The city of Athens is home to two main movie theaters: the Athena Grand and the Athena Cinema. Despite the similarity in their titles, the two theaters do not have any ownership connection with one another.
Most students opt to see new releases and popular films shown at the Athena Grand, according to Post research. However, a car is typically needed to get to the Athena Grand, which can sometimes hinder Ohio University student attendance.
The Athena Grand on East State Street houses 11 theater rooms and shows 11 movies at a time, with about 22 employees. Rick Frame, the owner, opened the Athena Grand about five years ago.
Frame has the final decision of what movies the theater plays and how long it stays based on sales and popularity.
We play the most popular movies out at the time
but occasionally we do try to play some films that our customers have suggested Frame said.
The demographic of people that go to the Athena Grand to see movies is spread relatively evenly between students of OU and Hocking College, families of Athens and regular townspeople. The type of attendance is largely based on what movies are playing at that time, Frame said.
The ticket prices at the Athena Grand are determined by the cost to maintain the facility, as well as being fair to the customers, Frame said.
Ticket sales at the Athena Grand have steadily increased each year since its opening in 2005. That is because the theater focuses on keeping up-to-date with current film technology.
We are 100 percent digital now; we have five 3-D theaters and will eventually be able to show alternative content in the form of live shows which has been able to set us apart from other theaters in the surrounding areas
Frame said.
The Athena Cinema plays more independent and international art-type films. The students of OU appreciate the convenience of the location, as well as the artistic aspect of the films shown, said Ruth Bradley, director of the Athens Center for Film and Video.
However, if some of the new releases and more popular movies could be shown at the Athena, students would expectedly attend more frequently. However, that has never been the intended purpose of the Athena Cinema, Bradley said.
The Athena Cinema is owned by the university and has been on Court Street since 1915. The theater is fundamentally run by the College of Fine Arts at OU through the Athens Center for Film and Video.
The movies that the Athena shows are carefully chosen through theatrical booking agents, Bradley said.
We study what is available and have a sort of 'gentlemen's agreement' with the Athena Grand
Bradley said. This essentially means that the two theaters will not play the same movies.
The Athena has become known as the 'art-house
' while the Athena Grand is identified more as the 'Hollywood-style cinema' as far as the films shown at both theaters
Bradley said.
The central and Uptown location of the Athena does help with business traffic. The audience is typically based on the movies being shown at that time. It can range from OU students, to retired townspeople of Athens, according to Bradley.
The Athena Cinema provides special OU student rates on Arts for Ohio Cinematheque Screenings.
@ThePostCity
1
News
Bentley Weisel
