Re: Closure of the Reel Mountain Theatre set for August 30th, 2024. Movies and Events at the Theaters now through July 11th

[Michael Romero]

Jenna, thank you, and I am sorry to hear that you will indeed be closing Reel Mountain in August. Our world is changing so quickly once again, and all of the great things that we all have created, many, many memories from are simply fading away. As I stated in one of my editorials, most of us spent our early and teen years going to the movies with friends, then first dates, and I would imagine that better than 50% of the people married in Estes had their first date with their spouse watching a movie, holding hands for the first time, etc.

Thank you for your and your family's long-term dedication to our community. Can I publish this without the deadline stuff? I think it is crucial for the community to hear this from you; it has your passion and thoughts that we could not reproduce with an interview, etc. If there is anything I can do to help promote any last events, etc., please do not hesitate to contact me. I am hopeful that the Town will introduce a way to honor your family's commitment to Estes Park. 

 

On Mon, Jul 1, 2024 at 5:37 PM Jenna MacGregor <estesc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All 

I figured the papers have early deadlines like we do for the holiday of the 4th. 

Here is the movies and newsletter info for the theaters for this week and next starting July 5-112024

Happy 4th to everyone.  This one is my favorite holiday. I would love to hear what your favorite holiday is. 

As heartbreaking as it is.  We have set the closing date for the Reel Mountain Theatre for August 30th and decided not to renew the lease at the Stanley Village- location of the Reel Mountain Theatre with Wheeler Properties.  Wheeler properties and Greg Wheeler has been very kind to us they have worked with us the whole time during COVID and now to try and help us save this movie theatre.  But, realestate and rent has to be paid.  We are just simply not being in enough revenue to pay all the expenses.  I have tried to save the theatre, I have tried to lower utilities- such as the electric, lower labor costs with split shifts, tried different pricing structures with tickets and memberships, and asked the people of the town to be heros and save our local movie house by being a member and donate to the theatres.  But, I have bleed money for 4 years now and I have bleed all that I can.   In June 2024 at the Reel Mountain Theater revenue was down 60%, this June compared to 2023.   Last year in June of 2023 Reel mountain was down 50% down compared to 2019 and was down and was down 30% compared to 2022.   We just can’t continue to loose so much money.  The expenses are higher than the revenue coming in.  The membership drive brought in about 400 members, but members sign up and drop out as fast as they sign up. We needed a minimum of 1300 members to pay the bills and 450 won’t bring enough revenue to pay the bills.  So with not enough people willing to go to the movie theaters any longer even when it is very economical to do so at only 24$ a month or less we have to be fiscally responsible and close the Reel Mountain Theatre.  Please know that we had great participation in the Businesses in Estes Park with our family and kid summer movie program.  We are so grateful that we could bring such amazing content tot he big screen for the people of estes by the generosity of the businesses who sponsored and tried to help the Reel Mountain stay afloat.  Unfortunately with the free Saturday Kid’s program I feel like this lead to people attending only the free movies and not the paid movies.  So while our Saturday mornings are busy with free sponsored family and Kid friendly movies the rest of our Saturday’s at the Reel Mountain Theater have been very slow.  

The Movie Theater industry is just not sustainable any longer- First Covid then the large move to Streaming platforms has hurt theatres and it is not recoverable because of the move to immediately streaming with no theatrical window for the movies to be in theaters only.   All the movies we were able to play in May are already streaming and most of the movies we played 1st 3 weeks of June are streaming as well.  Many times the film companies will not give us product because we are such a small town and our locals have not returned to the cinema.  So with little product, we are just not able to convince people to return to the cinema.  We have trie to talk to the large film companies like Universal, Warner Brothers and Focus Features but they continue to move movies onto streaming platforms some times the same day they release the movie in our theaters. Many of the companies preach a good talk in-front of theatre owners but their actions tell a much different story.  The Release so quickly to streaming is just detrimental to theaters across the world. And in our little town it is causing the closure of our small 3 plex- Reel Mountain Theatre.  We hope everyone will attend a show at the Reel Mountain before we close our doors at the end of August. 

Jenna MacGregor

303-618-6398

estesc...@gmail.com

Reel Mountain Theater 

Historic Park Theatre 

--

Michael Romero, Publisher Estes Park Trail Gazette 

mro...@prairiemountainmedia.com

970-214-4254