"To the last person, they walk in and their jaw
drops open," he said. "No matter what they have
seen from the early artist's renderings, the
theater will exceed everyone's expectations ----
it's that beautiful."
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 12:39 PM PST
New Vista theater to open this weekend with $1 movies, popcorn
By: PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer
The Krikorian Metroplex Movie Palace in Vista doesn't officially open until Nov. 21, but the owners of the 15-screen downtown movie theater will give the public a sneak peek Nov. 15-16 with $1 movies, popcorn and soft drinks, and all proceeds go to charity.
On Nov. 15, the doors will open at noon for the Newspapers in Education Charity Day. More than 4,500 visitors are expected for the all-day event, which will include $1 movies and concessions. The box office will open at 11 a.m. and film screenings will continue from 12:45 p.m. to 10. All revenues collected on Saturday will go toward the NIE program, which provides newspapers to school classrooms for research and educational purposes.
Then on Nov. 16, the same $1 promotion will be presented to benefit the Vista Unified School District's fund to buy new books for students.
Just for these weekend events, the movies shown in the Krikorian auditorium will be second-run films, not new releases. Among the films on the schedule (subject to change) are "Bruce Almighty," "2 Fast, 2 Furious," "Daddy Daycare," "Tomb Raider 2," "Shrek," "Chicago," "Rundown" and "Intolerable Cruelty."
The fund-raisers are a way to introduce the new theater complex to the public. Krikorian spokesman Randall L. Blaum said the $1 promotion is very costly but it's a commitment the company's founder believes in.
"We're doing this from the heart," Blaum said. "George Krikorian strongly believes in helping people, especially in the commuities in which we operate theaters. It's part of our way to give back and assist because without all the people coming to the theater, we don't have a business. We want to be a part of the community and not an island."
All next week, the theater will be open only for special events, tours and luncheons. The public can obtain tickets to a few of these invitation-only events. A Vista Village Art Project kickoff will be held on Monday evening, call (760) 726-4545. And Clear Channel radio stations will give away tickets to a "Gothika" screening on Wednesday night.
The theater's grand opening will take place on Nov. 21. Visitors will be able to register to win up to $15,000 in prizes that day, including a $10,000 gift certificate to North County Ford in Vista.
Then on Nov. 22, the public will be invited to come and watch a Hollywood-style red-carpet event, where 10 to 15 television stars will walk a press line for a private screening of the new film "Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat."
Among the scheduled celebrities are Alan Thicke (ìGrowing Painsî), Justin Berfield (Reese on ìMalcolm in the Middleî), Joe Conley (ìThe Waltonsî), Matt Gallant (Animal Planet host) and Jim Turner (ìArlissî).
Tickets to the event are $10 for general admission and $50 for a VIP reception with the celebrities. All proceeds benefit the Children's Discovery Museum of North County in Carlsbad. For tickets, call (760) 720-0737.
When it opens, the new Krikorian Metroplex will be the region's most upscale cinema complex with 3,600 stadium-style seats, crystal chandeliers, hand-painted murals by artist Gregory Beylerian, imported tile and marble and granite finish walls and floors. Ticket prices are expected to be $9.50 for general admission, with discounts for children and screenings before 5 p.m.
Blaum said he gave a dozen tours of the theater last week and the public's reaction to the building is always the same.
"To the last person, they walk in and their jaw drops open," he said. "No matter what they have seen from the early artist's renderings, the theater will exceed everyone's expectations ---- it's that beautiful."
Redondo Beach-based Krikorian Premiere Theatres operates six upscale cinemas in Southern California, with another complex planned in Pico Rivera.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 12:39 PM PST
New Vista theater to open this weekend with $1 movies, popcorn
By: PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer
The Krikorian Metroplex Movie Palace in Vista doesn't officially open until Nov. 21, but the owners of the 15-screen downtown movie theater will give the public a sneak peek Nov. 15-16 with $1 movies, popcorn and soft drinks, and all proceeds go to charity.
On Nov. 15, the doors will open at noon for the Newspapers in Education Charity Day. More than 4,500 visitors are expected for the all-day event, which will include $1 movies and concessions. The box office will open at 11 a.m. and film screenings will continue from 12:45 p.m. to 10. All revenues collected on Saturday will go toward the NIE program, which provides newspapers to school classrooms for research and educational purposes.
Then on Nov. 16, the same $1 promotion will be presented to benefit the Vista Unified School District's fund to buy new books for students.
Just for these weekend events, the movies shown in the Krikorian auditorium will be second-run films, not new releases. Among the films on the schedule (subject to change) are "Bruce Almighty," "2 Fast, 2 Furious," "Daddy Daycare," "Tomb Raider 2," "Shrek," "Chicago," "Rundown" and "Intolerable Cruelty."
The fund-raisers are a way to introduce the new theater complex to the public. Krikorian spokesman Randall L. Blaum said the $1 promotion is very costly but it's a commitment the company's founder believes in.
"We're doing this from the heart," Blaum said. "George Krikorian strongly believes in helping people, especially in the commuities in which we operate theaters. It's part of our way to give back and assist because without all the people coming to the theater, we don't have a business. We want to be a part of the community and not an island."
All next week, the theater will be open only for special events, tours and luncheons. The public can obtain tickets to a few of these invitation-only events. A Vista Village Art Project kickoff will be held on Monday evening, call (760) 726-4545. And Clear Channel radio stations will give away tickets to a "Gothika" screening on Wednesday night.
The theater's grand opening will take place on Nov. 21. Visitors will be able to register to win up to $15,000 in prizes that day, including a $10,000 gift certificate to North County Ford in Vista.
Then on Nov. 22, the public will be invited to come and watch a Hollywood-style red-carpet event, where 10 to 15 television stars will walk a press line for a private screening of the new film "Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat."
Among the scheduled celebrities are Alan Thicke (ìGrowing Painsî), Justin Berfield (Reese on ìMalcolm in the Middleî), Joe Conley (ìThe Waltonsî), Matt Gallant (Animal Planet host) and Jim Turner (ìArlissî).
Tickets to the event are $10 for general admission and $50 for a VIP reception with the celebrities. All proceeds benefit the Children's Discovery Museum of North County in Carlsbad. For tickets, call (760) 720-0737.
When it opens, the new Krikorian Metroplex will be the region's most upscale cinema complex with 3,600 stadium-style seats, crystal chandeliers, hand-painted murals by artist Gregory Beylerian, imported tile and marble and granite finish walls and floors. Ticket prices are expected to be $9.50 for general admission, with discounts for children and screenings before 5 p.m.
Blaum said he gave a dozen tours of the theater last week and the public's reaction to the building is always the same.
"To the last person, they walk in and their jaw drops open," he said. "No matter what they have seen from the early artist's renderings, the theater will exceed everyone's expectations ---- it's that beautiful."
Redondo Beach-based Krikorian Premiere Theatres operates six upscale cinemas in Southern California, with another complex planned in Pico Rivera.