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 (parent company of Great Escape) sold its movie theatre portfolio (except for the Princess 4 in Oxford, Ohio) to Regal Entertainment Group.EON Businesswire
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.
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 :
Great Escape Theatres was sold to Regal Cinemas for approximately $91m in December 2012.
The company operated 305 screens at 26 locations.: Great Escape Theatres : 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
+ Great Escape Theatre Locations Theatre Location Date Opened or Acquired Bedford 7 Bedford, Indiana May 1997 Seymour 8 Seymour, Indiana May 1999 Oldham 8 La Grange, Kentucky Sept.1998 (closed May 7, 2013) Madison 6 Madison, Indiana Sept. 1998 Weston 4 Weston, West Virginia Sept. 1998 (closed) Princess 4 Oxford, Ohio May 2000 (closed Nov 2012) Wilder 14 Wilder, Kentucky Jan. 2001 Bowling Green 12 Bowling Green, Kentucky May 2002 New Albany 16 New Albany, IndianaJune 2003 Clarksville 16Clarksville, Tennessee Oct. 2003 Shelbyville 8 Shelbyville, Kentucky Nov. 2003 Williamsport 12 Muncy, Pennsylvania April 2004 Noblesville 10 Noblesville, Indiana Oct. 2004 Greenwood 10 Bowling Green, Kentucky Nov. 2004 Wilkes-Barre 4 Wilkes-Barre, PA Nov. 2004 (closed 2008) Massilon 12 Massillon, Ohio May 2005 Moline 14 Moline, Illinois May 2005 Nitro 12 Nitro, West Virginia June 2005 O'Fallon 14 O'Fallon, Missouri Sept. 2005 McDonough 16 McDonough, Georgia Nov. 2005 Lebanon Valley 10 Lebanon, PA July 2006 Omaha 16 Omaha, Nebraska Oct. 2006 River Falls 12 Clarksville, Indiana Nov. 2006 Harrisburg 14 Harrisburg, PA Nov. 2007 Hamilton Mill 14 Dacula, GA July 11, 2008 Gravois Bluffs 12 Fenton, MO Dec. 19, 2008 Simpsonville 14 IMAX Simpsonville, SC April 26, 2010 Dickson City 14 IMAX Dickson City, PA November 4, 2010
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