Today, the Marcus Corporation, which owns and operates Marcus Theatres here in Wisconsin and elsewhere, will celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of founder Ben Marcus with their BENcentennial celebration.
The following discounts will be offered:
– 14 oz fountain drinks for $1 (with any concession stand purchase)
– Cinnamon bites for $1 (where sold)
– Buy One Get One Admission Vouchers (see voucher for rules of use and restrictions)
Ben Marcus died on Christmas Eve back in 2000 at the age of 89. In 1935, at the age of 25, he bought an abandoned department store in downtown Ripon, Wisconsin. He renovated the space into a single screen movie theatre, The Campus Theatre, which is still in operation today. That one screen would eventually grow to over 700 in seven states.
At a time when movies were considered an archrival to the television medium, Marcus is credited with being the first theatre owner industrious enough to advertise his theatre’s coming attractions and currently playing fare on TV – a move that proved rather ingenious and was soon replicated by rival theatre chain owners across the country.
All 55 Marcus Theatres are taking part in the one-day celebration, including these local options:
– Majestic Cinema – Brookfield
– Menomonee Falls Cinema – Menomonee Falls
– North Shore Cinemas – Mequon
– Northtown Cinema – Milwaukee
– Ridge Cinema – New Berlin
– South Shore Cinema – Oak Creek
– Southgate Cinema – Milwaukee
– Value Cinema – Oak Creek
