Landmark Theatres
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Landmark Theatres is the largest art house movie theater chain in the United States. The chain shows mostly first run independent, foreign film, and restored classics though some Landmark theaters also show more mainstream movies too. They also occasionally show digital movies, on digital projectors in place at every theater. Their theaters are also known for selling gourmet concession stand offerings such as gourmet coffee, espresso drinks, fresh-baked goods, imported chocolate and candy offerings, etc.
Landmark Theatres (originally Parallax Theatres) was founded in 1974 by theater owner Kim Jorgensen. The first theater acquired by the chain was the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles. Jorgensen hired Steve Gilula and Gary Meyer in 1976, who later became stockholders, with the acquisition of the UC Theater in Berkeley, California. In the 1980s, Landmark acquired Santa Fe-based Movies, Inc. and Seattle-based Seven Gables. In the 1990s, Landmark Theatres was acquired by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. Landmark Theatres continued to grow throughout the 1990s and developed multiplex theatres of its own in San Francisco; Cambridge, Massachusetts; St. Louis; Chicago; New York City, and Indianapolis. Jorgensen later became a movie producer, selling out his interest in Landmark in 1989. Gilula and Meyer sold their interest in 1995.
Today, Landmark Theatres operates 209 screens in 58 theatres in 14 states and the District of Columbia. It is owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner through their 2929 Entertainment.
In summer of 2004, three Minneapolis cinemas attempted to unionize but were met with great resistance from the "union busters".[citation needed] Employees were forced to wake up early on weekend mornings to watch anti-union videos.[citation needed] The union was voted down.
In July 2005, the Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge, Massachusetts successfully unionized. They credited Minneapolis for their trial-and-error run.
In June 2006, The Shattuck Cinema in Berkeley, California also successfully unionized, with the Industrial Workers of the World.
Both theaters are currently in contract negotiations with Landmark.
