Midvalley Cinemas
Plitt to open new movie complex
Salt Lake Tribune, 2 December 1983, page 8M
Next Thursday the largest movie complex in Utah will open its doors.
The new Plitt Midvalley Cinemas, located in the Family Center, 5700 S. Redwood Rd., is a six screen complex with a total seating capacity of over 2000. The cinemas include one large auditorium with 450 seats, three auditoriums with over 350 seats, and two smaller auditoriums, each with just over 200 seats.
The four larger cinemas are capable of Dolby stereo presentation. Two theaters are equipped with Silver-Glo screens to accommodate 3-D.
The establishment of the complex is a first for the national chain in the Salt Lake area. In the past Plitt Theatres have been centered in the downtown area, with an exception of the Regency, 2749 Parleys Way.
The Midvalley Cinemas will be Plitt's attempt to capitalize on the growing population in the west and south ends of the Salt Lake Valley, said Ed Plitt, vice president of the chain.
"There are a lot of new homes in the in the midvalley area," said Plitt. "I wouldn't say its a shift for us, but an expansion."
While Plitt Theatres closed its Utah 3 theater earlier this year, the vice president believes downtown is a profitable area for movie theaters.
"Downtown will always be viable," said Plitt, "although I think there will be some changes. The Utah 1 and 2 (148 S. Main) are getting old. Exhibitors are looking for multiple screens, to lower operating costs. Also there are problems of parking. And audiences like newer, modern facilities."
Of the Utah 3 theater, Plitt said that it had simply "served its purpose."
Plitt said he has been talking to developers in the downtown area about opening new movie complexes. While it is "premature" to say anything definite, he does say Plitt is interested in operating a theater in the new Triad Center.
Have the large movie palaces of old, with the giant screens and large auditoriums, gone the way of the dinosaurs?
"I don't think the day is over for large facilities," he said. "There are still some changes in the business to take place. But a large single screen has a hard time competing with the multi screens with several different movies running at the same time."
The new Plitt Midvalley Cinemas, located in the Family Center, 5700 S. Redwood Rd., is a six screen complex with a total seating capacity of over 2000. The cinemas include one large auditorium with 450 seats, three auditoriums with over 350 seats, and two smaller auditoriums, each with just over 200 seats.
The four larger cinemas are capable of Dolby stereo presentation. Two theaters are equipped with Silver-Glo screens to accommodate 3-D.
The establishment of the complex is a first for the national chain in the Salt Lake area. In the past Plitt Theatres have been centered in the downtown area, with an exception of the Regency, 2749 Parleys Way.
The Midvalley Cinemas will be Plitt's attempt to capitalize on the growing population in the west and south ends of the Salt Lake Valley, said Ed Plitt, vice president of the chain.
"There are a lot of new homes in the in the midvalley area," said Plitt. "I wouldn't say its a shift for us, but an expansion."
While Plitt Theatres closed its Utah 3 theater earlier this year, the vice president believes downtown is a profitable area for movie theaters.
"Downtown will always be viable," said Plitt, "although I think there will be some changes. The Utah 1 and 2 (148 S. Main) are getting old. Exhibitors are looking for multiple screens, to lower operating costs. Also there are problems of parking. And audiences like newer, modern facilities."
Of the Utah 3 theater, Plitt said that it had simply "served its purpose."
Plitt said he has been talking to developers in the downtown area about opening new movie complexes. While it is "premature" to say anything definite, he does say Plitt is interested in operating a theater in the new Triad Center.
Have the large movie palaces of old, with the giant screens and large auditoriums, gone the way of the dinosaurs?
"I don't think the day is over for large facilities," he said. "There are still some changes in the business to take place. But a large single screen has a hard time competing with the multi screens with several different movies running at the same time."