Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

Mar 27, 2011, 4:40 PM

Post #1 of 22 (4619 views)

Shortcut

Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

We now have ten movie screens available to us in Lakeside. Six at the new Movie Space. And four at Cinemas Del Lago. The weird part is that they are both showing the same movies. I do not think we have the populace here to support ten movie screens, especially when they are in direct competiiton with each other by showing the same movies at the same time. Which one will fold first? As I absolutely believe this will occur. Would enjoy your thoughts. T

johninajijic

Mar 27, 2011, 4:59 PM

Post #2 of 22 (4598 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Where are the four at the Movie Space?

IMO, the one with the highest prices and most overhead will go first. Do Mexicans ever do a study before building anything?

Zardoz

Mar 28, 2011, 8:16 AM

Post #3 of 22 (4505 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johninajijic] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

If you look from Dominos Pizza and look across the carraterra to the mall you will see a big tall
rectangular building at the very north side of the mall and if you look carefully you can see the
movie space logo.

It will be a while before we will see who wins this one because contracts and such have to time
out. The ability to get the movies can make or break a movie theatre so we shall see. I prefer
Lago as it is cheaper and closer but if the other theatre for whatever reason gets all the first
run movies that would be the doom for lago. Time will tell and who knows what is behind the
scenes in the mexican movie industry. I can imagine after talking to some other businessman
around here.

Time will tell!!

Z

Mar 28, 2011, 12:47 PM

Post #4 of 22 (4448 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johninajijic] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

John, Movie Space has six theaters. Del Lago has four. Movie Space is currently showing all four of the movies that Del Lago does, plus two more. If you do not know where Movie Space is, Zardoz gave you accurate directions as it is a part of Centro Laguna

Mar 28, 2011, 12:55 PM

Post #5 of 22 (4443 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Zardoz] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hey Z, I agree with you. I will remain loyal to Lago, also. I heard that Lago is owned and was built by the owner of El Torito, a Mexican who spent some years in Chicago. He added the theater in around 1998, as there was an Ajijic Film Festival that folded after three years. I do not know if this is true, would like confirmation, or not, from folks that were here then.

Maybe the availablity of movies getting to Mexico is limited, but it seems a tad strange for the new six plex to be showing all of the movies of the 4 plex.

Someone making an attempt to put the other out of business?

Silly me, I am sure it is just a remarkable and unusual coincidence.

T.

mexicobuff

Mar 28, 2011, 1:27 PM

Post #6 of 22 (4431 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

The first Ajijic International Film Festival was held in November 1999 and some of the films were shown at Plaza Bugambilias. It was touted as a very big deal, and for a small town, I guess it was. The festival was held for four years.

Mar 28, 2011, 1:35 PM

Post #7 of 22 (4427 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mexicobuff] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks for your help. T

Georgia

Apr 8, 2011, 8:14 AM

Post #8 of 22 (4080 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

My vote for the last theater standing will be the one with the most comfortable seats, nice bathrooms, and ample parking. Movie prices here are reasonable anyway and whether I pay $2 US or $4 US is not going to alter my lifestayle when I only go to about three moves a year.

Gringal

Apr 8, 2011, 12:29 PM

Post #9 of 22 (4034 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Georgia] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I vote that the one left standing will be the one which provides the best movie experience. This includes keeping the show going, the sound in sync, the air conditioning working and the popcorn popped, along with the other factors we expect in a well run movie theater.

Reviews from those who have attended the del Lago (new one) were far from positive on those points.
As it is for restaurants, it's all about customer satisfaction.

Apr 8, 2011, 3:08 PM

Post #10 of 22 (3998 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Gringal] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Movie Space is the new one. Del Lago is the old one where the films does not break and burn, they have ice cubes for soft drinks and butter for popcorn and the stair lights work so that you do not fall down in total darkness. When I go, I usually park in the parking garage, so that my vehicle will not be subjected to dents from all the cars that will pull in and out going to El Torito. Parking garage is, I believe, 3 pesos per hour plus it is watched by the guy that gives you your ticket when you drive in. T.

Gringal

Apr 8, 2011, 3:37 PM

Post #11 of 22 (3988 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I goofed. I'm betting on the old theater. Del Lago.

As it happens, however, I've never been to either one since moving here. I'm a fan of having the movie experience on my own couch. You can stop the action when you need a break or an infusion of popcorn. Or the phone rings, etc. My opinion was based on what others have reported, and in one case, it was a real comic-tragic description of the experience at the new movie house.

lmaxine

Apr 11, 2011, 11:45 AM

Post #12 of 22 (3839 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

There was an empty lot. First was El Torito and Yoly's. Then Salvador's (the one who now is Doña Lola's), then the little inside mall and the movie theater. It's come a long way in the last 15 years.
"He upon whose heart the dust of Mexico has lain will find no peace in any other land." Malcolm Lowry

Apr 11, 2011, 12:28 PM

Post #13 of 22 (3825 views)

Shortcut

Re: [lmaxine] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Wow, have you been here for a while Maxine, if you remember all of that. So, it is true that Salvador's is not run by Salvador, but by his brother and Dona Lola is run by Salvador? If so, another rumor confirmed.

So which theater do you think will crash and burn first, since week after week, they show the same movies? Hope you post more frequently, as we always love to hear from experienced folks. Thanks. T

mexicobuff

Apr 11, 2011, 1:25 PM

Post #14 of 22 (3810 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Del Lago used to be Bugambilias. Back in the olden days, the film did indeed break, the lights flickered and dimmed and sometimes went out all together, etc. It's come a long way since then.

Back in the really old days, movies were shown in the plaza, at night only, and projected onto a sheet hung up for the occasion.

After that, the restaurant on the plaza was the movie theater...one of those old-time ones where your shoes kind of stuck to the floor from all the spilled, dried-up soft drinks.

Ahh, the good old days.

Apr 11, 2011, 1:39 PM

Post #15 of 22 (3804 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mexicobuff] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Womderful response. Think I am going to start a new post for folks that have lived here 15 years or more. I love your stories. Thanks, T.

lmaxine

Apr 11, 2011, 1:48 PM

Post #16 of 22 (3797 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

As I remember it, Yoli's now ex-husband invited Salvador, a relative of his, to come from Michoacan to Ajijic to run the restaurant. I guess they had some kind of falling out and Salvador and his wife opened up what is Doña Lola's.
From what I have heard, the new movie place will close first unless they get their act together. On another board, there are several negative postings about the new place. I'm one of the loyals who will continue to patronize places that have history here.
"He upon whose heart the dust of Mexico has lain will find no peace in any other land." Malcolm Lowry

Apr 11, 2011, 2:06 PM

Post #17 of 22 (3788 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I will also support del lago cinemas. Please notice that I have started a new topic for those of you who have lived in lakeside for at least 15 years. I would love to hear your input. Bet you have many, many stories. Please share them with us newbies, who have been here less than ten years. Cannot wait. Thanks, T.

Zardoz

Apr 11, 2011, 3:18 PM

Post #18 of 22 (3773 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mexicobuff] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I think the movie thing in the plaza ended fairly recently because I remember seeing one and being amazed
and I have only been here for three seasons. It was kinda my awareness moment on figuring out what the
plaza thang was all about. A great moment in my life for some strange reason.

Z

mexicobuff

Apr 11, 2011, 3:23 PM

Post #19 of 22 (3767 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Zardoz] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

If I recall correctly, they did show movies at the restaurant location for a couple of years, just a few years back, but not as a regular thing. There was talk of reviving the old movie house that had been there, but the talk never came to anything and the restaurant re-opened full time. It's El Jardín, right?

NEOhio1

Apr 13, 2011, 1:53 PM

Post #20 of 22 (3616 views)

Shortcut

Re: [mexicobuff] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

A local who did hollywood movie duty for eons says that the new theatres are using film because they are buying 2nd level prints and that is why they have troubles with the brightness and the sound and the breaking. If it were a legitimate NEW theatre it would use state of the art disc technology and sound.

Since our forays there have ALL been troubled, we won't be back regardless.

Apr 14, 2011, 6:07 PM

Post #21 of 22 (3509 views)

Shortcut

Re: [NEOhio1] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

If this is your vote for the demise of Movie Space, I totally concur. If it is not, I totally misunderstood your post, which is not unusual for me. T.

NEOhio1

Apr 15, 2011, 6:11 PM

Post #22 of 22 (3436 views)

Shortcut

Re: [T] Which one will fold first?

Can't Post | Private Reply

yes, thats it, the clue would be new theatres as opposed to old theatres del Lago.