EMPIRE Struck Down. Review on New Empire Cinema - New Market - Kolkata

I have visited New empire since childhood.They used to hold magic shows then.It was lately converted into a cinema hall where movies by the Warner Brothers chiefly were shown in the '80's and '90's..I have thus had about 30 years or 3 decades experience with New Empire Hall characterised by shades of excellence (in the 70's) to the Good(in the '80's),The Bad (in the '90's)and the Ugly(at present). It was a hall worth visiting but then.....The eighties were the times of irrepressible trade unionism.That is something on which perhaps a politician would like to write a review on;but them I am concerned with the service, as a consumer aware of his rights. Well!For one the staff are downright rude(other cinema halls in the vicinity fare no better).They openly engage in black-marketing the tickets.Sometimes the tickets are not available just after half an hour of the opening of the counter.The tickets reportedly find their way into the hands of the touts,courtesy the hall staff and the money got by selling is to be enjoyed by all involved(except the poor customer).Before the multiplexes came in to Kolkata this was the rule every single day. On Saturdays and Sundays this is the permanent fixture.The owner once cited insufficient collection,mounting electricity bills, salary bills etc.as the chief causes of the dismal state of affairs in his hall.He also admitted ''off the record'' to rampant ''black-marketing'' of show tickets involving the touts (mostly women) and a section of the staff and he was correctly losing a lot of revenue for it. Well!Firstly the upper ceiling of pricing of tickets have now been lifted,tickets are priced whimsically and exorbitantly but the collection never seems to be enough for the management.This particular feature has lately seen some control after the arrival of the multiplexes in the city.Tickets happily are now prices more reasonably,atleast on weekdays.The Air-Conditioning is a case in the point.The A.C works for the first 15 mins.Is switched off,switched on after a full 45 mins or more and again switched off 5 mins before the show ends(for a 1 & 1/2 hr English movie). For Hindi movies this switching on-off phenomena is adjusted accordingly in tune with the duration of the film.I think this takes care of the electricity bills and perhaps a bit more;and as for salaries they are still one of the lowest in Kolkata(I am not taking any sides though,I make that clear). Previously the doorman used to come and open the door of the cars many of the patrons came to see the movies on.This I experienced as a child in the 70's when P.C.Sorker's magic shows used to be held in New Empire also.Nowadays we have grumpy,unshaven and unfriendly faces of the touts,Hall staff and security to receive one and all.Of course now even GOD does not expect the status quo to return, me being a mere mortal. A ''Barista'' coffee shop has opened in the cinema hall arcade and has been operational for the past 3 odd months or so.This is certainly a welcome addition though even the Barista boys admit the place is too cramped (compared to the other 5 Baristas operational in the city at present).There is also a '' Domino's'' pizza shop in the arcade but there also the staff are reportedly de-motivated by the volume of sales. Both the outlets are seriously hampered by the problem of houseflies, the hall being located just beside the busy thoroughfare.This for a eatery is a serious health hazard also.Parking is a nightmare at Esplanade where the Hall is located and the agencies in charge of collecting parking fees as a result, make a killing out of it.Of course your precious chariot has to have comprehensive insurance and a excellent quality security system installed otherwise people will think you are a habitual gambler. New Empire's sister concern ''Lighthouse'' cinema Hall was closed down a few years back.The owner went on record saying he wanted to build a multiplex in its place.Sadly nothing has happened till date.He has opened a garment store ''Mega Shop'' on the ground floor where clothes worth from Rs.35/- onwards which are sold in the Esplanade area,especially in front of ''Metro''cinema hall on the main road , are reportedly being sold at a premium i.e. Rs.135/- for a Rs. 35/- worth T-shirt,same quality.His ''off the record'' excuse:''People must pay a premium for buying from my air-conditioned'' Mega Shop, ''than from the pavement. When ''Shri Ram Arcade'' air-conditioned market opened opposite Lighthouse cinema hall some years back, it was designated as a Singapore style shopping center.Well!!Now every 2nd./3rd shop in the complex is up for sale and in any case most of the shops have changed ownership 2-3 times barring a miniscule number.With mounting losses Shri Ram Arcade airconditioned market is no more commercially viable for stall owners.There are betel stains everywhere on the painted,untiled walls of the Atrium especially near the capsule lifts.The shop owners will confirm and corroborate my point;and here too the arcade management shut down the A.C. 30 mins to 1 hr before closing time.Logic;same as that of New Empire.During my school and medical college days(both within 20 mins journey from Esplanade area), New Empire used to be our favourite hangout place,primarily because of the fact that absolutely no other options were then available in our city.Now multiple options for shopping and entertainment are available on Camac Street, Ballygunje, Park Street, Salt Lake, Gariahat, New Alipore, Kankurgachhi, Eastern Metropolitan Byepass and of course Elgin Road to name a handful.So,New Empire complex has all but lost its former glory.This is especially painful for us in our late 30s as we do have fond nostalgic remembrances associated with our school and college lives and New Empire, along with the surrounding areas of Esplanade. How I wish The EMPIRE WOULD STRIKE BACK SOMEDAY BY TRYING TO REVERT TO ITS DAYS OF GLORY.