While many couples across the country will be hitting movie theaters for date night on Valentine’s Day, other couples, like Colleen and Bill Barstow in Elkhorn, Neb., [pictured above] or Andrew and Juanita Thomas in Houston, will be making sure the projectors are running smoothly and the popcorn is fresh — just as they do every night.
They’re not the only ones. Yahoo Entertainment talked to several couples across the country who have become theater owners in their respective communities, revitalizing silver screens and giving locals a place to connect.
For many of them, getting into the movie business was a decision they never planned.
“Some people come into this industry where they love the gears of a projector or they have the love affair with movies. And while [Colleen and I] certainly had that,” Bill told Yahoo Entertainment, “nothing in our background would prepare us for this.”
That said, none of the couples could imagine it any other way, and they have relished the vital roles they’ve played in their communities.
Meet the four couples who shifted their careers to become local theater owners.
LAS VEGAS – (February 12, 2025) – CinemaCon announced today it will honor Tim Richards CBE, Founder and CEO of Vue, Europe’s largest privately owned cinema chain, with the Global Achievement in Exhibition Award during this year’s CinemaCon, the world’s premier showcase of theatrical exhibition hosted by the National Association of Theatre Owners (Cinema United). Richards will be presented with this honor at the International Day Breakfast taking place on Monday, March 31, 2025. CinemaCon will be held March 31-April 3, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
“Tim Richards and Vue are synonymous with excellence in the motion picture exhibition industry,” notes Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director, CinemaCon. “When it comes to passion, dedication or commitment in moving our industry forward, Tim really has no equal, actively championing both Vue and the industry. As pioneers in ultra luxury seating and theater technology, Vue is continually innovating and investing in the ultimate big screen experience. We are honored to present our 2025 Award for Global Achievement in Exhibition to Tim Richards and Vue.”
Under Richards’ leadership, Vue, the number one cinema operator in the UK, as measured by box office and attendance, has also become one of the world’s leading cinema operators and the largest privately held cinema operator in Europe. The company has expanded through strategic acquisitions and organic growth, including the 2003 purchase of Warner Village Theatres in the UK.
With over 35 years of experience in cinema exhibition and extensive international development and operational experience in markets across Europe, South America, and Asia Pacific, Richards has been a respected industry commentator advocating for British and independent film throughout his career. Prior to entering the entertainment industry, Richards worked as a lawyer on Wall Street. He then joined Paramount and Universal’s joint ventures, UCI and CIC, before becoming Senior Vice President of Business Development at Warner Bros. In 1999 he founded Vue, with support from Boston Ventures, opening the company’s first cinema in Livingston, Scotland, in 2000.
In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Tim was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by His Majesty King Charles III in December 2024. Tim was previously appointed Chair of the British Film Institute (“BFI”) by the British Prime Minister in 2021, following seven years as governor on the BFI board. His leadership extends to multiple board positions across UK and European industry organizations, including BAFTA, the BFI, and the UK Cinema Association.
About CinemaCon
CinemaCon attracts upwards of six thousand motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry – from exhibition and distribution to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. CinemaCon works with the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its trade show partners. The Coca-Cola Company – one of the industry’s most highly regarded and respected partners in the world of movies – is the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon.
About Cinema United
The National Association of Theatre Owners (Cinema United) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 32,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 88 countries worldwide. Cinema United’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world as well as hundreds of independent theatre owners. Additional information about CinemaCon can be found at www.cinemacon.com.
Cinema United’s Director of Government Relations and Independent Theatre Owner Engagement Todd Halstead visits the Dine-In Cinema + FEC Summit in Austin, Texas, with its founders and organizers, Venue Valet’s Amy Mader and Matt Mader (proudly wearing UT checkerboard overalls on College GameDay in this photo).
This year’s sold-out and expanded Dine-In convention, now in its seventh year, attracted nearly 270 attendees, with the frank conversations, education and evening networking events spanning four days instead of the usual three. Attendees learned about innovations in building community, upgrading sight and sound, food & beverage, new developments in POS and cashless technology, and finding new ways to event-ize the moviegoing experience. This year’s early February event took place at several Cinema United member dine-in theatre destinations, including Flix Brewhouse in Round Rock, Cinépolis’ Moviehouse & Eatery and Schulman Theatres’Film Alley in Georgetown, Texas. The Dine-In Cinema + FEC Summit also expanded their discussions devoted to family entertainment centers with various presentations and discussions related to FEC’s taking place throughout this year’s conference.
From left to right: Cinema United’s Amanda Martin, Film Commission Exec Jon Crowley & Commissioner Janice Kovach, Downtown Cranford Chair Kristen Mider, Cranford Theater Owner Doreen Sayegh, local film commissioner Dr. Thomas Haveron, NJ.com’s Enrique Lavin and CinemaCon’s Matt Pollock.
Cinema United’s Chief of Staff Amanda Martin and CinemaCon’s Associate Managing Director Matt Pollock joined The Cranford Theater owner Doreen Sayegh for a special screening at her nearly 100-year-old cultural landmark, celebrating this weekend’s opening of Neon Pictures’ locally-filmed thriller Presence, directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by David Koepp and starring Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan and Julia Fox. The evening celebrated the success of New Jersey’s tax incentive program with recent films like Presence, filmed entirely at a single location in the theatre’s hometown, and A Complete Unknown, nominated on the same day for eight Academy Awards and shot almost entirely in the Garden State. A panel focusing on New Jersey production and the importance of local cinemas like the Cranford as cornerstones of their communities followed the screening, led by film commissioner Janice Kovach, and featuring Cinema United’s Amanda Martin, Cranford Downtown Director Caren Demyen and New Jersey Motion Picture & TV Commission Executive Director Jon Crowley.
“2024 was a standout year at the global box office with fans of all ages flocking to theatres to see compelling and entertaining movies of all stripes,” said Michael O’Leary, President & CEO of Cinema United. “This morning, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized the amazing achievements in motion pictures with the announcement of the Oscar nominations. As they have done for almost 100 years, the Academy celebrates the unapparelled majesty of movies on the big screen. Congratulations to everyone that was nominated, the Oscars are sure to be, once again, a magical night for movies fans around the globe.”
I wanted to take a moment to celebrate another enormously successful National Popcorn Day for cinemas across North America! Social media lit up on Sunday, January 19th with a wide range of creative promotions tailored to the most popular movie snack there is. Among all of the exhibitors’ creative campaigns, here are select highlights:
Cinemark’s Bring Your Own Bucket Campaign spurred moviegoers to come up with an eclectic mix of vessels: from kitchen pots to duffle bags to trick-or-treat buckets.
Premiere Cinemas brought an element of chance to National Popcorn Day by giving customers Scratch & Win tickets that offered prizes ranging from one bag of popcorn to Popcorn for a Year.
Fandango Celebrates National Popcorn Day as Presenting Sponsor
The Cinema Foundation will kick off its new “@ The Movies” campaign with National Popcorn Day on Sunday, January 19th. National Popcorn Day is a nationwide celebration of America’s favorite movie snack, that will feature discounted prices, unlimited popcorn refills, free popcorn with the purchase of a ticket or drink and other unique promotions at participating U.S. theatres. Fandango, the nation’s leading online ticketing service, has joined the campaign for another year as its presenting sponsor. Coca-Cola has joined as a contributing partner.
“The Cinema Foundation is proud to announce our year-long celebration of cinema, commencing with National Popcorn Day on Sunday, January 19,” says Bryan Braunlich, Executive Director of The Cinema Foundation. “This Sunday is the perfect day to catch up on all the awards contenders, along with a slate of other entertaining titles, to celebrate the excitement of going to the movies with America’s favorite moviegoing snack.”
“We are thrilled to join The Cinema Foundation for another year to celebrate National Popcorn Day in theatres nationwide on January 19th,” said Jerramy Hainline, EVP of Fandango. “The theatrical experience is unmatched, and we love elevating audiences’ moviegoing experience by helping them enjoy their favorite movie snacks at a discounted price while watching incredible stories unfold on the big screen.”
More than 30,000 screens across the country will participate in the one-day event featuring discounts on popcorn, and other concessions only in theatres. To find participating theatres and their individual offers, visit AtTheMovies.co, your local movie theatre’s website or app or visit Fandango.
As part of its year-long “@ the Movies” campaign, the Cinema Foundation’s quarterly events to promote moviegoing include:
● Q1 2025: National Popcorn Day (January 19)
● Q2 2025: Sneak Peek Saturday–an exclusive look at upcoming films with behind-the-scenes cinematic content and sneak peeks following CinemaCon 2025. (April 19)
● Q3 2025: Date Night @ The Movies (August 15)
● Q4 2025: Family Day @ The Movies (November 9)
According to a Fandango study of more than 6,000 Moviegoers, 96% of general ticket buyers said they purchased concessions during their trip to the movies with Popcorn being one of the most popular items and 61% of participants saying they like to order a variety of concessions.
For more details on participating theatres and their individual offers, visit AtTheMovies.co, your local theatre site or app or Fandango.
ABOUT THE CINEMA FOUNDATION
The Cinema Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit dedicated to strengthening the cinema industry and engaging moviegoing audiences around the country. The Foundation promotes and enhances the exhibition industry through programming, events and activities, while spearheading the development of vital industry data, research and consumer insights, education and community involvement to advance the moviegoing experience.
Since March 2022, the Cinema Foundation’s mission has been dedicated to supporting and impacting the health of the cinema sector both in the short term and for years to come, while continuously expanding its contributions to the magic of moviegoing. The Cinema Foundation builds on Cinema United/National Association of Theatre Owners’ mission and relationships and expands Cinema United’s impact in ways that help individual employees, companies and the industry as a whole. For more info, visit www.thecinemafoundation.org.
ABOUT Cinema United
The National Association of Theatre Owners (Cinema United) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 32,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 46,000 screens total across 82 countries. Cinema United’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world as well as hundreds of independent theatre owners. Additional information about CinemaCon can be found atwww.cinemacon.com.
ABOUT FANDANGO
Fandango digital network provides unrivaled, instant access to all things movies and TV, enhancing fan enjoyment across the entire entertainment journey. The portfolio serves more than 50 million unique visitors per month and includes leading online movie ticketer, Fandango, which tickets for 31,000 U.S. movie screens; world-renowned entertainment review site, Rotten Tomatoes; and Fandango at Home (previously Vudu), the on-demand streaming service offering the industry’s best selection of 4K UHD titles and more than 250,000 new release and catalogue movies and next day TV shows.
We have all watched with great sadness the devastating impact of the ongoing wildfires on communities across Los Angeles. The global exhibition industry is intrinsically linked with the city of Los Angeles and our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by this tragedy. If you are an industry member that has been impacted by the wildfires, the Will Rogers Pioneer Assistance Fund is providing emergency grants to assist those who have been displaced or have lost their homes. Click here to learn more.
Additional resources for the Los Angeles fires can be found on the Will Rogers website, here.
To help support those impacted, Cinema United and the Cinema Foundation have made contributions to the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. If you would like to make similar contributions, please click here.
Michael O’Leary President & CEO, National Association of Theatre Owners
Universal City, Califronia ( January 3, 2025 ) – The International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA), the leading global network of motion picture professionals, is thrilled to announce the winners of the Fourth Annual North America Cinema Awards (NACA), presented in partnership with Celluloid Junkie. These prestigious awards honor the most outstanding achievements in cinema design, refurbishment, and technological innovation, showcasing the very best in the moviegoing excellence.
The winners, selected by an elite panel of ICTA Board Members and industry leaders, will be celebrated in style at the ICTA Los Angeles Seminar Series on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at the Universal City Hilton in Los Angeles, California.
These winners exemplify innovation and dedication, setting new standards for what a cinema experience can and should be. From groundbreaking designs to state-of-the-art technology and awe-inspiring refurbishments, the 2024 honorees prove that the magic of the movies is alive and thriving.
“This year’s winners have redefined what it means to create extraordinary spaces for storytelling,” said Mark Mayfield, president of ICTA. “Their commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering unforgettable cinematic moments deserves a standing ovation. Congratulations to all!”
The NACA Awards highlight the ingenuity, vision, and passion driving the theatrical exhibition industry forward. ICTA created these awards to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements that continue to enhance and elevate the moviegoing experience for audiences across North America.
“Seeing the growth of the NACA awards year over year is an exciting testament to the positive direction of the cinema industry,” commented Theresa English, ICTA Secretary and NACA committee member. “Judging the entries is getting tougher each year. It’s exciting to see there were over 30 ICTA member companies represented in these award winning projects, and many more in the additional submissions.”
Don’t Miss the Celebration The ICTA Los Angeles Seminar Series, held in partnership with the Cinema Foundation, is the ultimate gathering for cinema innovators and trailblazers. Join us January 13-15, 2025, at the Universal City Hilton in Los Angeles, where the future of cinema takes center stage.
About International Cinema Technology Association The International Cinema Technology Association is a global network of professionals in the cinema exhibition industry. Membership includes technology providers, exhibitors, and industry consultants. Our members are on the cutting edge of new technologies and have been the driving force in digital cinema, 3D, immersive sound systems, high frame rates and laser projection. The ICTA promotes technological advancements through educational seminars and programs. Our logo stands for excellence and professionalism and signifies reliability, competence and commitment.
About The Cinema Foundation The Cinema Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit dedicated to promoting and enhancing the cinema exhibition industry through activities such as training and education, career development, diversity and inclusion, moviegoing promotion, and data and research efforts.
Official statement from Cinema United President & CEO Michael O’Leary:
“On behalf of theatre owners everywhere, we congratulate Universal Pictures for being honored with the Golden Globe Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement for Wicked. As its director Jon M. Chu so elegantly said, seeing a movie on the big screen indeed is a collective experience that can change hearts and minds. Going to the theatre remains the premier global entertainment experience for fans of all ages, and the Golden Globes recognizes this through this award. There really is no experience like going to the movies!“
New Look.Same Mission.
The National Association of Theatre Owners is now Cinema United. Founded in 1948, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide. Its membership includes theatres of all sizes, from the largest cinema chains to one-screen theatres in cities and towns around the world.
