Loews Cineplex Entertainment

Loews Cineplex Theatres Inc.
FormerlyLoew's Incorporated (1904–1994)
Sony Theatres (1994–1998)
Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation (1998–2002)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment (movie theatres)
FoundedJune 23, 1904 (1904-06-23) (original)
May 14, 1998 (1998-05-14)
FounderMarcus Loew (for the Loews Incorporated branch)
DefunctJanuary 26, 2006 (2006-01-26) (original)
FateMerged into AMC Theatres
(Canadian operations merged into Cineplex Entertainment)
HeadquartersNew York City, New York
Areas served
North America, South Korea, Spain
Key people
Lawrence J. Ruisi
(president and CEO)
Allen Karp
(chairman and CEO, Cineplex Odeon Corp.)
ParentLoews Corporation (1959–1985)
Perenchio Pictures (1985–1986)
Tri-Star Pictures (1986–1987)
Columbia Pictures Entertainment (1987–1989)
Sony (1989–2002)
Seagram (1998–2000)
Vivendi Universal (2000–2002)
Onex Corporation (2002–2011)
Cineplex Inc. (2003–present)
AMC Theatres (2006–present)
DivisionsLoews Theatres
Cineplex Odeon Cinemas
Magic Johnson Theatres
Star Theatres
SubsidiariesCineplex Odeon Corporation
Cinemex
MEGABOX
Websiteamctheatres.com (United States)
cineplex.com (Canada)

Loews Cineplex Entertainment, also called Loew’s Incorporated, was a company that ran movie theaters in North America.

The business was started by Marcus Loew in 1904. At first, the company was called Loew’s and showed silent films in small theaters. Later, it opened bigger theaters, including vaudeville houses and movie palaces. Its theaters were mostly in the East and Midwest of the United States. In 1969, the Tisch brothers bought the company and shortened the name to Loews. In 1998, Loews merged with the Canadian company Cineplex Odeon Corporation to become Loews Cineplex Entertainment, but went bankrupt in 2001, like many other major theater chains at the time. In 2003, the Canadian theaters joined Cineplex Galaxy (now Cineplex Entertainment). The company then merged with AMC Theatres on January 26, 2006.[1]

History

Loew’s Theatres was first created in 1904 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by Marcus Loew. The company began with small nickelodeon theaters that showed short silent films. Over time, it expanded into larger vaudeville houses and movie palaces, and its theaters became common in many American cities. In 1969, the Tisch brothers bought the company and changed the name to Loews. In 1985, Loews Corporation sold the theaters to A. Jerrold Perenchio.[2][3][4]. On October 20, 1986, Tri-Star Pictures, which was a joint-venture by The Coca-Cola-Company bought Loews for $300 million when the deal was closed in December,[5][6][7] and when Tri-Star later joined Columbia Pictures, Sony inherited the theaters after it bought Columbia in 1989. On April 19, 1994, Loews was renamed Sony Theatres.[8] At this time, Sony also partnered with basketball player Magic Johnson to create Magic Johnson Theatres, which focused on theaters in city neighborhoods located in Los Angeles.[9] In 1996, the name returned to Loews Theatres.

References

  1. "Prospectus AMC Entertainment Inc. Offer to Exchange". United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
  2. "Perenchio Seeks to Buy Loews' Theater Chain". Los Angeles Times. April 9, 1985. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  3. "Loew's Negotiating to Sell Theaters". The New York Times. April 9, 1985. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  4. "Loews trying to sell its movie theater chain". United Press International. April 9, 1985. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  5. "COMPANY NEWS; Tri-Star Pictures". The New York Times. October 21, 1986. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  6. "Tri-Star Pictures to acquire theater chain". United Press International. October 20, 1986. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  7. "THEATER CHAIN EYES TOP". Chicago Tribune. October 22, 1986. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  8. Evan Frook, John (April 19, 1994). "Loews theaters redubbed Sony". Variety. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  9. "Magic and Sony announce theatre plans". United Press International. April 26, 1994. Retrieved December 2, 2021.

Other pages

  • Loew's Wonder Theaters
  • United States v. Loew's Inc., a 1962 Supreme Court decision on block booking
  • Cineplex Entertainment

Other websites

    • Historical business data for Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp.:
    • SEC filings