Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Varsity Theater to go dark Friday, June 26
[caption id="attachment_4387" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="UNC-Chapel Hill freshman Walker Percy, later the author of "The Moviegoer" and many other books, extends his leg while waiting in line for a movie at the Varsity Theatre, then known as the Carolina Theatre, on Franklin Street, circa 1933-34. Photo courtesy of North Carolina Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill"]
[/caption]
The Varsity Theater, which has been in operation under different names on Chapel Hill's Franklin Street for more than 80 years, will go dark this Friday.
Owner Bruce Stone wouldn't directly confirm the theater's closing, but when asked if the fact that the Indy had not been provided with movie listings for the Varsity meant there would be no movies there, he replied, "That would be a correct inference."
Stone said he would make a formal announcement about the Varsity's operations on Thursday or Friday. Stone's other theater, the Chelsea, which is located in the Timberlyne shopping center, will remain open.
The Varsity's closing has been long-rumored, and earlier this month I wrote a story about the financial realities of the business of running a specialty movie house.
For the record, the Varsity is currently showing The Brothers Bloom and The Hangover. The final screening for the former film is 9:20 p.m., while the final screening for the latter is 9:30.
Comments (4)
Showing 1-4 of 4
[...] Weekly is reporting that the Varsity Theater is going to stop showing movies, starting on Friday. One of the comments [...]
like
dislike
Not surprising, given the kind of theater the Varsity has tried to be. Who was it trying to cater to, really? The people who just put arthouse films on their Netflix cue? Students who don't go see independent movies at all unless they have Michael Cera in them? Out of towners that want to see an indy flick but don't know where/how to park in Chapel Hill? But brainstorming with a friend, it took us approximately 5 minutes to come up with about a billion other business models that would work, most of which involve being creative and flexible: - Sell beer and wine - Partner with any of the 4 pizza places on Franklin to sell pizza - Show blockbusters on one screen, AND - Show 2nd run movies for 1 or 2 bucks, AND - Show indy flicks, AND - Show movies college students would see. You can't ignore the fact you're on Franklin Street. - have local film groups host screenings and split the door with them, thereby avoiding buying or renting prints, and maximizing the power of social networks (friends with screenings talk their friends into coming): Flicker Fest, Hi Mom, Full Frame, A/V Geeks, UNC Communication Studies, UNC Journalism, Duke Documentary Studies; UNC student groups - Carolina Production Guild, STV, ScreenArts, CUAB film board. For cryin out loud there are SO MANY people in this town that make a living doing media. Partner with them!! - Have multimedia festivals - Have regular film festivals - Host bands that want crazy film projections - Have non-film events, or film + events - bollywood dance festivals ala The Galaxy - host plays and performances like Devra says above - turn it into a visual co-op, nonprofit, experimental social entrepreneurship model etc etc etc. Just think "value added"!! With a million ways to watch films at home for way cheaper, you have to figure out ways to create an experience that is unique and lots of fun, which doesn't strike me as all that hard to do if you're willing to think outside the box. Now will someone please steal these ideas and keep the Varsity open? Thanx.
I worked at the Varsity for several years around the early 1990's, and I can't tell you how sad this makes me. I hope that someone will be able to rescue this historic venue.
This bites. I read DF's article earlier and thought the whole thing was spot on. I would shout "but no! it must stay open!" but I don't have any money to invest in making that happen. And as a mother of a toddler, not only is there no entertainment reason to go to the Varsity for us, I refuse to deal with the lack-of-parking as well. Even the Chelsea, as cramped as that parking is, is better off than downtown. I guess this can be chalked up as another reason the Chapel Hill Town Council needs to rethink what they really want Franklin St to be. It is not a viable business strip at the moment, trying to cater to everyone and failing miserably. College students may not have tons of money (although we are talking about UNC students here) but they ARE the ones who live within walking distance of an area that is decidedly not car friendly (which is another argument for another day, granted). Maybe the Varsity can hook up with any of the Arts (Performing/Visual/Media/etc) to offer space for student work? I'm sure the folks at Playmakers or Streetsigns or LAB would relish another performance space.
Latest in Triangulator
-
Durham council to consider granting 751 South utilities at Feb. 20 meeting
Southern Durham Development could receive city water, sewer services to build controversial new community.
- Feb 9, 2012
-
In "Carrboro Commune" CVS takeover, no arrests, no SWAT team, plenty of controversy
A group of 20 anti-capitalist protesters occupied CVS-owned in property in downtown Carrboro for three hours Saturday night before walking out at the strong encouragement of town police and Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton, who each told them they would be charged with breaking and entering if they did not leave.
- Feb 5, 2012
-
Breaking: Anti-capitalist occupiers say they've taken new Carrboro CVS
- Feb 4, 2012
- More »
Author Archives
-
Sadness and stultification in Albert Nobbs
Glenn Close plays Albert Nobbs, a nonentity with a traumatic, largely suppressed past who has survived for three decades dressing and working as a man.
- Jan 25, 2012
-
Hoop Cheese: The Duke-UNC fallout, and why did NC State get left out of the realignment fun?
This week's Hoop Cheese edition has so many words in it, not even Austin Rivers could say them while scoring 29 points in a hostile gym.
- Feb 10, 2012
- More »
