Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, October 9, 1994                   TAG: 9410100022
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

CINEMA CLOSING MAY ONLY BE TEMPORARY

It was being rented by Todd Dillon and Mark Greer of Radford, who also operate theaters in Buena Vista, Staunton, and at the Radford Plaza Shopping Center in Radford .

Dillon said the theater property was sold, so they had to give it up.

Dillon and Greer have reduced prices at their theaters to $1.50 for any show at any time, relying on increased ticket sales to make up the difference.

It worked, Dillon said, and price cuts had nothing to do with the twin-cinema operation closing in Wytheville. ``We could not complain about the business in Wytheville,'' he said.

Now they have added other bargains to their ticket prices. They offer ``bottomless'' popcorn for $3, refilling it as often as the buyer brings it back. They also have started offering free refills on popcorn and a drink for $5.

College students often tend to buy one box of popcorn, Dillon said, and share it with its free refills. It sounds as if that could be a money loser. ``It's not. As a matter of fact, it's one of our major drawing cards,'' he said. ``We wouldn't change it for the world.''

Dillon said the Radford Plaza Cinemas usually draw more than 1,500 customers a week.

``When college is in session, we know it,'' he said.