Morgan Hill movie fans will no longer have to drive out of town
to get their fill of the latest shoot-
’em-ups, cute animal flicks and date movies. CineLux Theatres
open today with eight screens, comfortable seats and designer
popcorn – and a slate of six movies.
Morgan Hill movie fans will no longer have to drive out of town to get their fill of the latest shoot-’em-ups, cute animal flicks and date movies. CineLux Theatres open today with eight screens, comfortable seats and designer popcorn – and a slate of six movies.
Called CineLux Theatres Stadium 11, the cinema will offer eight screens now with three more to come – totaling 11 – in a year or so, according to Paul Gunsky, president of his family-owned Cinelux Theatres.
Opening weekend will present Scooby Doo, Agent Cody Banks 2 – Destination London and Home on the Range for the younger set and Taking Lives, The Alamo and Jersey Girl for more grown-up tastes.
Moviegoers will find comfortable tiered stadium seating with rockers and movable arms – for romantic moments – curved screens and Dolby Digital sound to make roars, screams and crashes convincing.
While they last, this weekend only, hot-dogs and drinks will sell for 50 cents.
Moviegoers will also find, not just popcorn but designer popcorn with add-your-own-butter and a choice of toppings.
Milk Duds, soda and plain coffee could find themselves overshadowed by café lattés, Snapple and, possibly, pastries.
Gunsky, president of Cinelux Theatres in the San Jose area (with a total of 22 screens in neighborhood movie houses, not counting the Morgan Hill eight), said he delighted in watching his Art Deco-themed theater come together.
“It’s my dream come true,” Gunsky said of what he means to be the flagship of a chain that includes, among others, theaters in Campbell, San Jose and Brentwood.
A theater in Milpitas shows second-run movies and the Chabot Theatre in Castro Valley is a single-screen operation.
Gunsky bought the aging Cinema Six theaters from Peachtree Cinema and closed the building in September 2003. During a seven-month renovation, the building was essentially gutted, including the ceiling and rebuilt to a glamor standard not normally seen in South Valley.
The box office entrance was moved from its central location to a new corner lobby, freeing up space for an additional theater and room for some retail. Banners in blue and green drape from the ceiling and marble and granite predominate with wood tones and metal laminates – a Moderne look.
“It will be glitzy,” Gunsky said, “Hollywood comes to Morgan Hill.”
Howard Taormino, who has worked for Gunsky’s parents and now Gunsky, since he was 18, is handling advertising and marketing and, most importantly, chooses the movies. Gunsky said Taormino is the key to the new theaters’ success.
“Howard is discriminating,” Gunsky said. “Howard has an excellent relationship with every (movie) studio, with both Hollywood and New York so we can choose any film.”
Taormino now lives in Pennsylvania.
“It’s close to family and close to New York screenings,” Taormino said. Because of the larger number of screens he will be able to choose movies that cover the spectrum from child-friendly G through adult films to those that cross over into art film, such as “Cold Mountain” (or previously, “Emma”).
Both men agreed that Hollywood has been “getting the message” that family films are the future.
“They won’t be making so many slasher films,” Taormino said. Family and less violent adult movies are on tap instead.
CineLux is careful to match trailers with the actual movie, so parents shouldn’t fear their 6-year-old will see a trailer for “Kill Bill” when they go to see “Young Black Stallion.”
“We even pulled the trailer for “Pirates of the Caribbean” from “Holes” because some parents thought it was too intense,” Gunsky said.
And, Gunsky said, 15-year-olds will not be sneaking in to see inappropriate films.
“We are very strict in enforcing ratings,” Gunsky said.
The theaters employ about 20 people and expect to be the cornerstone of a revamped Tennant Station Shopping Center at Monterey Road and Tennant Avenue.
A new Safeway, gas station and office building are going up just west of the theaters and, when finished, will work together with CineLux to draw customers for entertainment, retail and services, all the better to fill the city’s sales tax coffers.
Because the marquee is not yet complete, Gunsky said CineLux will hold a formal grand opening in early May when it is.
“But the inside is finished and we are ready to go,” Gunsky said.
To check showtimes and coming attractions: www.cineluxtheatres.com or call 778-6500.
