Just over a decade ago, there were two movie theaters on campus -- the AMC Walnut Mall 3, which changed hands in 1995 and is now Cinemagic 3, and the United Artist Eric 3, which closed in 1994.
For the last two years, since the opening of The Bridge: Cinema De Lux, Penn once again has two movie houses, and once again they cannot coexist.
It became clear last week that Cinemagic may be overstaying its welcome here at Penn.
The three-screen theater has seen better days. Patrons complain of sticky floors, broken seats and overall uncleanliness.
Now that viable competition exists, students have made their choice, and Cinemagic is not it.
Although owner Andrew Sheppard claims it is a result of the ups and downs of the movie business, Penn has asserted that the theater is past due in its rent and now owes the University about $100,000.
While it is unfortunate to see a locally owned business fail, the writing is on the wall: Cinemagic cannot be successful.
Penn officials have been lenient in the past about the late rent payments in an attempt to keep the business afloat. Now that the ship is sinking fast, it is time for the University to bail out.
Penn should send a clear message that unless the rent is paid in full promptly, the theater's lease -- which expires next year -- will not be renewed.
Cinemagic has served its purpose but has become a victim of competition. It fails to draw students, and now it stands in the way of greater development plans for that block of Walnut Street.
It's time for the curtain to come down.
