You are being too kind. They are just flat out lying about having three theaters. I have asked them several times to update their website, and they have refused to do it. It is an intentional lie.

Streaming crushed movie theaters. Why AMC went under.

Maybe the developer will lease the theater to some enterprising movie buff and they can take a run at it.

Yes, they know if they remove the three theaters from the web site, NO ONE will move here and buy houses.

Point missed.

Throughout the history of The Villages, potential homebuyers were drawn to the community because of various amenities, activities, features. Over time, some of the features were replaced, and others simply eliminated.

If they will intentionally mislead potential homebuyers over something as benign as "three movie theatres" vs. "one movie theatre" what else will they intentionally mislead potential homebuyers about?

Friendliest home town?

Have you noticed that movie theaters are not being opened by movie buffs? For better or worse the economics of movie theaters have changed and the industry is shrinking.

I would say that movie making is booming but it is now on many platforms with many more countries getting involved in it as well as many more states in the US. Hollywood is spread out all over the United States.

Nothing I’ve seen in any plans or flights over the downtown area of Middletown indicate any plans or intentions to build a building big enough for a multi screen theater (single screen theater don’t make money). While some theaters are still popular and profitable, many are not and the trend continues to worsen nationwide. Younger audiences have different viewing preferences- phones and tablets - and do not desire to enjoy the big screen experience that previous generations have.

The low attendance at LSL’s theaters continue to prove the lack of profitability of the current market. The developer is not everyone’s rich uncle who is here to provide for our every wish, they are a business and businesses exist to make a profit. That’s not a bad thing, it’s how most of us living here in the villages were able to get here, the companies we worked for or owned made a profit and we received a portion of the profits, saved some of it, and eventually retired here.

So to the OP, your petition idea is a waste of time, a fool’s errand. If you want the theater opened the prove the developer’s business decision is wrong, open you checkbook, lease the property and make it a profitable business venture. Don’t expect someone else to fund your fool’s errand.

Don’t agree with me, fine, prove me wrong.

Again. The Villages is not made up of 20-30 year olds. It is made up of people from maybe 45 to 100+ years young. People who grew up with access to big screens in many theaters.

It is a question of promises made and not kept. Three open movie theaters is stated plainly TODAY on their website. It is a selling point.

Yeah but there seems to be so manu movie buffs that think TV shout reopen and lose money, why not the buffs give it a whirl. Sarcasm much?

Sumter already has a movie theater and it’s not sold out. I also heard the Springs has a theater that charges for old flicks, that’s something I wouldn’t do, I can stream those. I do go once and a while to new movie releases at Sumter sq.

Does it always have to be about the money? What about restoring the villages to mr schwartz's ideals. A man of class and vision.

Drive In Theaters
 

We still have a drive-in theater in my home town in Virginia and it is packed every weekend. Half of the theater is G=Rated and half is R-Rated so everyone gets to come. There is a concession stand. This theater has been written up in the Washington Post as one of the last ones in business but it remains successful. The movies shown are all current for the most part. The idea of a outdoor golf cart theater would be great.

As far as the playhouse I would love to see it open as well for movies, comedy acts, boozy bingo, etc.; anything to keep it's doors open.

Morse Family Worth Billions
 

Billions not Millions. The Morse family's wealth was over $3 billion way back in 2018,. Mark Morse, Jennifer Parr, and Tracy (Mathews for awhile) Morse are all billionaires.