Donald Terry
Member Profile
How has Cinema United membership been impactful to you and/or your business?Cinema United membership has been transformative for both individual theatre owners and the industry at large. They have been instrumental as being our unified voice in the industry. They have recently helped to revitalize the moviegoing experience by championing upgrades in sound, seating, and projection quality. Beyond infrastructure, the membership fosters community through events like CinemaCon, where studios and exhibitors collaborate to shape the future of film exhibition. It’s not just about watching movies; it’s about preserving the magic of cinema and ensuring it thrives for generations to come.
I started 38 years ago in my hometown of Jackson, TN as an usher. I remember working there during the construction of the theatre to help out with getting it ready to open. It was at that time I fell in love with that place and the movies. I looked forward to going to work everyday just to experience the excitement and joy it brought me and everyone who went. I made such good friends there and remember all the great times we had. That first job gave me such a love for the industry that I have made it my career, and I’m so glad I did.
I really enjoy all our managers and staff. We have one of the highest manager retention rates in the industry. Many of our managers have been with us for well over 20 years. They all do such a great job and we appreciate all of them. I also really love innovation and new ideas in our theatres. I also oversee all the construction and I love seeing a new theatre being built, or an older one being renovated into something brand new. Our guests really love seeing the upgrades we implement and they are always curious to find out what we have next on the horizon.
My most memorable moment would have to be meeting my wife. I worked for Regal Cinemas and a she actually worked for Malco Theatres at that time. Our favorite thing to do would be to go watch movies. In February of 1994 we were featured as the Valentine Couple in our local newspaper because of how we met. We got married later that same year. We have now been married over 31 years and have 3 amazing children.
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It really is hard to pick just one memory. However, I can remember sitting with friends years and years ago at a early screening of Beetlejuice and laughing so hard at the dinner seen. We all laughed that entire movie. Every now and then I think back to that memory.
I see theatres as being one of the best entertainment values around for families. However, we also must innovate, and continue to upgrade our facilities where possible. We always want our theatres to include the very best in projection, sound, seating, and theatre amenities. We also must continue to work with our studio partners to help promote their steady stream of new movie releases for all our cinemas. I really get excited about the possibility of adding Premium, and Immersive auditoriums to our theatres.
