MORGAN HILL
– The long movie drought in Morgan Hill will break in late
February when eight new theaters will emerge from the dust of
Cinema Six, dark since September at Tennant Station.
MORGAN HILL – The long movie drought in Morgan Hill will break in late February when eight new theaters will emerge from the dust of Cinema Six, dark since September at Tennant Station.
Moviegoers will find, not just popcorn but designer popcorn with add-your-own-butter and a choice of toppings. They will find a wider range of movies than seen before in Morgan Hill, stadium seating with rockers and movable arms and even a Summer Movie Club and a birthday party package for the younger set.
Milk Duds and plain coffee could find themselves overshadowed by café lattés and, possibly, pastries.
Paul Gunsky, president of CineLux Theatres in the San Jose area, said he is delighted watching his Art Deco-themed theater, to be called CineLux Tennant Station 11, come together.
“It’s my dream come true,” Gunsky said.
Turning six theaters into eight – and three more in the next year – has not been simple, Gunsky said.
“We’ve been pouring a lot of concrete (to make tiers for the new seating),” he said.
The entire interior of the familiar old movie theater was gutted, including the ceiling, to make room for, well, Hollywood.
The box office entrance will be moved from its previously central location to a new corner lobby, freeing space for an additional theater and room for some retail. Banners in blue and green will drape from the ceiling and marble and granite will predominate with wood tones and metal laminates
“It will be glitzy,” Gunsky said. “Hollywood comes to Morgan Hill.”
Gunsky said the Morgan Hill endeavor will be the flagship of his chain that includes, among others, theaters in Campbell, San Jose, Brentwood and Milpitas, which shows second-run movies, and the Chabot Theatre in Castro Valley.
His parents started the company in 1966 with the Plaza Theater in Campbell and a few years later with the Almaden Cinema. Gunsky took over as president when his father died.
Howard Taormino, who has worked for Gunsky’s parents since he was 18, will handle advertising and marketing and, importantly, as movie buyer. Gunsky said Taormino is the key to the new theaters’ success.
“Howard is discriminating,” Gunsky said. “Howard has an excellent relationship with every (movie) studio, with both Hollywood and New York so we can choose any film.”
Besides new surroundings, CineLux Tennant Station 11 will offer bargain matinees seven days a week until 6 p.m. and a summer movie camp.
“We can offer 10 films – one a week – for $5 a package with, something new, books sold in advance at the YMCA,” Gunsky said.
Large popcorn will be served with a free refill and offered with rather exotic toppings of cheddar cheese, apple/cinnamon and jalapeño.
To put a cherry on the top, the theaters will offer a birthday party package, scheduled early in the day with popcorn and sodas as part of the package.
Why come to Morgan Hill? Gunsky said he saw a need.
“The community was underserved,” he said. “And besides, my brother lives here.”
