Virgin Cinemas

Background : Virgin Cinemas was founded in 1995 when Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group acquired MGM Cinemas, the largest movie theatre operator in the United Kingdom. Virgin Group bought the cinemas for £195m, and subsequently sold 90 of the chain's smallest cinemas to Cinven and ABC for £70m to concentrate on multiplexes. In late 1999 Virgin announced that it would sell its cinema interests in Britain and Ireland to UGC, in which French entertainment and utilities giant Vivendi has a 38% controlling share. Virgin sold the chain for £215m, making them a profit of £90m, and all the cinemas were to be rebranded to UGC. The company did strike a long term deal, however, for UGC to continue to sell Virgin Cola. The group continued to operate a Virgin Cinemas Japan unit, and announced, also in late 1999, that it would spend up to US$200 million to develop 20 multiplexes in Japan by the early 21st century; a number of Virgin multiplexes in the United States were also under consideration. Despite this, the company closed down in late 2002.

(1995-2002) Nickname : "Welcome To The World Of... Virgin Cinemas!"

Logo : On a black background with blue clouds, we see a red planet (possibly Mars). The camera zooms in as the bright light comes in. The red planet becomes the red sphere, causing the lights to appear below the 1978-2006 Virgin text. The camera zooms to the white dot, as we now see a lot more images of characters and scenes from various movies, then the last image (E.T.) moves away. We fade in to the different images of characters and scenes from various movies, followed by a spotlight. The camera zooms to the tunnel made from a rock, following a spotlight. The camera zooms back to the second dot of the 1978-2006 Virgin text. The camera moves to left and down as we can see the Virgin Cinemas logo. The camera zooms out and stops as the lights disappear.

FX/SFX : Very impressive CGI animation.

Music/Sounds : An orchestral theme with bells followed by the announcer saying "Welcome to the world of adventure, the world of associate, and the magic" and the whoosh is heard as the camera zooms to the white dot. Another orchestral fanfare is heard accompanies with a lot of sound effects. A horror movie-sounding bombastic theme is heard as we fade to the different images of characters and scenes from various movies. Another whoosh is heard as the camera zooms back to the second dot of the Virgin text. A happy-sounding bombastic orchestral fanfare is heard, followed by the announcer saying "Welcome to the world of... Virgin Cinemas!" ending with a tympani hit.

Availability : Extinct. Most likely seen between the mid 90s and the early 2000s.

Scare Factor : Minimal to medium.