The hefty cost of entertainment
Movie, popcorn, and Cokes can run $40 for a couple.
By BILL MACK
Truckers Connection
8/8/2008
I realize that you are very much aware of what I’m about to submit in this column. High fuel prices, costs for airlines and entertainment are as familiar to you as the morning sun, and you’d most likely prefer I didn’t waste your time with such repetitive and depressing matters. Please be aware that I’m referring to these difficult issues in order to present some ideas that may instill hope.
Driving to one of our favorite neighborhood multi-movie theaters the other night, my wife, Cindy, and I noticed the many parking spaces available. Although one of the most talked about films of the summer was playing in one of the auditoriums, the attendance was much lower than was expected.
It’s always a custom for us to get our popcorn and cokes before settling down for the picture to begin. While paying the girl at the snack-bar cash register, I asked, “Where’s the crowd?”
She gave me a serious stare before replying, “It’s been a hell of a summer. Business is off … big-time!”
We’re accustomed to paying outrageous loot for a couple of cokes and the big buckets of popcorn. As I recall, our night out for the movies totaled approximately $40. However, since Cindy and I don’t make it to the “picture show” that often, we just considered the money to be a nice investment for a rare and pleasant occasion, although the movie was lousy.
Our tightwad neighbor, who seldom attends any functions that require money for admission, referred to the cost for our visit to the theater as “highway robbery!”
I’m afraid a lot of people are forming the same attitude as my cheapskate neighbor when it comes to the high cost of entertainment these days, and it doesn’t require an analytical expert to decipher the cause: more people are choosing to stay at home.
As everyone knows, the high cost of fuel has forced a radical change in the driving habits of this country, and it’s very sad, especially for the younger set. As I write this, the gigantic theme park, Six Flags Over Texas, located only a few miles from our house, is advertising a huge bonus for the family: adult admission tickets to the park are on sale for the same price as children’s tickets. This certainly grabs the attention. It also presents the scary fact that Americans simply can’t afford the pleasure trips, as things stand today. With the average “fill-up” tabs at the pumps totaling $60 or more, casual drives are being placed on “hold.”
In case you want to fly the family to an exotic spot for the summer, that idea has also become an impossible wish for most people because of the extreme flight costs. Granted, airline tickets may be purchased at bargain rates sometimes, those rates are almost unbelievably higher than they were a couple of years ago. And even if you find “bargain prices” for plane tickets, there are those non-advertised costs for getting on the airliner: $25 or more for each checked bag really hinders the wallet. Then, after buckling up in your seat, a simple snack will almost cause you to lose your appetite. A small Coke and a bag of chips or a Snickers bar will set you back about six bucks.
A “frequent-flyer” pal of mine called me the other day, fuming over what it had cost him to fly from New York to Los Angeles. He yelled, “I never thought I’d see the day when we had to pay for those small bags of peanuts they used to toss on our trays with the free soft drinks! I’ll make you a bet that they’ll soon be charging to use the rest rooms!”
At first, I thought this was simply a ridiculous statement of rage. However, with the airlines setting in patterns of potential bankruptcy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them attach coin machines to the restroom doors, making it necessary to keep plenty of quarters in your pockets when set for long flights.
The idea of home-entertainment fits very well with Cindy and me. As I mentioned, we seldom attend the movies, preferring to rent a DVD, pop our own popcorn, open a couple of Cokes and relax in front of our Mitsubishi big-screen TV. We can adjust our volume, ignore all incoming phone rings for a couple of hours and enjoy.
Home entertainment is inevitable.
Getting back to the ailing theme parks: there seems to have been a tremendous drop in interest for these spots amongst the younger set. The reason? Video games! A recent study revealed that a high percentage of youngsters prefer lounging in their room with their multi selection of video games than whizzing out to Disney World, Six Flags Over Texas and assorted wild-water parks.
Now, let’s get to some serious thinking: I was just checking the Sunday paper and noticed you can purchase a name brand, big-screen TV for about $1,600. And these are sold with no interest for two years. In other words, you can set up your own theater in the living room for less than what it normally costs to visit the movies and theme parks during a two-year-period. Don’t forget, we’re also taking in the cost of fuel, popcorn and soft-drinks, here. And with the fizzy films that have been released this summer, this makes the home theater even more tempting.
Just think: you can pick out some sure-fire winners such as Jaws, The Godfather, Air Force One, Sling Blade and a slew of other masterpieces, invite some people over, pop some popcorn, open up a few drinks and enjoy the show … all of it on your own private screen.
Something else this is accomplishing is a chance to share the evening with some old friends, relatives and special folks from the neighborhood.
Here’s an added thought: You might allow free admission to those friends, relatives and selected neighbors for the movie, but place a hefty charge for popcorn and drinks. I’m sure they would understand. After all, they’ve been ripped off at the theater food-bar for years. It’s to be expected!
Enjoy the show!
Hear Bill Mack daily from Noon until 4:00 p.m. (ET) on XM Satellite Radio. The program is replayed from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight (ET). Bill’s book, “Bill Mack’s Memories From The Trenches of Broadcasting” and recordings can be ordered via his Web site.