One casualty of the recession: High-end home theaters are now being bought only by … high-end individuals.

If you thought that was a given, you’d be wrong. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the days of easy money (read: low interest rates) brought those who couldn’t really afford it into the world of home theater. They happily paid for specially constructed screening rooms stocked with cutting-edge video and audio gear in an attempt to recreate the cinema viewing experiences of their youth (or fantasies).

They cost several hundred thousand dollars and up. “The rising tide lifted the home automation and custom home theater market,” said Steve Koenig, the Consumer Electronics Association’s director of industry analysis. “We saw the nouveau riche dabbling in this market in 2006 when money was virtually free.”

Those days are over, but the home theater market continues, albeit with a more rarefied clientele. So let’s fantasize about that market for a moment, if only for vicarious and voyeuristic reasons. While you’re wondering if you can afford $300 for a surround-sound system, others are contemplating spending $150,000 to recreate a movie theater.

That’s the starting price for installations created by First Impressions Home Theater of North Miami, Fla. And that price doesn’t include the cost of the electronics gear, which typically adds 30 to 40 percent to the price, according to the owner, Jeffrey Smith.

First Impressions builds each home cinema to order; there are no templates involved that would cut costs. So if you’re on a tighter budget, you might want to speak to Innovative Theatres, a West Hollywood based home theater designer that can create a 15 by 15-foot screening room with eight seats, starting at $80,000. That’s if you choose from one of its standard designs. On the other hand, the projector used for a custom screening room can run as high as $150,000, plus another $150,000 for a sound system, according to the owner, Keith Willis.

On the fanciful end, Mr. Willis has designed a screening room that replicated the look of the original Queen Mary, with wainscoting and appropriate cabinetry. It took a year to build, Mr. Willis said.

First Impressions once created a home cinema designed to evoke a “Star Trek” theme. Artwork on rotating roller shades gives the impression that the room is moving, as sound effects of engines and voiceovers add to the illusion.

By now you’re probably asking yourself, what’s the most one can spend for a home theater? The most anyone ever spent with First Impressions was $1,007,300, to replicate an old Fox Theater in a 53,000-square-foot house in Georgia. Mr. Smith was willing to cut the price of the 27-seat installation to an even $1 million, but he was never asked.

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Home Theater News
Innovative Theatres, Inc. ............

Press Release .....

Innovative Theatres, Inc. Launches New and More Comprehensive Web Site.

W. Hollywood, CA. April 24, 2008 --Innovative Theatres is designing, developing and installing private theaters and whole-home environment solutions for the custom home and commercial markets.

Innovative Theatres was founded to take advantage of its principal's unique insight on the close-knit relationship between Architecture and Technology. Innovative utilizes a comprehensive approach to project design by controlling the critical activities of the various elements of the design and installation process. The company is establishing itself as the premier company in this field with its lead program, Classic Editions, in the development of designed and turn-key projects.

About The Website
Innovative Theatres' new and re-designed website conveys the diversity, stature, and credibility that the science and business of their organization requires. As a result of recent activity, interest in the Innovative website is growing. With the enhanced exposure of the company and its successes throughout the Western United States, Innovative Theatres has sought to step up its efforts to spread the word about their company and their scientific approach to the marketplace. Additionally, Innovative wanted to use their website as a sound-ideas tool. Because of all these requirements, Innovative Theatres sought Absolute Internets advice and expertise to take their website from a single-level website of the company, to the next level.

Learn more...
About Innovative Theatres, Inc.
Innovative Theaters, Inc. is an industry leader in private home theater design, whole-home electronics and turn-key installation. With over twenty five years of industry experience, we know that the most successful projects combine outstanding design with comprehensive and easy functioning technology. With a skilled staff of designers and technicians, Innovative Theatres stands apart as a singular resource for the planning and creation of world class home cinemas and automated "Smart Homes". Our team includes professionals from the fields of architecture, interiors, acoustics, electronics engineering and automation. This broad blend of in-house talent allows us to ensure every project is designed and crafted to the highest possible standards of dynamics, creativity, technology and dependability. We see each project through from conception to completion. In addition, Innovative Theatres is well-suited and experienced in team working with architects, designers and contractors, adding technical support for the best possible pleasing environment. Browse our website to view many of the projects that were conceived and wholly implemented by Innovative Theatres.

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Innovative Theatres, Inc. ............

Press Release .....

Innovative Theatres, Inc. Announces Move To New Showroom

Pioneering Home Theater Design Firm moves into long-awaited showroom with a full THX 14 seat theatre inside.

W. Hollywood, CA Oct 06, 2007
Due to the boom of home theatre technology, avid interest in home cinema environments and the subsequent flurry of business, groundbreaking theatre designers Innovative Theatres has created a showroom complete with design studios to make the theatre design process easy and interactive.

A perfect resource for the architect and the interior designer. ” said Innovative Theatres co-founder Keith Willis. “We believe we are the only firm able to offer complete turn-key theaters all with in-house talent.”

Home Theatres Ready For Installation
Innovative also offers nine models of Pre-designed, Scalable and Modular Home Cinemas. With acoustical treatments and THX Cinema Sound and Texas Instruments DLP Video Projection System engineered into all theaters, Innovative has effectively taken out the guess work in private cinema performance.

About Innovative Theatres, Inc.
Innovative Theatres design, engineer, integrate and maintain fully-customized theater environments including user-friendly automation systems for “smart home” applications that perform multiple functions (such as: setting light scenes, drapery and sky light control and whole-home audio/video systems). Innovative’s website also contains home theater shopping items including theater seating, theater artwork, acoustical treatments and a variety of unique accessories focusing on the theater enthusiast and design professional.

Website: http://www.innovativetheatres.com

New showroom info: Innovative Theatres 7414 Santa Monica Blvd. W.Hollywood Ca. 90046 Appointments - Ph. 323-850- 7900

Coats PR
Michael Coats
phone: 707-935-6203

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INNOVATIVE THEATRES BREAKS NEW GROUND
Innovative Provides Home Theatres to Developers

Santa Monica, CA July 2, 2007 Innovative Theatres Inc,

Innovative Theatres provides home theaters to new development projects.

In conjunction with New Millennium Homes, offers upscale buyers a home theater for their new homes. The home theaters have been specifically designed to compliment the styles of the individual homes, while maximizing performance and enjoyment for the homeowner. This
home theater option is included in the new home purchase price and is ready to enjoy immediately upon move in.

Keith Willis and Jon Heberling founded Innovative Theatres in 1997. After working on custom designed home theaters for individuals, they engineered pre-designed, scalable theaters that could be delivered and installed for their clients. This new ground breaking venture with New Millennium Homes marks the first time a series of home theaters have been designed specifically to accommodate new home styles. Willis explains, These theaters are turn-key designs and they include complete audio, video, automation, acoustics and interiors designed for maximum performance in the homes being offered at The Oaks of Calabasas

About "The Oaks"....

The Oaks of Calabasas development offers four categories of homes, each available in three to five different styles. Prices for the new homes are to
begin at $1.8 million dollar range. Louis J. Malone, CEO and President of New Millennium Homes says, “This project offers homes tailored to individual tastes. Innovative Theatres gives us the ability to offer something unique and personalized for our custom home buyers, while maintaining the highest possible standards of dynamics, technology and dependability.”

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