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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Getting tickets
to summer blockbuster
movies getting easierHawaii's big-three movie theater chains have been slow to implement online ticket buying for specific shows, but the first has dipped its toe into those waters.
Fandango.com this week announced a partnership to offer online ticket sales for Wallace Theater Corp.'s Maui Mall Megaplex in Kahului.
Fandango touts itself as the nation's largest online and phone ticketer for the movies and can now claim to be the first to offer online movie tickets in the islands.
It's not for lack of trying by others, however.
Rod Darling, owner of the 4-year-old HawaiiShowtime.com Web site, has "been after them for two years," he said.
There's no ticket-purchase link on the movie and theater information Web site, but Darling says they're ready and waiting.
"We're geared for it but the theaters aren't doing it yet."
The system would require the theaters to be equipped with a machine to read a bar code on tickets downloaded from the site.
HawaiiShowtime.com offers a chance at free pairs of movie tickets to those who sign up for a free weekly newsletter. Darling and partner Steve Nobler give away 50 pairs a week following a random drawing.
The site receives 2.5 million hits a month, Darling said.
Short of buying a couple hours of escapism online or hoping the sold-out sign doesn't get put up just as you step up to the box office window, there are at least two other ways to save seats.
Consolidated Theatres, Signature Theatres and Wallace all offer ways to charge tickets by phone.
While most advance purchase arrangements require the purchaser to stand in the box office line, "the beauty of it is, if the movie is sold out, you will still have had two seats reserved for you," said Eileen Mortenson, Consolidated spokeswoman. The company is considering the online purchase option, she said.
Electronic ticketing machines are another megaplex option to those for whom patience is not a virtue.
Signature's Dole Cannery 16 has one, as does Consolidated's Ward 16.
Concierge Services at Ward offers special gift packs and VIP service detailed on its Web site at HawaiiConcierge.com. Other promotional services for businesses in the Ward complex are also offered.
Both SignatureTheatres.com and WallaceTheaters.com offer online purchases of gift certificates and bulk purchase discounts. Signature also offers a package good only in Hawaii; two tickets, two small drinks and a medium popcorn for $23. Consolidated does not have a Web site.
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com