The only reason, he said, was to run his own theater chain.
A few years later he joined his father's theater chain.
Not to worry, some of the major theater chains say.
But in these cities, there is little competition from other theater chains.
Several of the country's largest theater chains have found themselves squeezed as a result.
And theater chains continue to face added pressure from new forms of home entertainment.
There was particular concern about the refusal of some theater chains to show the film.
"We've got a theater chain sitting here that's empty most of the week," he says.
The main difference among the services is that each sells tickets for different theater chains.
Some American theater chain with an unpronounceable name had given it $50,000.