Century Theatres
Encyclopedia
Century Theatres is a movie theater
chain which operates many multiplexes in the western United States
, primarily in California
, Nevada
, Utah
, New Mexico
, and Arizona
. In recent years, it has expanded into the inter-mountain states, the Pacific Northwest
, Texas
, and parts of the Midwest. Founded in 1941, the chain was headquartered in San Rafael, California
until it was acquired by Cinemark Theaters from Plano, Texas
in 2006.
, which opened in 1963, adjacent to the Winchester Mystery House
. The Century 21 theater was built to showcase Cinerama
type movies (the left and right empty projection booths are still present), but in actuality, it only showed 70mm movies. The screen was later replaced with a flat model, and has remained intact as a wonderful throwback to the domed Cinerama palaces of the 1960s. The "Century 21" name was a tactic used to convey to the viewing public a "futuristic image". This image is bolstered by the lobby's distinct modern "bubbled lights" and metallic gold accents. The large orange metal ornament on the top of the domed-theater was functional in addition to being decorative—theater employees rappelled from it when the dome's outer track-lighting needed to be maintained. The first film presented at the Century 21 was It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
in 70mm format.
The company started using the name "Century Theatres" in the early 1990s.
Century Theatres has a long history of litigation against its much larger competitor, AMC Theatres
, for alleged anti-competitive behavior
. However, since the late 1990s, both sides have generally refrained from suing each other.
On August 8, 2006, Texas
-based chain Cinemark Theatres
announced that it had completed a purchase agreement under which Century Theatres would be acquired with a combination of cash and stock from Cinemark's parent company and Front Row Joe. The transition to Cinemark was completed on Thursday, October 5, 2006, with the exception of the Century 21, 22, and 23 theatres in San Jose, which were transferred back to their original company, Syufy Enterprises, and operate under the name "Winchester Theatres". The company's drive-in theatres and swap meet
s were also not part of the merger and reverted back to Syufy Enterprises ownership, as well. They now operate under the brand-name "West Wind Drive-Ins and Public Markets". The Cinemark-owned Century theaters continue to operate under the "Century" name.
iced coffee as well as Nathan's Famous Hotdogs
. The concessions area of each Century will typically sell a large selection of candy, pretzel bites, nachos, pizza, popcorn, kettle corn
, ICEEs
, sodas, ice cream treats and water. Since the summerI of 2010, they are mostly equipped with Coca-Cola Freestyle. The cafe section of concessions sells cakes, Starbucks coffees, teas, cookies and other treats.
sources.
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
chain which operates many multiplexes in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, primarily in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. In recent years, it has expanded into the inter-mountain states, the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and parts of the Midwest. Founded in 1941, the chain was headquartered in San Rafael, California
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
until it was acquired by Cinemark Theaters from Plano, Texas
Plano, Texas
Plano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
in 2006.
History
The Century Theater chain was originally named Syufy Enterprises, after its founder Raymond Syufy (senior), who built his first theater in Vallejo, CA in 1941. The first Century theater was the Century 21 in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, which opened in 1963, adjacent to the Winchester Mystery House
Winchester Mystery House
The Winchester Mystery House is a well-known mansion in California. It once was the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester. It was continuously under construction for 38 years and is reported to be haunted. It now serves as a tourist attraction...
. The Century 21 theater was built to showcase Cinerama
Cinerama
Cinerama is the trademarked name for a widescreen process which works by simultaneously projecting images from three synchronized 35 mm projectors onto a huge, deeply-curved screen, subtending 146° of arc. It is also the trademarked name for the corporation which was formed to market it...
type movies (the left and right empty projection booths are still present), but in actuality, it only showed 70mm movies. The screen was later replaced with a flat model, and has remained intact as a wonderful throwback to the domed Cinerama palaces of the 1960s. The "Century 21" name was a tactic used to convey to the viewing public a "futuristic image". This image is bolstered by the lobby's distinct modern "bubbled lights" and metallic gold accents. The large orange metal ornament on the top of the domed-theater was functional in addition to being decorative—theater employees rappelled from it when the dome's outer track-lighting needed to be maintained. The first film presented at the Century 21 was It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a 1963 American comedy film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 in stolen cash by a diverse and colorful group of strangers...
in 70mm format.
The company started using the name "Century Theatres" in the early 1990s.
Century Theatres has a long history of litigation against its much larger competitor, AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres , officially known as AMC Entertainment, Inc., is the second largest movie theater chain in North America with 5,325 screens, second only to Regal Entertainment Group, and one of the United States's four national cinema chains AMC Theatres (American Multi-Cinema), officially known as...
, for alleged anti-competitive behavior
Anti-competitive practices
Anti-competitive practices are business or government practices that prevent or reduce competition in a market .- Anti-competitive practices :These can include:...
. However, since the late 1990s, both sides have generally refrained from suing each other.
On August 8, 2006, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
-based chain Cinemark Theatres
Cinemark Theatres
Cinemark Theatres is a chain of movie theatres owned by Cinemark Holdings, Inc. in North and South America and Taiwan. It has its headquarters in Plano, Texas.Cinemark's Missions Statement Reads as follows:...
announced that it had completed a purchase agreement under which Century Theatres would be acquired with a combination of cash and stock from Cinemark's parent company and Front Row Joe. The transition to Cinemark was completed on Thursday, October 5, 2006, with the exception of the Century 21, 22, and 23 theatres in San Jose, which were transferred back to their original company, Syufy Enterprises, and operate under the name "Winchester Theatres". The company's drive-in theatres and swap meet
Swap meet
Swap meet can mean:*Swap meet, a type of flea market*Swap Meet , a song by Nirvana*Swap Meet, a pricing game on the Price is Right game show*Swap Meet , an episode of the television program CSI...
s were also not part of the merger and reverted back to Syufy Enterprises ownership, as well. They now operate under the brand-name "West Wind Drive-Ins and Public Markets". The Cinemark-owned Century theaters continue to operate under the "Century" name.
Amenities
Most Century theaters now serve StarbucksStarbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
iced coffee as well as Nathan's Famous Hotdogs
Nathan's Famous
Nathan's Famous is a company that operates a chain of U.S.-based fast food restaurants specializing in hot dogs. The original Nathan's restaurant stands at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in the Coney Island neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-History:Nathan's began as...
. The concessions area of each Century will typically sell a large selection of candy, pretzel bites, nachos, pizza, popcorn, kettle corn
Kettle corn
Kettle corn is a sweet-and-salty variety of popcorn that is mixed or seasoned with typically, a light colored refined sugar, salt, and oil. It was traditionally made in cast iron kettles, but may also be made in metal pans now.-History in the United States:...
, ICEEs
The ICEE Company
The ICEE Company is a beverage company located in Ontario, California, USA. Its flagship product is the ICEE, which is a frozen carbonated beverage that comes in various fruit and soda flavors. ICEE also produces other frozen beverages, and Italian ice pops under both the ICEE and Slush Puppie...
, sodas, ice cream treats and water. Since the summerI of 2010, they are mostly equipped with Coca-Cola Freestyle. The cafe section of concessions sells cakes, Starbucks coffees, teas, cookies and other treats.
XD
In 2009 Cinemark introduced "XD" or Extreme Digital Cinema, the company's response to IMAX. Extreme Digital allows Cinemark to play any movie they want on it, unlike IMAX which needs special formatting. Because of this, Cinemark can play a different movie on their XD auditoriums whenever they want, where IMAX usually plays the same movie for weeks. There are currently 25 Century and Cinemark Theaters equipped with XD. The technology employs a larger screen, up to 38' x 70', with additional improvements in audio and digital projection. The projector can project either 2D or 3D from digital cinemaDigital cinema
Digital cinema refers to the use of digital technology to distribute and project motion pictures. A movie can be distributed via hard drives, optical disks or satellite and projected using a digital projector instead of a conventional film projector...
sources.