This article, “Groton movie theater closes without warning,” (Aug. 25), reflects the beginning of the decline of the movie theater industry and how technology and Big Business domination have changed the industry.

The hand writing had been on the wall for about two years. It has become increasingly more difficult to get 35 mm film for those projectors. To change a theater to a digital format can cost about $250,000 per theater, times 6 theaters is $1.5 million and no money was being spent on maintenance. There were many broken chairs and replacement chairs would have been too costly. No effort was made to take the front rows of chairs where few people sit and replace the broken ones.

This closure signifies the ending of an era. NATO, National Association of Theaters Owners, has been on the decline since the late 1970s when the small business or private theaters were put out of business by the corporate giants. The Groton Cinemas made it possible for a person to go to the theater and with popcorn and soda spend about $16 for a matinee. At today's digital theaters you need to take out a loan for a family of four to see a movie.

L. Lonnie Peretz

Groton