Danny Heilbrunn wants to give moviegoers in the northern part of the Tristate the best viewing experience possible. That's why Mr. Heilbrunn and Barry Kohn, co-owners of Danbarry Cinemas, are pumping about $1.3 million into their 10-screen Middletown movie theater, giving it a face lift, more style and flair.

        “Everything in the theater will be nearly completely brand new when you walk in the front door,” Mr. Heilbrunn said. “This renovation will make this a 21st-century movie theater.”

        The project calls for:

        • Stadium-style seating in all 10 auditoriums for up to 2,000 moviegoers.

        • Expanded lobby and concessions areas, increasing the number of sales stands to seven from four.

        • New marquee and exterior signs.

        • New roof and heating and air conditioning system.

WHERE TO WATCH

Danbarry Cinemas, based in downtown Cincinnati, was started by Danny Heilbrunn and Barry Kohn in February 1989. Their theater locations:         • Danbarry Cinemas Middletown, 2479 Dixie Highway, Middletown (10 screens, first-run movies).         • Danbarry Dollar Saver Western Hills, 5190 Glencrossing Way, Westwood (12 screens).         • Danbarry Dollar Saver Turfway, 7650 Turfway Road, Florence (10 screens).         • Danbarry Dollar Saver South Dayton, 8300 Lyons Ridge Drive, Centerville, Ohio (12 screens).         • Danbarry Dollar Saver Huber Heights, 7650 Waynetowne Blvd., Huber Heights, Ohio (12 screens).

        Mr. Heilbrunn hopes to deliver the package to moviegoers by late December, in time for the Christmas-movie season. While most of Danbarry's locations are so-called second-run theaters, the Middletown cinemas show just-released movies.

        More important, the upgraded Danbarry Cinemas could give it a competitive edge over its main multiplex rivals, including Showplace 8 in Hamilton and Cinema 10 in Middletown.

        The move also will put Danbarry's best theater in a blank zone on the National Amusement map; National's northernmost Cincinnati-area theater is in Springdale. That company also owns a conventional theater at Paramount's Kings Island, and some theaters in the Dayton area but nothing in the Middletown and Hamilton areas.

        The project should give people from the Middletown corridor their best movie-viewing experience, Mr. Heilbrunn said. “It could increase traffic for new viewers and repeat business.”

        Stadium seating is the standard design for new movie theaters; rows of comfortable “airline-style” seats are set on risers — similar to those at Paul Brown Stadium. That allows perfect sight lines from any point in the theater. The design also means more leg room and allows for bigger screens, invariably accompanied by new digital sound systems.

        Stadium-style movie theaters were late to arrive in this area; the first was the Showcase Cinemas Springdale, opened in 1998. Since then, National Amusements opened another stadium-style theater in Milford, Great Escape opened one in Wilder, Ky., and the AMC chain just opened a 20-screen stadium-style site at Newport on the Levee.

        Enquirer reporter Margaret McGurk contributed to this report.

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