Who else has worked at movie theaters? - General Discussion Discussion

[–] micbarry (125) 8 years ago

One of my first jobs was at a movie theatre. Loved it! So many great memories.

Later, I worked for other theatres as a projectionist. I loved the midnight staff-only screenings. They were the best!

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[–] ganglof2 (5) 8 years ago

Great thread!

I worked at Regal Cinemas for several years.

Best:
Free movie tickets. Starting out, we got 4 tickets a day, which was amazing. Regal then changed it to 2 tickets a day, which was still nice. You could go to any Regal and request tickets for relatives on days that you were working.

Working at the box office were the best shifts.

Worst (longer list):

Management was pretty strict at Regal. You were yelled at if you were "standing around talking" even when there were no customers and nothing to work on. Cleaning was priority and they would tell us that we could always be cleaning something so you always had to be looking down sweeping and could barely ask the person next to you how they were doing if you weren't on your break. When I started, if you were getting ready to clean a theater and it let out in 10 minutes, you used to be allowed to stand in the back and watch the end of the movie. You could get fired if you did that now at Regal. The managers were not paid well (10/hour) and they were very miserable, which they then took out on lower level staff.

Concessions was the worst. I'd be so gross at the end of the day between cheese and butter stains. Was very common to be on your knee's on the dirty floor. Customers were always upset about the prices and wait time. You weren't given any discounts on anything during break besides popcorn and soda.

The way they handled upset customers. We would have a customer come in and express disappointment that they could not use a restricted pass on a new movie. If they politely asked to speak to a manager, they would be told of the policy and not given anything. If they yelled and screamed and swore at employees or threatened to take this up with corporate, they would be let into the movie for free AND given free passes. Being unreasonable and disrespectful was awarded there.

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 8 years ago

At the places I worked, they didn't have projectionists. The managers & assistant managers (my job) did all the projectionist work. We didn't need to change reels because we used the platter system where all the reels were spliced together onto a giant platter, so we just had to thread the projector at the beginning and start it, and then we could leave it alone for the rest of that movie. I don't even know if this system is still used or if it's all digital now. Do they even still use actual film or just push a button on a computer?

My favorite thing to do was make up/break down. Whenever we got a new movie (usually late thursday nights), it came on the standard 20 minute reels. So after the theater was closed, we'd have to break down the old films that were going, back into their 20 minute reels for shipping out, and then load the new movie onto the platter, splicing the reels together and adding any previews or PSAs to the beginning. It was nice because you were just all alone up in the booth and could blast your music and chill. That was usually at least 3-4 hours of work if all the movies were changing in one night, with no customers and no one bothering you. Sometimes I'd go up on the roof of the theater and watch planes take off. (it was near an airport)

Whenever we wanted to see any movie at any theater (even from different chains or indie houses), all the theaters in the area had an agreement where they let other theater employees in free. You'd just have one manager call the other theater's manager and leave their employee's name at the door. (+1)
You couldn't do it on opening night of a big movie of course, but I usually had to work all the weekend nights anyway, so it was never a problem getting passes on a slow weeknight.

Concessions was gross. I'm sure not as bad as other fast food service jobs though. Managers did all the jobs- when anyone took their break or if it was busy we'd be doing concessions, ushering, cleaning, everything in addition to projection and manager stuff. The regular employees wore uniforms (which they got free) but the managers wore their own clothes and we had to look "nice" and I ruined so many clothes with that fake butter grease.

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[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 8 years ago

Part of me thinks that is sad, because I loved the whole FILM medium and the process. I loved the old theater with the beautiful art deco marquee and the real curtain over the screen that went up and down.
But I suppose less moving parts makes for less things to go wrong.

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[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

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[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

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[–] micbarry (125) 8 years ago

You may still have a chance: this summer, Warner Brothers will release 'Dunkirk' in selected venues in both 35MM and 70MM film! If you can track down a venue like this, maybe you could ask permission to see the booth during the season.

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[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 8 years ago

Another option is if your city has a repertory house that plays old films (usually changing every night), they would possibly still be using traditional 35 mm and projectors. Indie theaters like that are getting scarcer but some big cities still have them. And they are usually more able to make their own decisions (letting a guest into the booth) if they aren't part of a corporate chain.

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[–] micbarry (125) 8 years ago

I did indeed! I've been projecting since 1992.

I've worked in a variety of cinemas both mainstream and arthouse/repertory including press/festival type venues.

Recently, I was one of the projectionists showing 'The Hateful Eight' in 70MM.

I love projecting film and I'm sorry it's so rare now. It seems to make a comeback every so often, so that's kind of awesome. :)

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 8 years ago

OMG, 'The Hateful Eight' is one I would have LOVED to see on the big screen.
It was shot in true Ultra Panavision! First film to use it in like 50 years.
I watched that on a small portable dvd player and someday I hope to see it the way it was meant to be seen.

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[–] micbarry (125) 8 years ago

I'm hoping it will return to theatres from time to time. I suspect that's Tarantino's intention!!

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 8 years ago

I had seen many part time jobs open up on indeed, but never thought it would have been a good job to hold down. To me, I always wondered if you could get free soda or candies, if you worked; however, since that is where most of the money is made, I would think they would still have you pay for it.

To me, all bets are off if you cannot get free food or free something for all the hard work you put in.

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 8 years ago

You couldn't get free candies or hot dogs, but you could have unlimited free soda and popcorn, if you brought your own cup and container. We did inventory by counting the popcorn tubs and cups, not counting the popcorn and soda ounces itself. It's almost impossible to count that. Candy was in boxes and stuff so that was all inventoried too.
Every employee guzzled so much free soda we were always bouncing off the walls. And even with years of free popcorn, I never got sick of it. I know sometimes people work at an ice cream store or whatever and they are sick of ice cream, but I never got sick of popcorn. I still order it when I go to a movie and still make it at home. But it has to be FRESH from the popper. If I don't see the popper going, or if the popper looks clean, and the popcorn bins are full, that means they made it probably a day ago and then I skip it. I want the stuff that JUST came out of the popper.

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 8 years ago

One thing I see from people who work at food places, they sure know how to make the stuff or have an awareness of how good food should be made. Based on what you said, one would be able to tell because they have it everyday. I do not think I would mind having free soda everyday.

I remember one time I was promoting a brand at a movie theater, Carmike's I think, and one gentleman there asked me if I wanted a cup of water. It was so nice of him, although, I wish I could have had a free soda instead. lol

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 8 years ago

You know these days when a lot of theaters have those "fill your own" soda machines, you just buy the cup and then go fill it yourself. It makes me wonder if you smuggled in a cup and if it was busy, would they even notice if you were filling up your cup that you didn't buy there?

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 8 years ago

I am not sure. All the theaters in my area: Carmikes, Regal, and Cinemark all have soda machines behind the counters. The only time I have been allowed a refill, well at Regal mostly, was when I had a free soda ticket, upgraded it to a large for $1.00 and was given a refill for having that. I do know fast food restaurants do have machines that just sit there and yes, it would be hard to regulate.

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 8 years ago

My local theater (AMC) has the same touchscreen machines that some Mcdonalds have, self serve and a TON of flavors. I might try this idea next time I go and hope I don't get caught.

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 8 years ago

Yeah, those new machines. Unless you are tech savy, you may have a tough time with those. I know I had a tough time, the first time I used one. You just have to keep thinking "It is easier than you think."

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[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 8 years ago

That is so gross. If I had to compromise my health for a free drink.....

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[–] smns65 (38) 8 years ago

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[–] keybored (2660) 8 years ago

I worked in an Odeon cinema during the year Dead Poets Society came out. Most of the people leaving the film at the end were sniffing but they didn't have colds... :)

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[–] TandyMan (11098) 8 years ago

I never worked at one, but my buddy managed the little movie theater in town, and he would have screenings after hours for all his friends and it was basically just a big party while watching movies, people smoking doobies, all that kind of thing. It was radical. Back in the 90s when everything was awesome.

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[–] Blue_Eyes_David (12) 8 years ago

GCC, General Cinemas starting in about 1980. Mostly a cashier, we just had ticket rolls and a wooden cash box, nothing electronic or automated back then. We counted the first ticket # and the last and compared them to the cash for reads. I'm also the guy that stood on a 20 ft. ladder and spelled/squeezed "The Year of Living Dangerously" on the marquee!

I later went back to work for them and the Admiral Twin drive-in, when Coppola filmed "The Outsiders" there. I only spoke to Francis (he let's me call him Francis) on the phone once. But our bosses wouldn't let us be in the film, all the managers squeezed themselves in the concession scene, Bah!

Odd memory: When "Poltergeist" was playing about 90% of the ticket-buyers couldn't pronounce it! They asked for "two tickets to... Polygrip or whatever"!

Edit: Oh and the concession stands had wooden cash boxes too, NO registers. If you wanted a lg popcorn, 3 med. drinks, 1 Jr. Mints, 2 Sugar Babies, we'd have to add up $4.25, $2.25 x 3, $1.75 and $1.50 x 2 in our heads! And quickly say, That'll be $13.50!"

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 8 years ago

You are right- movies were all cash back then. Tickets, concessions, everything was cash!
I always thought it would be a good front for money laundering if you were drug dealer or something.

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