It’s not an image I’d ever have conjured up in my own head, but let’s indulge Michael Lynton, the head of Sony Pictures, who had this to say during his keynote speech at the Showest convention in Las Vegas on Monday: "I can almost imagine the Romans eating popcorn and drinking Coke at the Coliseum 2,000 years ago. Or the Greeks munching on Sno-Caps at the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens." Really? Anyway, the point he was trying to make was that junk food will always be part of the moviegoing experience—Milk Duds, you’re safe—but he called on theater owners to branch out with fruit cups, veggies and dip, yogurt, baked chips and the like. Lynton shared the results of a survey in which 42 percent of parents said they would buy food at theaters for their kids more often if healthier choices were offered, and two-thirds of moviegoers overall said they’d buy healthy concessions if available. It’s a nice thought, and an opportunity for marketers. But I seem to recall that no one went for the air-popped popcorn years back, turning that experiment into as big a flop as The Wolfman. It’s more acceptable (when confronted with a survey) to say you’d turn down greasy popcorn, sugary soda and candy, but would you? Honestly? I say, bring on the Hot Tamales and start the show.
—Posted by T.L. Stanley