The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

April 22, 2008

Carmike closing movie theater in Hermitage

By Michael Roknick

HERMITAGE — Lights in the Cinema 8 Theater could dim for good after Thursday’s shows as its owner said it will close the Hermitage Towne Plaza movie theater.

Carmike Cinemas Inc. notified its local vendors on Monday the eight-screen theater was ceasing operations. While the Columbus, Ga.,-based movie chain gave no specific explanation for the closing, the company has been going through a financial horror show as it lost $126 million, or $10.07 a share, in 2007 compared to a loss of $19 million, or $1.57 a share, in 2006.

In March Carmike said it would sell or close underperforming theaters as it saw sliding ticket sales.

The company blamed its losses on a weaker than expected fourth quarter box office. This isn’t the first time Carmike finds itself in a financial bind. Carmike filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2000 . The company emerged from bankruptcy in February 2002

Despite its brutal financial performance Carmike remains a major motion picture exhibitor with 283 theaters and 2,427 screens in 37 states.

There is a chance the local 8-screen theater may still survive as rumors swirled Shenango Valley Cinemas owner was interested in buying or leasing Cinema 8.

Calls for spokesman at both Carmike and Shenango Valley Cinemas were not immediately returned late Monday afternoon.

Opening in the early ’90s, Cinema 8 had enjoyed legions of fans as it was the only theater in the Shenango Valley. Once Shenango Valley Cinemas opened a decade later, competition stiffened significantly.

Upgrading its theaters recently to handle a new, sharper digital projection format apparently wasn’t enough to woo audiences.

Still, Cinema 8 was able to attract a crowd when it showed the Hannah Montana concert movie in February. With a limited viewing, the movie packed in hordes of screaming young girls who sometimes traveled more than a hour by bus to see the flick.

For Herald photographer Jason Kapusta, the movie theater has a more emotional attachment. Working at the theater in high school and college, he met his future wife Molly Murray there.

Kapusta later proposed to his wife at the theater using his own theatrics. Coaxing Molly to see the movie “Tomb Raider’’ with him at the theater, he arranged for a special slide show to hit the screen before the movie began. The slide show ended with words on the screen asking “Molly, will you marry me?’’ followed with a photo of Kapusta with his arms raised in excitement in anticipation of her answering yes.

“I gave her the engagement ring and then I had arranged for the ushers to come down to bring her roses,’’ Kapusta recalled.

This tale has a real Hollywood ending: Comedian Drew Carey stole the idea for his former TV show. It turns out Molly’s college friend was dating Carey at the time and told him about the unique proposal.

“Carey later used the idea on his show to propose to a character,’’ Kapusta said. “He owes me one for that.’’

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