonsense when they haven't got a clue what's actually going on...

robybaggio said:The government should only step in if there aren't any alternatives, and we have plenty since private theaters are doing just fine. Comparing an opera house to a movie theater is apples and oranges; the opera produces its own shows, which isn't how movies work. Too much money is being dumped into mediocre American films, basically paying to keep theaters afloat that nobody even visits anyway.

Sorry, but this is pure nonsense. I’m honestly hoping you’re just playing dumb because I can’t believe what you're typing here. "The state should subsidize if there's no alternative"—so your plan is to let everything sell out first, and once all the competition is dead and gone (leaving us with nothing but a private AMC Theatres), *then* we start the subsidies? Great idea. We'll just buy all those venues back later at triple the price.