fbpx vie magazine subscribe button

The Way We Were

Family-Run Business Seventy Years in the Making

By Lisa Burwell

The movie The Way We Were, with Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand, is one of George Solomon’s favorite movies. He has seen Titanic (1997) too many times to count, and he recalls watching the audience’s reaction to Saturday Night Fever when it first debuted in theaters. “It still sends chills up my spine,” he said. “All of these movies have what we call ‘legs,’ which, in movie industry jargon, means that they are moneymakers.” George is the owner of the New Orleans-based Southern Theatres, LLC, a movie theater chain of 18 theaters located throughout the Southeast, including The Grand 16 – Pier Park, which opened in Panama City Beach’s Pier Park over a year ago. George understands the business, but, what is more, it is in his blood—and he loves what he does.

Having made several theater acquisitions and sales throughout his career, George is a true veteran of the exhibition industry. Throughout the years, he has carried out his family’s work. He now owns Southern Theatres, which currently employs over 1,400 people and operates the screens of the Grand Theatres and Amstar Cinemas in eight states: Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. George’s plans for growth attracted the attention of private investment company, Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS) who became an equity partner in 2005.

George was previously the CEO of Gulf States Theatres, a family-owned business that was sold to AMC Entertainment and Entertainment Properties Trust in 2002. George has been in the theater business for over 25 years. “I’ve always known what I wanted to do, and that is to be in the movie business,” he stated. Not only is the business in his blood, it is also in his heart. “In the early 1930s, my grandfather owned 230 drive-in screens in Louisiana and Mississippi, and I worked his concession stands in my teens,” he added. As drive-ins became obsolete, George’s father, Teddy “T. G.” Solomon, was amassing movie theaters from Texas to Alabama as chairman and CEO of Gulf States Theatres, which he eventually sold to United Artists in 1986. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, T. G. served as president of NATO—the National Association of Theatre Owners—for two years; he is still well known in the industry. As the owner and architect of over 700 theaters in his lifetime, he is credited with revolutionizing the movie theater industry.

Contemplating why he thinks people still go to the movies, George suggested, “There is a mystique to going to the movies—a kind of losing yourself.” He expounded on how the movie business is different from others because it is a relationship business. He spoke of the 120-year-old industry with reverence and knowledge saying, “There have only been three significant shifts throughout the industry’s history: silent films to sound, arc lamps to xenon bulbs and traditional seating to stadium seating.

George Solomon; Jim Tharpe; Ben Stiller; Emmet Nicaud
From left to right: George Solomon - CEO Southern Theatres, Jim Tharpe - Paramount Pictures, Ben Stiller - Actor, Emmet Nicaud - Paramount Pictures. Photo courtesy of George Solomon

With the high-glam marketing and record-breaking production budgets of today’s movies, most moviegoers do not realize that there is only nominal profit in today’s theater industry. The real money is made in ancillary markets, such as DVD sales, cable and pay-per-view. “These days, it’s a rarity for a movie to actually turn a profit in the theaters,” George said. “We had a good summer with Iron Man and Batman. Indiana Jones also did well. We do all of our business in shorter increments of time now—success is measured in weeks at the movies rather than months, as it was before.” He explained that the economics of the income stream have changed over the years but that the theaters are still the primary catalyst for the ancillary rights. “Theaters are almost considered the ‘opening act’ for the ancillary markets—if it opens strong at the box office, it is usually an indication that it will continue to do well once it leaves the theaters.”

With a strategy of having the lowest-priced tickets in any given market, Southern Theatres has experienced a sales increase this year while others in the industry are posting flat sales. “It’s a strange business in that theater owners are completely dependent upon the quality of a product made by someone else,” George said. “If Hollywood makes a great movie that people want to see, we are going to do well. If it’s a bust, then . . .”

When speaking with him, it is evident that George loves what he does. He has the respect of his employees, and these days that is a coup equal to directing a great movie. Continuing and maintaining a family legacy is not an easy mantle to wear. He has successfully grown a business in a tough and changing industry these past six years while honoring his movie industry heritage.

When you go to the Grand Theatre and Amstar Cinemas, remember that the owner loves movies as much as you and truly wants you to be entertained . . . as you escape to the movies!

—V—



Read Responsibly

VIE Magazine September 2023 Jay Mercado
VIE Magazine - The Art & Design Issue November 2021
VIE Magazine January 2021 Special Commemorative Edition
VIE Magazine September 2020 Wanderlust Issue, Fancy Camps, The Idea Boutique
VIE Magazine August 2020 Art & Culture Issue, Nathan Alan Yoakum Art
VIE Magazine - Architecture & Design Issue - July 2020
VIE Magazine - Decor and Home Issue - June 2020
VIE Magazine May 2020 Entertainment Issue, Leslie Odom Jr
VIE Magazine - April 2020 Culinary Issue
VIE Magazine March 2020 The Fashion Edit, VONDOM, Alys Beach Fl, Digital Graffiti, Tres Chic, isidro dunbar Modern Interiors, Digital Graffiti Festival
VIE Magazine February 2020 Health & Beauty Issue
VIE Magazine - Travel Issue - January 2020 - Tanzania Safari Cover
VIE Magazine - Women's Issue - December 2019 - Tina Brown Cover
VIE NOV19 Goodness Issue
VIE Magazine, September 2019 Art & Culture Issue, Paul Hanninen
VIE Magazine - August 2019 - The Architecture and Design Issue
VIE Magazine - July 2019 - The Artist Issue
VIE Magazine - June 2019 - Fashion Edit
VIE Magazine - May 2019 - Culinary Issue
VIE Magazine - April 2019 - The Health & Wellness Issue
VIE Magazine - Special Entertainment Edition - March 2019
VIE Magazine February 2019 Luxury Homes & Technology Issue with Robbie Antonio of Revolution Precrafted
VIE Magazine - January 2019 - Southern Sophisticate Issue Cover
VIE Magazine - Special Anniversary Travel Edition - December 2018
VIE Magazine - The Goodness Issue - November 2018
VIE Magazine - The Art & Culture Issue - October 2018
VIE Magazine - Home & Garden Issue - September 2018
VIE Magazine - August 2018 Animal Issue
VIE Magazine - July 2018 Architecture & Design Issue - Subscribe to the magazine!
VIE Magazine - June 2018 Travel & Tech Issue
VIE Magazine - May 2018 Couture Issue
VIE Magazine - The Culinary Issue - April 2018 Cover - Chef James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst
VIE Magazine - The Entertainers Issue - March 2018
VIE Magazine - February 2018 Destination Travel Issue
VIE Magazine - January 2018 Health & Beauty Issue
VIE Magazine, The Sophisticate Issue, December 2017
VIE Magazine - November 2017 Art & Culture Issue
VIE Magazine - October 2017 Home & Garden Issue
VIE Magazine | September 2017 | The Stories and Storytellers Issue
VIE Magazine - The Adventure Issue - August 2017
VIE Magazine - July 2017 - Art & Artist Issue
VIE Magazine - The Voyager Issue - June 2017
VIE magazine 2017 March-April Cover South Walton Fashion Week
VIE Magazine - January/February 2017 - The Health & Beauty Issue
VIE Magazine - Nov/Dec 2016 The Sophisticate Issue
christian siriano vie magazine september october 2016 vie magazine
the modern minimalist issue
Summertime!
the culinary and couture issue march april 2016 vie magazine
the voyager issue alys beach vie magazine january february 2016
cultural issue vie magazine november december 2015
home and garden issue vie magazine september october 2015
the art and style issue vie magazine july august 2015
the wedding issue 2015 May June vie magazine
the food and fashion issue vie magazine march april 2015
the travel issue vie magazine january february 2015
the music issue vie magazine 2014 november december
The Animal Issue vie magazine september october 2014
the home and garden issue vie magazine july august 2014
the wedding issue vie magazine may june 2014
emeril lagasse food and fashion vie magazine
the men's issue january february 2014
the music issue november december 2013 vie magazine
the home and garden issue 2013 october september
the wedding issue vie magazine july august 2013
the artist issue may june 2013 vie magazine
the food and fashion issue march april 2013
the men's issue january february 2013 vie magazine
The Holiday Issue
the love issue july august 2012
the all american summer may june 2012
the entertainment issue march april 2012
the fashion issue vie magazine winter 2011
the home and garden issue vie magazine fall 2011
the anniversary edition vie magazine summer 2011
the wedding issue vie magazine spring 2011
vie magazine the holiday issue 2010 Dec
vintage swimsuits vie magazine 2010 Fall
judith march designer vie magazine summer 2010
wedding giveaway vie magazine spring 2010
holiday gift guide vie magazine winter 2009
emarketing explosion vie magazine fall 2009
tribute to mother's day vie magazine summer 2009
james and robert redford vie magazine spring 2009
zz top vie magazine fall winter 2008
project dreams vie magazine new york fashion week
Sign-up for VIEmail

Sign up for VIEmail


X

A LIFESTYLE