Back in August, the museum group gave a presentation to the Peoria County Board in which they explained their philosophy regarding how they want to use their giant screen theater:
[Ryan] Beasley went on to say that the museum is “a mission-driven organization,” and that the theater has to fit with their mission, which is “to inspire lifelong learning for ALL, connecting art, history, science and achievement through collections, exhibitions and programs.” In order to do that, the museum has three “negotiating terms”: control over programming, technology, and exclusivity. The biggest obstacle is control over programming. The museum wants to show “classic” (i.e., educational) films during the day and second-run movies on evenings and weekends. That has been IMAX’s traditional model. However, IMAX is apparently interested in seeing their theaters run more first-run movies — what they call “day and date DMR” movies — that would require multiple showings for the first two or three weeks the movie is out. “DMR” is IMAX’s proprietary large-screen film process. The museum’s concern is that agreeing to “day and date DMR” would be more profitable, but violate their mission. They’re also concerned about being required to show some films that are R-rated or otherwise not family-friendly.
The museum’s pro forma used the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre in Davenport, Iowa, as a benchmark for attendance estimates, and as an overall example of what we could have here in Peoria. I recently ran across this article in the Quad Cities Times, which included this little nugget of information:
Dean Fick, director of theater operations at the Putnam Museum IMAX Theatre, moves a reel of film for “Shrek Forever After,” which opens Friday. It will mark the first time in the theater’s eight-year history that it opens a Hollywood blockbuster on the day it premieres nationwide. […] “For the future of the organization overall, the museum and the IMAX Theatre, we need to be maximizing the revenue we bring in,” [Putnam president and CEO Kim Findlay] said.
I wonder if local museum officials will follow Putnam’s lead and try to maximize revenue — for the good of the organization overall, and for the taxpayers.
Won’t happen. The old family value arguement is coming out again( remember Hooters and the Casino). Personal beliefs and dilusional thinking will win over common business sense therefore leaving the city with a missed opportunity and failed investment.
How many people would watch the new Harry Potter Movie on an IMAX screen in this city and surrounding community? Wouldn’t it be great if there were some resaurants on the block that would keep that crowd spending funds before and after the movie. Perhaps some interesting shops appealing to various demographics to provide additional purchase power. This is part of the dream that was sold by the Museum committee to the public: which included council persons, members of the public, some business leaders, etc. What we have is no IMAX, a scaled down museum space, reduce square footage, etc. Broken promises, broken dreams, and a sales tax increase that would not pass a second gander.
It’s fine that the museum has a mission, but what was sold to the public is NOW being funded by tax dollars. If their mission is to be fullfilled then pay for it the way it had been promised, private donations and stop reaching into my pocket to fund something that is light years from your promises. This topic needs to be seriously addressed during the city council race in the Spring.
Paul… they would watch it at the new Rave IMAX.
exactly, moving business from downtown because of this mess.
Unfortunately, the dead horse weve been beating is not only dead, but it has been turned into dogfood and devoured by pitbulls…what comes out the other end of the pitbulls is what we are dealing with now.
pit bull puppies?