Theater box offices already open for film's Nov. 16 debut

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

You can buy advance tickets to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the highly anticipated movie heading for Island theaters Nov. 16, though in some cases you may not know which screen in a given theater you'll be watching.

Two of the three movie chains here — Consolidated Amusement Co. and Signature Theatres — are selling tickets at box offices on sites where at least one theater screen will be showing the Warner Bros. film based on the novel by J.K. Rowling.

Wallace Theatres will sell advance tickets starting tomorrow.

There are no sell-outs yet, but the movie's arrival is still eight days away.

"Audiences seem to be really excited, and the advance tickets are selling pretty well," said Jeri Yanagida, a manager at the Ward Stadium 16 facility. More than 100 tickets had been sold by yesterday for the 500-plus screening room. "Right now, we're just selling for one screen — but the movie probably will be on more screens."

Multiplexes are expected to show "Potter" on more than one screen.

There is one advance screening, at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ward theater — but unless you can come up with your own brand of wizardry, it's by invitation only (though some media may be giving away tickets in contests).

Here are more specifics on the regular showings:

• Consolidated: Tickets may be bought in person at the box office of most theaters, except for the Waikiki IMAX, Varsity and 'Aikahi theaters. Phone orders are possible by calling individual theaters at the numbers listed in the daily movie ads, but the system had some bugs this week.

  Showtimes at most theaters will not become clear for Consolidated until until Monday or Tuesday, when bookings will be confirmed. All Consolidated theaters will be offering collectible "Potter" trading cards with kiddie snack-packs ($3.75 for a drink and popcorn), plus the commemorative card.

  The Ward Stadium site is selling tickets for daily screenings at 12:15, 3:40, 7:05 and 10:35 p.m. Advance purchases are possible for two weeks into the run, a departure from the usual same-day advance sales for other films.

• Signature: Signature is accepting VISA and MasterCard charges at all facilities via telephone (phone numbers are listed in the daily movie grid ads); in-person advance sales also are possible at each site.

  At Dole Signature 18 at Dole Cannery Square, "Potter" will be on three screens, with these showtimes: 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. and 2, 2:45, 5:30, 6:15, 7, 9 and 9:45 p.m. Advance sales are for specific showtimes for specific days.

• Wallace: Advance sales begin tomorrow, only in person at all box offices except La'ie.