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The show must go on

Tinseltown reopens after hostage situation

By MICHAEL J. THOMPSON
mthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

After a hostage situation and tense struggle with a suspected robber that lasted for more than 24 hours and a long day to clean up the mess, the Tinseltown movie multiplex reopened at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The 17-screen complex was closed for two days. Tuesday saw local police, SWAT unit and other law enforcement agents attempt to locate 45-year-old Darrell Brown in the theater, after his companion, Aundrea Lee, 28, was captured by police earlier when they were caught in the act of a robbery. Police, health and fire inspectors spent Wednesday checking the building out to ensure it was safe for the public to return.

Terrell Falk, vice president marketing and communications for Cinemark, which owns Tinseltown, said,” We tried to get the theater open as soon as possible but we had to get clearance from health and fire inspectors and also clean up the mess inside left behind from the robbery.”

Falk said there wasn’t a significant amount of damage to the theater, other than a few trash cans overturned, but that the cleanup did necessitate keeping Tinseltown closed Wednesday. That was rough news for theatergoers to digest, since the highly anticipated “Batman Begins” was released Wednesday and was to be shown on three theaters.

In fact, a 12:01 a.m. showing of the movie on Wednesday had to be cancelled because of the robbery situation.

Numerous cars passed by the theater box office area Wednesday to inquire when the theater would reopen. Some individuals even walked up to the box office trying to buy tickets, oblivious to the fact that the day before, a hostage situation and subsequent police standoff had transpired and been broadcasted all over the local Atlanta news stations.

One person, who asked not be named, said, “You can’t be serious?” when told of the prior days events.

Cinemark officials would not comment on how much money they lost by having the theater closed for two days, but with “Batman Begins” coming out and earning more than $15.1 million nationwide Wednesday, the loss of business appears to be staggering. Consider, with the movie opening up on 3,718 screens, that translates to an average of $4,053 per screen in one day. Potentially, Tinseltown lost more than $12,000 from “Batman Begins” alone in one day.

During the two days Tinseltown was closed, more than 100 film times were cancelled, and that, coupled with concession items that weren’t sold, was a blow to the theater.

Those who had purchased advanced tickets to “Batman Begins” can return those tickets to the box office at Tinseltown and exchange them for another time or receive a movie pass good for any day.

“We want to be absolutely sure those who had tickets to see the movie can still see it,” said Falk.

She then said,”We are thankful that our employees are safe and the situationn was resolved and the prepetrators are in custody.”

The site of an empty parking lot in front of the Tinseltown wasn’t enough to deter David Augcomfar from hoping the theater would open Wednesday.

He had an advance ticket to see “Batman Begins” at 7 p.m. and said his desire to see the movie outweighed any fear he might have from the previous days escapades.

“Stuff happens,” the Fayetteville resident said, “and I just want to see the movie.”

His sentiments were shared by many, with one motorist even pulling up and asking a small crowd that congregated outside the theater, if that guy (Brown) was still inside?

When he was told no, the motorist shouted back, “Because if he was, I would still go in there to see a movie.”