New owners acquire Bridge theater

The Bridge Cinema de Lux, located at 4012 Walnut St., has been acquired by Rave Motion Pictures — but according to the company, the theater’s operations will remain the same for customers in the immediate future.

Rave has also acquired 34 other theaters from National Amusements, Inc., the company that previously held the Bridge, according to spokeswoman Katie Crallé.

The acquisition is part of an expansion that would make the company the fifth-largest movie theater chain in North America, with over 1,000 screens, she said.

Crallé added that Rave is considered a forerunner in the movie business with the latest technologies and alternative content, including 3D and live screenings of sports events.

However, regulars of the Bridge will notice few changes, if any, in coming weeks. There should be a “smooth,” seamless transition, Crallé said.

She explained that there will not be any imminent media changes, although customers can expect a rebranding of the theater in the future.

Such plans had not yet been defined, she said, adding that Rave sees the Bridge acquisition as an opportunity for expansion in a market that has largely been resilient to the economic downturn.

Crallé also noted that employees will also retain their current positions.

Although Americans have been tightening their budgets, the movie industry has largely remained buoyant in the face of economic woes.

In 2009, the domestic box office grossed over $10 billion for the first time, exceeding DVD and Blu-ray sales, which typically dominate the market, according to a report by Adams Media Research.

According to College senior Allison Seelig, one of the directors of the Film Society of the Social Planning and Events Committee, the group does not foresee any changes to operations and will continue with regular events at the Bridge, including advance movie screenings and free sneak previews.

Seelig said she expects events will run “pretty similarly,” and doesn’t anticipate that the change in ownership will affect SPEC bookings or events.

A spokesperson for National Amusements could not be reached by press time.

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