Great Escape Theatres


Great Escape Theatres is a movie-theatre chain that operated movie theatres primarily in the Midwestern United States. The chain had its headquarters in New Albany, Indiana, located just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. In November 2012, Alliance Entertainment sold its movie theatre portfolio to Regal Entertainment Group.
On 7 September 2022, Cineworld, the current parent company of Great Escape Theatres, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
As of 2026, the sign is currently used on their operating locations.
WWW greatescapetheatres.com

Company history

Great Escape Theatre was a private company owned and operated by Alliance Entertainment, which opened its first theatre in Bedford, Indiana, in May 1997. The company continued to further expanded, opening locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Nebraska, Missouri, and Georgia.
In a previously noted statement on the company's website, Great Escape Theatre locations were chosen based on population size, with preferred locations being identified as "mid-size" market areas consisting of populations between 100,000 and 400,000 people.
Great Escape Theatres was sold to Regal Cinemas for approximately $91m in December 2012.
The company operated 305 screens at 26 locations. Thirty-eight additional screens were planned for construction in 2009 and 2010. The chain employed a workforce of over 500 people.
The location in Fenton Missouri, won Best Theatre in the St. Louis, Missouri area in the July 2009 issue of St. Louis Magazine.
A location opened in Simpsonville, South Carolina, in early 2010 and Dickson City, Pennsylvania, in late 2010.

Management

The following individuals composed the operating team for Great Escape Theatres.
  • Anne Ragains-President and CEO
  • Chance Ragains-Chief Operating Officer
  • David Poland-VP of Operations
  • Jamie Bowles-Director of Information Technology
  • Billy Geltmaker-Operations Administration Manager
  • Chris Aulisio-Director of Operations - West
  • Frank Mack-Director of Operations - East
  • Richard Lintker-Area Manager - Midwest

Customer perks

Great Escape Theatres offers such customer service benefits as online ticket purchase and free concession refills on all large sizes.
Great Escape Theatres also offers an incentive program known as the Critics Choice card. The Critics Choice card is a loyalty card program that allowed members to earn points towards free concessions and other items.

Theatre locations

TheatreLocationDate Opened or Acquired
Bedford 7Bedford, IndianaMay 1997
Seymour 8Seymour, IndianaMay 1999
Oldham 8La Grange, KentuckySept.1998
Madison 6Madison, IndianaSept. 1998
Weston 4Weston, West VirginiaSept. 1998
Princess 4Oxford, OhioMay 2000
Wilder 14Wilder, KentuckyJan. 2001
Bowling Green 12Bowling Green, KentuckyMay 2002
New Albany 16New Albany, IndianaJune 2003
Clarksville 16Clarksville, TennesseeOct. 2003
Shelbyville 8Shelbyville, KentuckyNov. 2003
Williamsport 12Muncy, PennsylvaniaApril 2004
Noblesville 10Noblesville, IndianaOct. 2004
Greenwood 10Bowling Green, KentuckyNov. 2004
Wilkes-Barre 4Wilkes-Barre, PANov. 2004
Massilon 12Massillon, OhioMay 2005
Moline 14Moline, IllinoisMay 2005
Nitro 12Nitro, West VirginiaJune 2005
O'Fallon 14O'Fallon, MissouriSept. 2005
McDonough 16McDonough, GeorgiaNov. 2005
Lebanon Valley 10Lebanon, PAJuly 2006
Omaha 16Omaha, NebraskaOct. 2006
River Falls 12Clarksville, IndianaNov. 2006
Harrisburg 14Harrisburg, PANov. 2007
Hamilton Mill 14Dacula, GAJuly 11, 2008
Gravois Bluffs 12Fenton, MODec. 19, 2008
Simpsonville 14 IMAXSimpsonville, SCApril 26, 2010
Dickson City 14 IMAXDickson City, PANovember 4, 2010