But now there's a new option: the six-screen Beacon Cinema in downtown Pittsfield, which will open Thursday night for a midnight showing of the horror/romance film "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."
"You're always worried about competition," said Richard Stanley, the Beacon's managing partner. "But in essence they don't have the [flexibility] that we have."
The Regal Cinemas, which has 10 screens, is owned by Regal Entertainment Group of Knoxville, Tenn., the country's largest motion picture exhibitor, which posted total revenues of $673.5 million for the third quarter of the financial year that ended Sept. 25.
Stanley said the Beacon has more options when it comes to programming.
"They have a small number of bookings for a large number of theaters," Stanley said. "They can't be responsive to local needs."
Regal Entertainment Group spokesman Dick Westerly did not return telephone calls seeking comment, but it appears the company is taking the initial threat of competition seriously.
Like the Beacon, the Regal is offering a midnight showing of "New Moon" on Thursday night. And both theaters have events scheduled around the movie (see box on
The Beacon will offer the midnight showing of "New Moon" in three of its six theaters -- and possibly all six -- with seating beginning at 11 p.m., according to John Valente, the theater's manager.
The Regal plans to show "New Moon" at midnight in two theaters, and possibly three. Also, for the first time ever, the Regal will open at 5 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving, the traditional beginning of the holiday shopping season.
Stanley said the Beacon will feature first-run movies and a mix of foreign and independent films, but not all the time. The lineup for the first weekend includes a documentary, "The Yes Men Fix The World," which won the Audience Award at the 2009 Berkshire International Film Festival, and "Paris," a French movie billed as a "valentine to the city of lights."
That film features some of the biggest names in French cinema, including Oscar winner Juliette Binoche.
In Lanesborough, several people who attended movies at the Regal Cinemas on Veterans Day said they would be willing to try the Beacon.
"I like the idea of supporting downtown Pittsfield. It sounds great," said Dalton resident Vicki Trager. "If I can park, I'll be there."
Although there is more parking at the mall than in downtown Pittsfield, the five-tier McKay Street parking garage, located behind the Beacon, has 989 spaces, according to the Department of Public Works. And free parking exists throughout the city after 4 p.m., Public Works Commissioner Bruce Collingwood said.
Regal moviegoer Tom Sperlonga, of Lee, said he is impressed by the Beacon's stadium seating and the complex's technical capability, which includes two 3D theaters. Sperlonga said he will "check out" the Beacon at some point, but expressed reservations about the location, saying that North Street "is not what it used to be."
Sue Wellspeak, of New Lebanon, N.Y., said she'll continue to visit Regal Cinemas because of ample parking and the presence of other stores, but would consider the Beacon if she goes to a movie with her husband.
"I think if it was my husband and myself, we would go to a movie on North Street," she said. "But I think if I have the grandkids, I'll come here [Regal] because there's more to keep them occupied."
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