Nice comments. I agree to a lot, but there’s one piece of it, I feel very strong about. Regardless of where and by which name we have an indian theater, I think one key piece that’s never existed in our theaters is overall customer service.

I’ve been in the states for about 20 years now and I do remember when NAZ was the only place to watch indian movies. There were a few others, but still single cinema “mom’s and pops” type of places.

What always angered me was the lack of customer service, at NAZ they’ve always had an arrogant, “we don’t need you, you need us” type of attitude. They’ve raised prices on tickets, concessions, and tried to take advantage of our pockets because of this “monopo-listic” position.

NAZ 8, now big Fremont 7, needs to realize one thing. YOUR NOT THE ONLY OPTION ANY MORE. MY WIFE AND I SAW 3 IDIOTS AT CENTURY UNION LANDING, AND WE LOVED IT. WE’RE TIRED TO DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE WITH ATTITUDES WORKING IN YOUR THEATER, YOUR TERRIBLE TASTING FOOD (WHICH IS WAY OVER PRICED), THE TERRIBLE QUALITY VIDEO, SMALL SMELLY THEATERS, AND STRAIGHT ROW-ED SEATING (WHERE IF SOMEONE TALL SITS IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU NEED TO MOVE TO SEE THE SCREEN.

THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS NOW FOR ALL OF US TO SEE INDIAN MOVIES. THEY’RE NOT ONLY CLOSER, BUT MUCH MORE ACCOMMODATING; YES I ADMIT, THEY COST A BIT MORE, BUT IT’S WORTH THE EXTRA 1.50

IF BIG 7 DOESN’T IMPROVE THEIR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, THEY WONT LAST.

Fremont was once movie king.. bring it back!

1.) Naz used to be Super Saver, which was Second Run. Did you never go there? What about the Serra Twin in Milpitas? Also a second run back in the day.

2.) The second run market was not killed by VHS/DVD. It was killed for the most part by MOVIE THEATER GOERS (those who buy the tix that end up in box office numbers).

Let me explain:

Here in the Dallas area where I am temporarily they have two second run theaters. One 15 multiplex, the other 10. Both owned and operated by Cinemark, which is based here (Cinemark owns and ops Century Theaters).

On Saturday I saw The Fourth Kind there, and my wife say Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Being before 6pm, we EACH paid $1.00. Regular price after 6pm was $1.50. They have plenty of concessions and try to push it hard, but you aren’t forced. Plus NOBODY checks tickets and there is no security, hopping is very easy, not that we do it. Movies there are not only second run, but also ones that just hit DVD. You can still see Paranormal Activity there. It’s a better deal than Redbox (same price, but you see it in a decent theater).

After the movie my wife and I met up and before we left we were wondering why this even exists. The manager seemed friendly and approachable so we talked with him. Asked him what the deal is and why other places don’t have it, such as my home area of the Bay Area.

He said: The reason second run isn’t widespread is because if it was everywhere it would hurt the regular box office and the studios don’t want that. He said that the studios today only hand over second run film prints to theaters like the one we were at if they are in places where people don’t see movies at all first run and also don’t buy movies on DVD/blu-ray. The theater we went to in Garland, TX and the other one are in a semi-ghetto area. If markets are full of people who pay full price to see movies (like Bay Area, LA, NY), you don’t see second run theaters today.

Point is, VHS/DVD didn’t kill second run theaters. It’s the enormous profits the studios make off first run in the last few decades that killed off second run for most people.

So a Fremont theater should have:

1.) 30 Screens
2.) Most screens using DLP projection
3.) TRUE IMAX (not LIE-MAX), so we’re talking that huge screen like in Dublin, CA
4.) A wide selection of Hollywood and indie-flicks.

Fremont is also a great place to open the first Gold Class Cinemas in the Bay Area:
http://www.goldclasscinemas.com/

It’s high-end in price, BUT it’s qualities will attract those from all over the Bay for this elusive theater.

I think most movie theaters are going to be a feature of the past. In-home entertainment options are excellent for all but a few movies, and I’m not one who absolutely has to see it right away. At home you avoid the incredible rudeness that seems to be ubiquitous today. I HATE having to tell the people behind me to just shut up already.

Although I have to say, I do miss the experience of going to the second run theaters in San Francisco. When I first moved to the Bay Area in 1983, there were several second run theaters where you could see a double feature matinee for $2. VHS and then DVD killed that market quickly.

And to get to the actual topic – Fremont has become a community of niche interests. I think Bollywood in general is a good fit for the city, although with the exodus of H1B due to the economic turndown, now is probably not the best time to try to start any huge Southeast Asian enterprises locally. But as I understand it, the theater also showed things like the cricket test matches and world cup soccer, things that drew huge audiences. Will the new owners do likewise?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=feed&story_fbid=296270625743&gid=294634830743

these are 16 and 17 year olds discussing economic stimulus in the City of Fremont. To me…that’s amazing.