Magic Johnson Theatres
Encyclopedia
Magic Johnson Theatres are a chain of movie theater
s, originally developed in 1994 by Johnson Development Corporation, the business holding of basketball player-turned-entrepreneur Magic Johnson
, and Sony Pictures Entertainment
through a partnership with Sony-Loews Theatres. A 1998 merger between Sony-Loews and Cineplex Odeon Corporation caused Magic Theatres to become part of the new Loews Cineplex Entertainment
Corp. Currently the chain's former locations are owned by AMC Theatres
after Sony-Loews was acquired by the cinema giant in 2006. They are branded Magic Johnson Theatres still however they are solely controlled by AMC now, only using the Magic Johnson Theatres name.
The focus of Magic Theatres was to build first-rate multiplexes in urban
communities, bringing high quality facilities and technology, as well as job development, encouraging local economic growth
. While Magic Theatres are patterned after the Loews Cineplex Entertainment model, they retain the Magic name and focus on urban markets. Each complex is around 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) with multiple concession areas, 10 to 15 screens with SDDS stereo sound, stadium seating and a capacity of 3,200 to 5,000. After building the Magic Theatre in Harlem
, multiple businesses followed suit including Old Navy, Disney
, and HMV
.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr.
, is no longer actively involved in the management committee, strategic planning, operations and public relations.
There are two multiplex theatres in, or near, major cities of the United States of America
, namely in areas which are predominantly African-American (hence the branding) and previously were underserved by modern cineplexes. The venture dates back to 1995, when the Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15 opened in the Crenshaw
district of Los Angeles, California
.
The first theater opened, the Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15 was closed in 2010. It was renovated and reopened by Rave Motion Pictures.
The only remaining original theatre still opened is the Harlem 9 theatre in Harlem, New York. The theatres in Cleveland, Ohio (Randall Park 12) Houston, Texas (Northline 12), and Atlanta, Georgia (Greenbrier 12) were all closed by AMC due to lack of profitability. The Magic Johnson theater in Largo, Maryland (Cap Center 12) is still open and operated by AMC. The location at Cap Center was the first one opened that was not a Partnership with Magic Johnson. Loews Cineplex Entertainment used the Magic Theatres name only to brand the location.
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
s, originally developed in 1994 by Johnson Development Corporation, the business holding of basketball player-turned-entrepreneur Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
, and Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. is the television and film production/distribution unit of Japanese multinational technology and media conglomerate Sony...
through a partnership with Sony-Loews Theatres. A 1998 merger between Sony-Loews and Cineplex Odeon Corporation caused Magic Theatres to become part of the new Loews Cineplex Entertainment
Loews Cineplex Entertainment
Loews Theatres, aka Loews Incorporated , founded in 1904 by Marcus Loew and Brantford Schwartz, was the oldest theater chain operating in North America until it merged with AMC Theatres on January 26, 2006. From 1924 until 1959, it was also the parent company of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. The...
Corp. Currently the chain's former locations are owned by 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...
after Sony-Loews was acquired by the cinema giant in 2006. They are branded Magic Johnson Theatres still however they are solely controlled by AMC now, only using the Magic Johnson Theatres name.
The focus of Magic Theatres was to build first-rate multiplexes in urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
communities, bringing high quality facilities and technology, as well as job development, encouraging local economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
. While Magic Theatres are patterned after the Loews Cineplex Entertainment model, they retain the Magic name and focus on urban markets. Each complex is around 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) with multiple concession areas, 10 to 15 screens with SDDS stereo sound, stadium seating and a capacity of 3,200 to 5,000. After building the Magic Theatre in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, multiple businesses followed suit including Old Navy, Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, and HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr.
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
, is no longer actively involved in the management committee, strategic planning, operations and public relations.
There are two multiplex theatres in, or near, major cities of the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, namely in areas which are predominantly African-American (hence the branding) and previously were underserved by modern cineplexes. The venture dates back to 1995, when the Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15 opened in the Crenshaw
Crenshaw, Los Angeles, California
Crenshaw is a neighborhood and district in southwestern Los Angeles, California. It derives its name from Crenshaw Boulevard, one of the city's principal thoroughfares....
district of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
The first theater opened, the Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15 was closed in 2010. It was renovated and reopened by Rave Motion Pictures.
The only remaining original theatre still opened is the Harlem 9 theatre in Harlem, New York. The theatres in Cleveland, Ohio (Randall Park 12) Houston, Texas (Northline 12), and Atlanta, Georgia (Greenbrier 12) were all closed by AMC due to lack of profitability. The Magic Johnson theater in Largo, Maryland (Cap Center 12) is still open and operated by AMC. The location at Cap Center was the first one opened that was not a Partnership with Magic Johnson. Loews Cineplex Entertainment used the Magic Theatres name only to brand the location.