Academy Cinema to close

[stelaras]

You never said in the CBD.

well the topic on this post is in relation to the Wallis cinemas next to HJ carpark in the city. That falls within the CBD, hence we are talking about the CBD!

We have Rundle Mall, Rundle Street, Hindley Street etc... which is filled with thousands of people.

the difference here is that the crown complex is a localised area with all these ares contained within it..not a strip of roads over 2kms! so we can not compare the two.

[AtD]

if you look at other cities....None of them really have decent cinemas in and around the city.. Most people that live in city apartments will want to do other things with their time....like bars /cafes/restaurant.

I remember there being a Hoyts in the Melbourne, I think the complex was QV but I can't remember. It's the one with the heritage shot tower in the middle.

[Tyler_Durden]

I wonder if the reason for poor cinema patronage in the city is due to the poor quality of cinemas there and the low number of screens leading to lesser choices. I wouldn't really know to be honest but I think that would have something to do with it. And now there are cinemas everywhere in the suburbs it is just so convenient for people to go there. And with land/accomodation prices in the city it would cost a fortune for a city cinema to compete with the pure size of suburban chains, I can't see this trend ever being reversed in a suburb oriented city like Adelaide (or any Australian city for that matter). I think it's sad but hopefully I'm wrong and it's something that takes off in the CBD again one day.

[crawf]

well the topic on this post is in relation to the Wallis cinemas next to HJ carpark in the city. That falls within the CBD, hence we are talking about the CBD!

the difference here is that the crown complex is a localised area with all these ares contained within it..not a strip of roads over 2kms! so we can not compare the two.

Didn't you mention something about Norwood, anyway I was using those streets as a example. Building a decent sized and modern cinema complex near the Rundle Mall & Pulteney St Intersection would be viable and make the city more attractive to locals and visitors.

Though there are plans to build a apartment tower/shopping complex with cinemas on the old Renaissance Arcade site.

[crawf]

I remember there being a Hoyts in the Melbourne, I think the complex was QV but I can't remember. It's the one with the heritage shot tower in the middle.

I'm pretty sure that would be Melbourne Central

In the Melbourne CBD there is two Hoyts, two Villages (including Crown) and one Greater Union - and thats just the main cinemas

source: yellow pages

[rev]

Rev your a idiot did I mention anything about tourists??..no. Did you read the article?? apparently not "but these days most people are going to the suburban multiplexes". So the fact is most people do want these facilities but they have to travel into the suburbs because the facilities in the city are very poor compared to the suburbs.

And if no one goes to the cinemas why the hell have cinemas opened in West Lakes, Mt Barker, Elizabeth in the last few years and a new Wallis complex about to open up in Mitcham. Plus plans to redevelop the Glenelg cinema.

Really the CBD is getting further behind the suburbs for family entertainment, though if these facilities such as cinemas, game arcades, ten pin bowling etc... were brought back into the CBD then it would give the suburbs stiff competition and give people more of a reason to head into town instead of the large modern suburban shopping complexes (especially on weekends)

Of course not everyone would use them, but there would be a huge number of people who would (mostly families).

my 2c worth.

This isn't some country town like Mt Barker.

Really isn't it?

Gods sake you really need a picture book to understand.

Theres a reason Wallis is closing in the cbd, theres a reason why Hoyts closed in Regent arcade. Theres a reason GU on Hindley is a shit hole.
Nobody goes to the city to watch a movie. Perhaps if you lived in Adelaide, you might actually know. When people want to see a movie, they go Marion, Arndale, West Lakes, etc.
Gaming arcades *chuckles*. You need to get with the times crawfy.

Your 2 cents worth is noted, and thrown in to decades gone by.

[crawf]

Gods sake you really need a picture book to understand.

Theres a reason Wallis is closing in the cbd, theres a reason why Hoyts closed in Regent arcade. Theres a reason GU on Hindley is a shit hole.

Yeah there is a reason, those cinema complexes have stuff all screens and are pretty outdated compared to the suburbs. Thats why the city needs a decent size modern cinema complex. Not only for locals but for tourists aswell.

You can disagree to the cows come home, I'm standing by my opinion that the city needs decent family entertainment options (especially a modern cinema complex) to make the city more appealing to locals and tourists.

Nobody goes to the city to watch a movie. Perhaps if you lived in Adelaide, you might actually know.

Give up with the Mt Barker thing, I have more to do with Adelaide than Mt Barker these days. And its only 30minutes from the CBD, not hours away...

[stelaras]

Didn't you mention something about Norwood, anyway I was using those streets as a example. Building a decent sized and modern cinema complex near the Rundle Mall & Pulteney St Intersection would be viable and make the city more attractive to locals and visitors.

Yes Crawf i did, but only in reference to developing cinema complexes with gold class etc etc etc... I do agree with you that the city needs a state of the art movie complex would be quite nice and would attract people to the city. But it would have to be coupled to something more than just a cinemas/bowling alleys and intencities. There are examples of cinema complexes coupled to bowling alleys with a bar/club feel (ie alcohol and music played) within close proximity to cafes/restaurants and retail... It just needsto be thought out and developed.

I remember there being a Hoyts in the Melbourne, I think the complex was QV but I can't remember. It's the one with the heritage shot tower in the middle.

Yes it is Melbourne central, but its only a small cinema complex and does not do too much business compared to the other retail stores around Melb. Central.

The point im trying to make is that here in melbourne there are a few cinema complexes within the CBD, but they are not the sole attraction for people going to these regions, they are not state of the art theatres and are really dreary and drab. I guess people prefer to go to the burbs to see a flick.

Im not arguing that Adelaide shuldn't have a cinema complex in the city. Im simply saying that it needs to be coupled to other attractions in order for it to be viable.

[rev]

Out of curiosity did you ever use the Hoyts cinema in the Regent Arcade?
It had comfortable seating, and great sized screens. It was pretty clean too.
Had a great location too. Right on Rundle Mall. How more family friendly can you get? Not to mention the thousands of people who use Rundle Mall every day.
Yet, it shut down.

THAT should tell you something, it should be an indication.

Oh and Crawf, tourists will hardly care about a "modern super world class cinema complex".
I dont know about you, but when I go interstate or overseas, the last thing on my mind, is catching a movie.

[crawf]

No I don't think so. But didn't it have 3 screens? compared to todays standards that is tiny.

I'm not surprised it closed down, most cinema complexes have 6+ screens

Oh and Crawf, tourists will hardly care about a "modern super world class cinema complex".
I dont know about you, but when I go interstate or overseas, the last thing on my mind, is catching a movie.

Of course it wouldn't be a top attraction (unless it had other entertainment and dining facilities), but at least it will be a added thing to do in the Adelaide CBD, though It would be more used by locals.

[stelaras]

It was dreary and drab back when i was a teenager, it was worse when i was in my twenties...


I have been inside there a few times to catch movies, but it only had 3 screens a crappy amusement arena and a junk food stand/counter. I cant remember it ever being comfortable..

Anyway point is tourists do not go movies. Movies are attended to by teens, couples and families. Personally, when i decide to go to the movies with my partner we pick a cinema complex that gives multiple avenues of entertainment without the complexities of having to drive around blocks to find car parks and generally in places where i can do something before or after. I do like a decent level of comfort and decent size screen and a good sound system to match it. That is, i want the experience!

Wallis in the city was never geared up for that

[duke]

I can understand what everyone is saying about why the cinema's in the CBD have closed down.
However I think they need to build a top quality cinema with the super screens like Hoyts Tea Tree Plaza and Greater Union Marion.

I have been to the Academy. and Hoyts off the mall. The quality of the cinema's was lacking. Having a good quality cinema in the city would make me use it. It is a easy place for everyone to meet.
I went to TAFE in the city. A number of times after TAFE we would all go watch a movie. We went to Hoyts on one occasion because we wanted to avoid the Academy. It was equally bad. Every other time after that we would all catch a train to Marion. After the movie we would all train back to the city were we would get home how we usually would, either by another train or bus.

Its not that they were not available, its the fact if i'm going to pay the $12 for the viewing experience, thats what i want. A viewing experience. 'Super Screen', awesome sound. The cinema's in the city did not provide this.

[rhino]

You raise some good points there Duke - the reason to have cinemas in the city is for the people in the city, the uni students and those city apartment dwellers - but they deserve the cinema experience that the suburban complexes offer. The Accademy didn't offer that any more.

By the way, what is in the IMAX building now?

[crawf]

It turned into a entertainment venue "Higher Ground", but plans have been proposed for site (can't remember what for)

[bmw boy]

I dont think the idea of including an arcade style kids area into this developement is such a bad idea. Theres not that much for younger kids - early teens, to do in town these days, hence why alot of them get involved crap like drugs etc.

Hindly street Time Zone was hardly an ideal location for an arcade which children visit, which would have been one reasons for its closure.

I thought the huge 'Galactic Circus' arcade in the Crown Casino Complex was pretty cool when i visited and includes a bowling alley and laser war challenge thingy (maybe one of our melbourne members could give an indication of it's popularity, success).

With the redevelopement of Magic Moutnain, we have lost all those arcade style games down there too, as they got rid of them all and replaced them with about 5 shitty one's.