Draft:Generic Theatre Bumpers

Credits

Editions by
Henrynguye5

Video captures courtesy of
LogicSmash, RecordCouncil and FT Depot

Background

This is a bumper complication of generic theatre bumpers (i.e. drive-in, independent, grindhouse) without the main major theatre name (AMC, Regal, Cinemark, etc.) which are located around the world.

Filmack

1st Bumper (1957-)

Visuals: On a non-movie theatre, a candy bar, a popcorn box holding an intermission sign, a candy box, and a soda cup walk from right to left. While this happens, the shot fades to a popcorn machine which disposes popcorn. While this scene happens, it fades to a family drinking and eating on a purple-yellow gradient background with the table. This continues for a while which then fades to the girl in it. When it is completely zoomed out, the text "Let's All Go To the Lobby to get Ourselves a treat!" fades in. After a while, the logo fades out.

Trivia: The short was directed by Dave Fleischer, one of the owners of the famed Fleischer Studios animation company (along with his brother Max Fleischer) that was active from 1929 to 1942.

Technique: Cel animation done by Filmack Studios.

Audio: The iconic "Let's All Go To The Lobby" song.

Availability: Used at drive-in and independent theaters by various companies since 1957.

Legacy: This bumper is very famous for its animation, song and characters for theatres and fans. In 2000, the short was selected for preservation by the US National Film Registry due to its cultural significance.

National Screen Service

1st Bumper (1960s-1970s)

• 

Visuals: On a multi-colored psychedelic screen, one of the following snipes appears from all sides and corners, merging at the center:

• OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION
• PREVUES OF COMING ATTRACTIONS
• INTERMISSION
• COMING SOON
• OUR NEXT ATTRACTION
• STARTS FRIDAY
• STARTS SATURDAY
• STARTS SUNDAY
• STARTS MONDAY
• STARTS TUESDAY
• STARTS WEDNESDAY
• STARTS THURSDAY
• FRIDAY SATURDAY
• FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
• SATURDAY-SUNDAY MATINEE
• SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
• ALSO
• AND
• ALSO SELECTED SHORT SUBJECTS
• LATE SHOW FRIDAY & SATURDAY
• CHILDREN'S MATINEE
• NO SMOKING IN THIS THEATRE
• PLUS THIS 2ND GREAT HIT

Variants:

• Sometimes, the snipes would demerge and return the way they came.
• The merge is faster on some snipes.
• A few snipes (most specifically custom ones) utilize no animation for the text.
• One of the snipes features a lengthy anti-smoking disclaimer set in a different font without an animation. The text reads as:
  
  "Attention ! Smoking Is Prohibited
  In The Auditorium Of The Theatre.
  Smoking In Outer Lobby And
  Rest Rooms Only.
  By Order Of The Fire Marshall"

Technique: Camera-controlled animation.

Audio: An abridged version of a 1968 go-go-like tune called "Funky Fanfare" by Keith Mansfield. Sometimes it's silent.

Availability: This was used at drive-in theaters by various companies in the 1960s and 1970s. It made appearances on the following Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino films: Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003; directed by Tarantino), Machete Kills (2013; directed by Rodriguez), and their 2007 double feature Grindhouse (Planet Terror/Death Proof).

Legacy: This is a cult classic among moviegoers.

2nd Bumper (1981-unknown retirement year)

• 

Visuals: Against a space background, a white flash appears in the center of the screen, from which emerges a crystalline blue film canister. As it zooms in, red text appears with a trail of sparkles behind it:

• OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION
• PREVUES OF COMING ATTRACTIONS
• INTERMISSION
• ALSO

Variant: On Gentle Savage (1973), a freeze frame of the "Prevues of Coming Attractions" bumper can be seen before the trailer reel.

Technique: Backlit cel animation.

Audio: Either a whimsical brass fanfare or a synthesized piece of music.

Availability:

• This was used at drive-in and independent theaters by various companies in the 1980s.
• It also appears at the end of a few Warner Home Video rental tapes from 1982, as well as its "Night at the Movies" series of videotapes, and also many early 1980s tapes from Family Home Entertainment and its sister companies. ^[Examples?]

Legacy: Those who collect early 1980s FHE/U.S.A./Monterey tapes will surely be familiar with this bumper.

National CineMedia

1st Bumper (2003-2007)

• 

Visuals: The logo of the theater appears over a dark, starry background. Two film projector graphics are at the top-left and right areas in frame.

Trivia: According to a Regal employee, the film projectors are intended to signal the projectionist to reel up the movie to the projector.

Variant: Sometimes, "silence your cell phones now please" in blue and a Cingular logo are between the REG and chain logos.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Some soothing music is heard in the background.

2nd Bumper (December 5?, 2007-)

• 
  Generic variant
• 
  Regal variant (AT&T)
• 
  Regal variant (Sprint)
• 
  Regal variant (3D, Sprint)

Visuals: The logo of the theater fades in over a dark, shadowy background. The logo is under a spotlight and dust particles are shining. The words "Please silence your cell phones now." appear between the logo. "YOUR FEATURE PRESENTATION WILL BEGIN MOMENTARILY" wipes in under it. About 20 seconds in, two film projector graphics appear at the top-left and right areas in frame. They then spin and a light comes out of it. As this happens, the logo is ever-so-slowly spinning to the left.

Confirmed Versions:

• Regal Entertainment Group (The original version. AT&T, Sprint (with "The Now Network" slogan or no slogan at all), 3D, and Geico versions exist. Used from 2007-2018.)
  • The AT&T version uses a different font for "Please silence your cell phones now."
• Regal L.A. Live (This version has 4 projectors instead of the usual 2, and the Regal, Edwards, and United Artists logos are removed. Sprint and Geico versions exist. Two versions exist, one with the original projectors and the pre-2016 Regal L.A. Live logo, and one with the enhanced projectors and has "A Barco Innovation Center" under the logo. Used from 2009-2018.)
• Cinemark Theatres (Uses "Please be quiet and courteous to others" in a different font instead of "Please silence your cell phones now." 3D, M&M's and Amazon Prime Video versions exist. Two versions exist, one without the Rave Cinemas logo, and one with the Rave Cinemas logo. Used from 2007-2022.)
• AMC Theatres (Similar to the Cinemark variant, but "Please be quiet and courteous to others" is replaced with the usual "Please silence your cell phones now.” However, a 3D version existed which had the "Please be quiet and courteous to others" text. Two versions exist, one with different projectors, and one with the normal projectors. Used from 2007-2013 (used in some theaters until 2017).
• Generic "Enjoy the Show" (Similar to the Cinemark variant. Geico and M&M's versions exist. Two versions exist, one with "Please be quiet and courteous to others", and one with "Please be quiet and courteous and turn off your cell phones now". Used from 2008-present.)
• Hollywood Theatres (Similar to the AMC variant. Used from 2008-2013, when Hollywood Theaters was bought by Regal, and switched to Regal's version.)
• Kerasotes (Similar to the AMC variant. Used from 2008-2012, until they ditched it for the "Enjoy the show!" variant.)
• Showplace Icon (Similar to the AMC variant. Used from 2018?-present)
• Cobb Theatres (Similar to the AMC variant, but it adds "and discontinue texting" after "Please silence your cell phones now." 3D, Geico, and M&M's versions exist. Used from 2009-2018, when Cobb was bought by Cinemex, renamed CMX, and switched to Screenvision.)
• Goodrich Quality Theatres/GQT Movies (Similar to the AMC variant, but "Please silence your cell phones now" is replaced with "Please turn off your cell phones now" in the same font as the pre-2014 Regal version. Geico and M&M's versions exist. Three versions exist, with the pre-2014 GQT logo (2008-2016), with the 2014 GQT logo (2016-2022), and the GQT Movies logo (2022). Used from 2008-present)
• Georgia Theatre Company (Similar to the AMC variant. An M&M's version exists. Used from 2007-present.)
• Marcus Theatres (Possibly similar to the AMC variant. Possibly used from 2008-2010s.)
• Young Frankenstein (2016 re-release) (Similar to the AMC variant)
• The Fault in Our Stars: The Night Before Our Stars (Similar to the AMC variant)
• Paper Towns: Night on the Towns (Similar to the AMC variant)
• Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago - The Ultimate Director's Cut (Similar to the AMC variant, but the Fathom Events and MGM logos are in the bottom left and bottom right corners, respectively.)

Variants:

• A 3D version was occasionally shown, with an added disclaimer to put on your 3D glasses for "the best experience". The projectors are replaced with spinning RealD 3D glasses, "FIRSTLOOK 3D WILL BEGIN SHORTLY" is used instead of "YOUR FEATURE PRESENTATION WILL BEGIN MOMENTARILY" and the RealD 3D logo is at the bottom right. Known theaters using this variant are Regal, Cinemark, AMC, and Cobb. This was used until 2014, though some AMC theaters kept using it until 2017.
• A version sponsored by Geico is known to exist. Known theaters using this variant are Regal, Cobb, GQT, and theaters using the "Enjoy the show!" variant.
• A version sponsored by M&M's is known to exist. Known theaters using this variant are Cinemark, Cobb, GQT, Georgia Theatre Company, and theaters using the "Enjoy the show!" variant.
• Starting in 2015, the logo was enhanced. The projectors look slightly different.
• A version exists where there’s no logo and the text below is replaced by "Please start your feature DCP from the TMS or cinema server".

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A soft piano/flute bit with some synth in the beginning composed by Danny Elfman. During the beginning, a female announcer says one of the following;

• "AT&T asks you to please be quiet and courteous to others, and silence your cell phones now." (Used from 2007-2008 in Regal Cinemas)
• "Sprint asks you to please be quiet and courteous to others, and silence your cell phones now." (Used from 2008-2013 in Regal Cinemas)
• "Please be quiet and courteous to others, and silence your cell phones now." (Used from 2008-2014)
• "Geico asks you to please be quiet and courteous, and silence your cell phones now." (Used from 2013-2014)
• "Please, be quiet and courteous, and silence your cell phones now." (Used from 2014-present)
• "M&M's asks you to please be quiet and courteous, and silence your cell phones now." (Used from 2015-2021?)
• "Amazon Prime Video asks you to please be quiet and courteous and silence your cell phones now." (Used from 2020-2021 in Cinemark)

Audio Variants:

• A different composition by Danny Elfman is used starting with the Sprint variant.
• In the 3D version, the announcer says after a brief pause, "A new experience is about to begin, FirstLook 3D. First, put on your 3D glasses."

Availability: Seen on any theater that carries the FirstLook/Noovie preshow.

• Regal: It was seen in nearly all Regal, Edwards and UA theaters between 2007 and 2018, before it was replaced with the 2018 Regal logo.
• Regal L.A. Live: Only used at the Regal location at L.A. Live.
• Cinemark: It was seen in all Cinemark, Century, CineArts, and Tinseltown theaters between 2007 to the mid-2010s (some theaters used this up to 2022). Also seen in Rave Cinemas between 2013 and 2022.
• AMC: It was seen in all AMC theaters between 2007-2013 (though some theaters kept using it until 2017).

Screenvision

1st Bumper (2010?-2014)

Visuals: On a black background, there is the pre-2012 Screenvision logo, with "Remember to silence your phone and enjoy the movie" below it.

Variants:

• A Sprint version exists, where the Sprint logo replaces the Screenvision logo.
• Starting in 2012, the Screenvision Limelight logo is shown instead.

Technique: TBA

Audio: TBA.

Miscellaneous

1st Bumper (1983-unknown retirement year)

Unknown.