Raymond
W. Syufy, CEO of San Rafael, Calif.-based Century Theatres, oversees
with his brother Joe an 850-screen empire his father launched in
1941. Already one of the nation’s 10 largest circuits, Century
will add an additional 250 screens over the next three years.
What about you would most surprise the
majority of your fellow exhibitors?
I thread the projector and platter at my home screening room.
What
would you be if you weren’t a cinema operator?
I would probably be in the restaurant business. I really enjoy business
that deals closely with customers.
Who
is your favorite filmmaker and why?
Right now my favorite filmmaker is Ridley Scott. From “Alien”
to “Black Hawk Down” and including “Hannibal,”
Ridley Scott demonstrates great range and visual feel.
Which
TV show do you hate to miss?
Almost none. I do really like watching "Dexter’s Laboratory"
with my sons.
What
kind of lunchbox did you have as a kid?
I can’t really remember. It might have been a metal “Brady
Bunch” lunch box. I think it came with a matching thermos as
well.
What’s
your favorite movie theatre in which you and/or your partners have
absolutely no investment?
It would be the Coronet in San Francisco.
What’s
the best thing about running a cinema company?
Being popular at parties. Everyone is interested in movies, so I
get asked a lot of questions.
What’s
the worst?
Answering the question, “Is it true that theatres make all
their money from the candy?”
What’s
the best thing about living in California?
The great weather.
What’s
your most admirable quality?
If I give my word, I always keep it.
What’s
your least admirable quality?
I tend to nag too much.
What
is your single greatest accomplishment?
Being able to work really well with my brother Joseph. So often,
family businesses don’t make it after the founder is gone.
In our case, my brother and I work on most things together and get
along well.
What
do you wish someone had told you earlier?
That life is short, so you should make sure that you are doing something
everyday that is satisfying.
What
was the single best piece of advice you ever got?
In business, stay focused and always follow up.
How
do you define success?
Accomplishing your goals and always having something new to strive
for.
How
would you like to be remembered?
Not for a long time.
If
your personal philosophy could be summed up on a bumper sticker,
what would it say?
Be tough but fair and never give up. 
