Holy hot buttered popcorn, Batman! Did you catch those prices? Ten four, Robin. That’s why I smuggle Orville’s into the theater, if I can get it past the concession police. Holy half hour of previews before the main attraction, Batman, I’m not talking about the popcorn but the ticket prices! Especially for the 3-D movies. That’s certainly the way I felt this past weekend while dolling out $19-bucks for two tickets--for a registered AARP member and a ten-year-old! They up the ante, as you probably know, to cover the cost of the 3-D glasses. Now I know that in this time of severe economic crisis, more people are going to the movies, just to get away from it all. And it seems the theater owners and movie makers are putting a premium on escape, rather than cutting you a break. By the way, these were matinee prices! $9.50 a piece, instead of the usual $6.50 a head. Six dollars more, the result of the $3.00 “surcharge” per ticket, to cover the cost of the 3-D equipment that theater operators lease. Never suspected I’d be stiffed like that but not wanting to disappoint my 10-year-old grandson who had been successfully reeled in by the barrage of tv promotions in advance of the film’s release, I took the plunge. However, I struck popcorn and a drink from the menu to avoid adding another eleven-bucks to the bill. . .
This being the third 3-D movie we’ve seen in the past couple of months, I wondered if we could save 6-bucks on a pair of tickets by holding on to our 3-Day glasses from the earlier films. “ No way,” says a teenager at the ticket counter with the tone of a teacher, chastising you for being late with your homework assignment. After some prodding, you’re told you can use the glasses from a previous 3-D like the “Jonas Brothers Concert”, “Coraline”, and “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. However, you still have to pay the 3-dollar “surcharge”. Covers the cost of the 3-D equipment theater managers lease to be a part of the latest movie craze. But it seems the movie managers are making more than enough to cover the cost of the 3-D technology. What’s next, will we have to pay extra for the “Birthday Crowns” at Burger King? You wonder about the wiggle room the movie chains have to work with and why, in this time when we all need a break from reality, that they seem bent on cashing in on it. The weekend gross for the debut of “Monsters Versus Aliens” was projected to be well over $58 Million in ticket sales. That’s well ahead of “Race to Witch Mountain” following its debut three weeks ago. Seems it’s time for a price break at the concession stand. Like maybe a buck or two off that bag of hot buttered popcorn that costs no more than a few cents to make and doesn’t really contain butter. Where’s Batman when you need him?
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Andy, just wanted to drop you a note to tell you I just read about your blog in the paper and had to check it out. Your reasons for starting it are similar to the reasons I got out of the business when I did back in 2001. Fortunately I had only been working for a few years when I realized what I had gotten into and was able to make a change. During my time at the station I can tell you that you were one of the reporters I most respected because I knew I could trust your judgement on any story you were covering. I had the unfortunate role of playing the intermediary between you in the field and the management at the station and many times was forced to make decisions that I didn't feel were right, but at the time I felt I had to abide by the "golden rules" set forth by those who thought they were in charge to maintain my sanity and employement. If I had the wisdom of a few more years in the business, I may have been able to overcome some of those obstacles, but I am glad I made the decision I did and am very happy with my current career doing marketing and PR for Gateway Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center. I still making a difference in people's lives, but I am certain they are postive differences. In the newsroom...I was never too sure. I look forward to reading more of your work and commenting in the future.
ReplyDeleteSorry about some of the typos and strange grammar in the above post...I was writing that with both my kids distracting me and after I came back and read it again I didn't see a way to edit.
ReplyDeleteHey, Andy. I read about how you witnessed a fellow reporter get run over by a gas tanker truck in 1979. That must have been traumatizing. I took guitar lessons with your son about when you wrote this piece, and I was trying to remember what his name was. I'm thinking his name was Mike. Great guitar player, but not the best teacher. Hopefully he is doing better with the whole alcohol problem and I hope you two are closer now.
ReplyDeleteHey, Andy. I read about how you witnessed a fellow reporter get run over by a gas tanker truck in 1979. That must have been traumatizing. I took guitar lessons with your son about when you wrote this piece, and I was trying to remember what his name was. I'm thinking his name was Mike. Great guitar player, but not the best teacher. Hopefully he is doing better with the whole alcohol problem and I hope you two are closer now.
ReplyDelete