When "Spiderman 3" opens in May 2007, Carson City residents can watch it inside a new $10 million theater equipped with digital projector, surround sound and "luxury rocker seats."
Officials with Galaxy Theatres and Casino Fandango announced Thursday plans to develop the 41,000-square-foot, 10-screen multiplex on the west side of South Curry Street, across from the 3800 S. Carson St. casino. These will be the first movie screens to be built in Carson City in almost nine years.
Wallace Theaters, 2571 N. Carson St., was originally constructed in 1980. Six screens were added to its existing four in March 1997, according to the Carson City Planning Department. Wallace Theaters Corp. officials could not be reached for comment by press time.
The promise of rocker seats excites 15-year-old Donna Flint, a Carson High School student. Her favorite pastime is watching movies.
"I love the movies," she said Thursday while leaving Casino Fandango with her mother and cousin. "There's not a whole lot more to do here."
Her cousin, 22-year-old William Flowers, is looking forward to watching upcoming fantasy movies on wall-to-wall screens, which will be about 50 feet wide and 20 feet tall.
"I'll be there," he said. "Shrek 3" and the next "Harry Potter" movie are expected to open in May and June 2007.
Moviegoers will be able to park at Casino Fandango and cross Curry Street by an enclosed pedestrian bridge, which will be connected to the southwest corner of the casino. Casino Fandango's hotel is expected to be located in this same area, but General Manager Steve Forester said that decision isn't final.
The pedestrian bridge will be 20 feet above Curry Street and will have two elevators on each side. It will connect to the right side of the theater and will have its own entrance.
"Visitors can park in front of the casino to go eat dinner and then cross the pedestrian bridge and go see a movie," Forester said. "Or they can park in front of the theater to see a movie. Kids won't have to go through a casino to see a movie."
The company announced in November a $60 million expansion to its casino that includes a hotel, amphitheater, housing and a retail center. Fandango opened its $4 million three-story parking garage south of the casino in December. Carson Gaming LLC, which owns Casino Fandango, closed escrow in October on about 30 acres off South Curry Street and Voltaire Canyon Road for $2.8 million.
So far, casino officials have only released detailed information about the Galaxy movie theater.
Olympia Development Corp., of Las Vegas, will develop the $10-million-theater complex, said corporation President Patrick Done. The owners of Carson Gaming also own Olympia Development.
He said the theater will employee 35 and will begin hiring near March 2007, about 60 days before the grand opening.
Joe McCarthy, city economic development/redevelopment manager, said the city has been courting several theater operators for more than two years. Galaxy was singled out because of its specialization in markets that have a population from 25,000-50,000. He said it will encourage Wallace Theaters to "compete vigorously."
-- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
Fast facts
Galaxy Theatres:
• will operate the $10 million, 10-screen multiplex west of Casino Fandango.
• is privately owned by Rafe Cohen and Frank Rimkus, headquartered in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
• will employ 35, hiring to start in March 2007.
• will break ground in July and open in May 2007.
• expects to show "Spiderman 3" as the first movie.
• will have more than 500 parking spaces surrounding it, plus parking at the casino.
• will seat 2,000 people.
• will include arcade games, a party room and concession stand in its lobby.
• will include digital projectors, wide aisles and luxury seating in the theaters.
• will average 40 showings a day of the 10 featured films.
• will allow use of the theaters as community centers in the off hours for charity events, business meetings, social events and film festivals.
• operates eight other theaters, including one set to open in Las Vegas.
Source: Rafe Cohen, president of Galaxy Theatres