Remember Those Coke Commercials Before Movies? They’re History
Matt Olberding says today’s the day that Marcus Theaters switches from Coke to Pepsi. Or, if you’re like me, from Sprite to Sierra Mist or Mountain Dew.
On this topic, are you among the “It’s the end of the world! / This is the greatest news EVAR!” crowd, or the “Yaaaaaaawn” crowd?
The Comments
Buffmeat says Pepsi August 1, 2008 at 7:47am
I’m not sure why, but when I see a movie I have to have a Cherry Coke. They better have Cherry Pepsi or I’ll join the scream preacher outside the grand on the weekends
andrew says I'm in more of the August 1, 2008 at 8:05am
I’m in more of the yawn camp, but perhaps I just love that this will get some people riled up.
JT says Well I prefer pepsi products August 1, 2008 at 8:25am
Well I prefer pepsi products as well, but doesn’t much matter to me as I avoid the horribly overpriced concessions counter as it is. And really avoid the theatre in general as much as I can!
"Netflix" Nikki says letdown August 1, 2008 at 8:30am
I was excited when I read the subject of this entry, but disappointed to find out it was about a brand switch instead of stopping those pesky commercials!
After paying for gas, parking, tickets, & concessions, I should not have to sit through a barrage of paid commercials to make the theatre even more money!
Rant over.
Gene says RE: letdown August 1, 2008 at 12:42pm
No kidding. And enough with the 15 previews before movies already.
Hey Mikey says They have soda at the August 1, 2008 at 8:37am
They have soda at the theaters?
West A Dad says I smuggle mine in. August 1, 2008 at 10:13am
Remember those hats with the cans on either side and the sippy tubing? I made my own and have tequila strapped to one ankle and lime juice on the other!
CS says They aren't making any money from tickets... August 1, 2008 at 10:49am
So they have to generate money somehow. They can’t just show that stuff for free, you know.
Eric S says Just another reason... August 1, 2008 at 11:37am
It is a sad day...just another way Marcus theaters are ruining my movie watching experience...It’s official, I want Douglas back
Fletch says It's the end of the August 1, 2008 at 4:47pm
It’s the end of the world as we know it. Now I will revert to age 15 and go back to sneaking in my own soda.
Gene says RE: It's the end of the August 1, 2008 at 7:56pm
Now THAT disappoints me.
Mr. T says Call me a snob/elitist/out of August 1, 2008 at 8:12pm
Call me a snob/elitist/out of touch, but I am not too hot on people in the theater munching and slurping on snacks while I am trying to enjoy a good movie.
Before you burn me, there IS precedent for this attitude: One time I was at a theater and this ENTIRE family came in and sat next to me with bags full of BURGER KING meals. For the entire first 30 minutes of the movie, they were eating whoppers, onion rings, rummaging through their BK bags, etc etc.
Burger King is disgusting enough as is. Yet they had to push the envelope and bring it into a crowded theater. Yuck.
Mr. Wilson says RE: Call me a snob/elitist/out of August 2, 2008 at 9:00am
Just imagine how upset you’d be if they had brought in ...
AMIGOS.
(Cue sound effect of shrieking woman.)
Karin Dalziel says Did Pepsi pay off the August 2, 2008 at 5:01pm
Did Pepsi pay off the ciy council or something? It seems like places are switching to Pepsi one by one.
I never buy soft drinks at the movie theater (or when I go out to eat)so… yawn.
CP says I've been to the theater August 2, 2008 at 9:32pm
I’ve been to the theater 4 times in the past 5 years. Methinks it won’t affect me much, though as a rule I prefer Coke products.
Fletch says I saw The Dark Knight August 3, 2008 at 8:04am
I saw The Dark Knight yesterday (film of the year, methinks), and was still able to get a cool, refreshing diet Coke.
Nikki says RE: I saw The Dark Knight August 4, 2008 at 7:39am
Me too (saw it this weekend)
Me too (possible Film of the Year)
Me too (had a Diet Coke)
Plus I saw one of those pesky Coke Commercials
Mr. Wilson says RE: I saw The Dark Knight August 4, 2008 at 7:52am
Hmm. Matt may need to find himself a more reliable source. Or maybe Matt’s source was making the point that one brand of brown, acidic goo is pretty much like the other brand of brown, acidic goo.
Fletch says I didn't even think to August 4, 2008 at 8:03am
I didn’t even think to chalk it up to bad sourcing - I chalked it up to it will probably take some time to remove the old machines, install the new machines, remove all the old signage, install all the new signage, and that maybe Edgewood wasn’t top of the list. Maybe they started at the Grand, then SouthPointe, etc. Maybe it’s too much to do in 4 theaters in one day.
Mr. Wilson says RE: I didn't even think to August 4, 2008 at 8:12am
Could be. But I pictured small armies of Pepsi employees converging on the theaters to make the switch, the Cola War equivalent of a “surge”. Meanwhile, off to the side sits a dejected Coke polar bear, his tail tucked between his legs.
Fletch says RE: I didn't even think to August 4, 2008 at 11:36am
I like this visual. I’d add to it, a small army of Coke employees, wheeling their old, well-used machines and half-empty boxes out of the building, with long faces, while the Pepsi people go merrily about their work, whistling and high-fiving each other.
Matt Olberding says Since Marcus won't really talk August 4, 2008 at 8:55am
Since Marcus won’t really talk about it, I can only go by what local staff will tell me, and I was told Aug. 1. I did go by the theater that day and saw Pepsi signs up behind the concessions counter. So are you guys saying they are still serving Coke and not Pepsi or you can get both?
Fletch says RE: Since Marcus won't really talk August 4, 2008 at 11:35am
We asked, and we were told that it was still Diet Coke. That was Saturday afternoon, at Edgewood. It still came out of a Coke machine. I didn’t see a lot of other Coke signs hanging around.
They play a new trailer that welcomes you to Douglas Theaters, a division of Marcus Theaters (or theatres, whatever)… and it still shows a Coke cup. It seems new - I wonder if they made one with a Pepsi cup as well.
There was no Coke trivia on the screen.