OT - Movie Night at the Inn, 4-month review

No, we've limited our movie notices to the "Friends of Iowa City
Airport" mailing list. We're trying to build an airport community
first, and attract new folks second.

.... and that's probably best, since you are exhibiting these movies
publicly without payment to the copyright owner. You might be able to
make the argument that this is a private showing as is, but if you
advertise, you lose all of that.

Jose
--
There are more ways to skin a cat than there are cats.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

... and that's probably best, since you are exhibiting these movies
publicly without payment to the copyright owner. You might be able to
make the argument that this is a private showing as is, but if you
advertise, you lose all of that.

Wrong. We are licensed to show these films by the Motion Picture
Licensing Authority (or whatever the heck they're called), and I've got
the stupid certificate to prove it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
... and that's probably best, since you are exhibiting these movies
publicly without payment to the copyright owner. You might be able to
make the argument that this is a private showing as is, but if you
advertise, you lose all of that.

Wrong. We are licensed to show these films by the Motion Picture
Licensing Authority (or whatever the heck they're called), and I've got
the stupid certificate to prove it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


Don't sweat it Jay,

If Jose isn't p*ssing in somebody's cornflakes...he isn't happy.

Jay B

Wrong. We are licensed to show these films by the Motion Picture
Licensing Authority (or whatever the heck they're called), and I've got
the stupid certificate to prove it.

Good for you! Then advertise away! (in early postings there was some
question about whether or not you thought it was needed)

Jose
--
There are more ways to skin a cat than there are cats.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Jay Honeck wrote:
Have you put posters up at the university? That is sure to get the
younger crowd, but you might get 100 drunk kids.


No, we've limited our movie notices to the "Friends of Iowa City
Airport" mailing list. We're trying to build an airport community
first, and attract new folks second.


Have fun! Wish we could come! Congratulations on the award.


Hey, we're not THAT far apart. We were able to visit you before
supper, in one day! And we're flying a "POS Cherokee"...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

NO, the last airplane was the POS Cherokee!!! Ron gets his instrument
rating in a few weeks (10 PIC course) so that will help, but I start a
new job next Monday (Docent coordinator, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center,
National Air and Space Museum) so that will limit our vacation time.
****er not working a school teacher's schedule!

Talk to you soon,

Margy

(Docent coordinator, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center,
National Air and Space Museum)

Congrats on the new job!

That is one seriously excellent place to visit. I took my 7 year old son
this past weekend (we also hit the NASM at The Mall), we were in awe.

This was my third visit to the NASM, walking in and seeing the Apollo
era ships and touching that little bit of the moon rock that they have
on exhibit never fails to give me goosebumps.

Come to think of it, I'm due for another visit to the Space Center in
Florida. Has anyone been there recently? I haven't visited it since 1990
or thereabouts.

-jav

"Javier" wrote in message
...
(Docent coordinator, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center,
National Air and Space Museum)

Congrats on the new job!

That is one seriously excellent place to visit. I took my 7 year old son
this past weekend (we also hit the NASM at The Mall), we were in awe.

This was my third visit to the NASM, walking in and seeing the Apollo era
ships and touching that little bit of the moon rock that they have on
exhibit never fails to give me goosebumps.

Come to think of it, I'm due for another visit to the Space Center in
Florida. Has anyone been there recently? I haven't visited it since 1990
or thereabouts.

-jav

I did the long KSC bus tour just this past February and I'd highly reccomend
it...but then I was solidly a child of the "Space Race" era and an Apollo
geek.

The "new" Saturn V pavilion is worth the price of admission as is the bus
ride with stops at the VAB, the 39A/B viewing area near the beach (occupied
only by a remote camera during a launch...the sound pressure there would be
deadly to humans...) and the causeway from which you get a good view of the
USAF launch complex on one side, down to the old Mercury launch area on the
other.

If you get the time, go visit the Valiant Air Command museum too.

http://www.vacwarbirds.org/

Nice collection that probably gets overlooked some.

Regards,

Jay B

Congrats! But you're gonna have to have a weekend matinee for us out of
state working types!
Jim

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
Last spring you guys helped me pick out a high-def projector system,
with the intention of showing aviation movies in the hotel, for free,
every Tuesday night. Armed with your advice, I converted our meeting
room into a small, 25-seat theater, with surround-sound, for a very low
cost -- right around $2,000.

I also added a computer with MS Flight Simulator and X-Plane, with the
intention of letting folks "fly" the 104-inch screen as an in-house
flight simulator.

Just wanted to give you an update on how it's going:

We've shown 14 feature-length films (we've taken a few Tuesdays off),
an equal number of "specialty" aviation videos (documentaries, mostly),
and had one major "live" presentation (Bill Fox, the SR-71 Blackbird
expert who donated lots of stuff for our Blackbird Suite).

"Movie Night" has attracted a small group of dedicated aviation movie
regulars, and a larger number of occasional drop-ins, mostly from the
pilot community. Attendance has ranged from 4 to 30, depending on the
night. (A real trick, given our 25-seat capacity!)

The flight simulator has been a success, too, and has proven to be
quite popular. I haven't had time to add the "cockpit" and
yoke/pedals, but hopefully that will be added this winter.

Strangely, someone has always managed to smuggle adult beverages into
the theater, so no one is thirsty. We always provide snacks and soft
drinks, and someone usually leaves a few bucks on the table for us,
which generally covers the amenities.

In short, it's been great fun, and we've met a lot of great people
through this little side venture. Best of all, I was informed today
that our Chamber of Commerce is awarding us their coveted "Innovative
Business Award", at least partially because of our "Movie Night at the
Inn" program.

Has their been any downside? Well, some of the movies haven't been
great. "Blackhawk Down" was violent and depressing (and, of course,
that was the night we attracted some kids), and Frank Capra's "Prelude
to War" was almost unwatchably propagandistic. No one complains when
it's a free movie, but we still feel bad when the movie ends with a
groan.

On the other hand, Howard Hughes' "Hells Angels" was very well
received, as was "One Six Right" and the newly remastered "Spirit of
St. Louis". So things tend to even out.

I'm truly disappointed that Movie Night hasn't attracted younger folks.
As with general aviation as a whole, our regular crowd is older,
probably averaging 50+ years old. This is NOT the market we need to
attract, if we want GA to remain viable. We're hopeful that the
crowds will get younger over the winter, since there will be less
things to do in the evening when the weather gets cold.

As always, many thanks to everyone here for help and advice. The
equipment has proven to be easy to use and durable, the picture and
sound are hard to beat, and -- as always -- we're having a great time
with it!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
Last spring you guys helped me pick out a high-def projector system,
with the intention of showing aviation movies in the hotel, for free,
every Tuesday night. Armed with your advice, I converted our meeting
room into a small, 25-seat theater, with surround-sound, for a very low
cost -- right around $2,000.

I also added a computer with MS Flight Simulator and X-Plane, with the
intention of letting folks "fly" the 104-inch screen as an in-house
flight simulator.

Just wanted to give you an update on how it's going:

We've shown 14 feature-length films (we've taken a few Tuesdays off),
an equal number of "specialty" aviation videos (documentaries, mostly),
and had one major "live" presentation (Bill Fox, the SR-71 Blackbird
expert who donated lots of stuff for our Blackbird Suite).

"Movie Night" has attracted a small group of dedicated aviation movie
regulars, and a larger number of occasional drop-ins, mostly from the
pilot community. Attendance has ranged from 4 to 30, depending on the
night. (A real trick, given our 25-seat capacity!)

The flight simulator has been a success, too, and has proven to be
quite popular. I haven't had time to add the "cockpit" and
yoke/pedals, but hopefully that will be added this winter.

Strangely, someone has always managed to smuggle adult beverages into
the theater, so no one is thirsty. We always provide snacks and soft
drinks, and someone usually leaves a few bucks on the table for us,
which generally covers the amenities.

In short, it's been great fun, and we've met a lot of great people
through this little side venture. Best of all, I was informed today
that our Chamber of Commerce is awarding us their coveted "Innovative
Business Award", at least partially because of our "Movie Night at the
Inn" program.

Has their been any downside? Well, some of the movies haven't been
great. "Blackhawk Down" was violent and depressing (and, of course,
that was the night we attracted some kids), and Frank Capra's "Prelude
to War" was almost unwatchably propagandistic. No one complains when
it's a free movie, but we still feel bad when the movie ends with a
groan.

On the other hand, Howard Hughes' "Hells Angels" was very well
received, as was "One Six Right" and the newly remastered "Spirit of
St. Louis". So things tend to even out.

I'm truly disappointed that Movie Night hasn't attracted younger folks.
As with general aviation as a whole, our regular crowd is older,
probably averaging 50+ years old. This is NOT the market we need to
attract, if we want GA to remain viable. We're hopeful that the
crowds will get younger over the winter, since there will be less
things to do in the evening when the weather gets cold.

As always, many thanks to everyone here for help and advice. The
equipment has proven to be easy to use and durable, the picture and
sound are hard to beat, and -- as always -- we're having a great time
with it!



As far as I am concerned Jay, this is exactly the reason that your hotel is
successful. You provide excellent customer service!

Gee wiz, let's spend $2,000 to make our customers happy.

Keep it up Jay!




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Jay Honeck wrote:

Has their been any downside? Well, some of the movies haven't been
great. "Blackhawk Down" was violent and depressing (and, of course,
that was the night we attracted some kids), and Frank Capra's "Prelude
to War" was almost unwatchably propagandistic. No one complains when
it's a free movie, but we still feel bad when the movie ends with a
groan.

On the other hand, Howard Hughes' "Hells Angels" was very well
received, as was "One Six Right" and the newly remastered "Spirit of
St. Louis". So things tend to even out.

Sounds like fun. Have you showed "We Were Soldiers?" I haven't seen
"Blackhawk Down", but I suspect We Were Soldiers" is equally depressing,
but it gave me, and my daughter, an entirely new appreciation for
Vietnam. I got so interested after the movie that I bought and read the
book. Even though it is about the Army, it is about the Air Cavalry so
fits with yout theme, I believe.

Matt