Dick Smith: The Orchestrator of General Cinema's Expansion

Dick Smith, born Richard Alan Smith in 1924, assumed leadership of General Cinema Corporation after his father’s passing in 1962. His tenure as CEO saw the company grow from a regional drive-in movie theater chain into a diversified conglomerate spanning various industries. This earned him the spot as one of the eight chosen top managers in William Thorndike’s book “The Outsiders.” Let’s dive in and uncover what we can learn from him.

• Adaptation to changing markets: Smith adeptly navigated shifts in consumer preferences and technology, transitioning from drive-in to indoor cinemas located in suburban shopping centers to align with suburban growth and changing entertainment consumption habits​.

• Strategic diversification: Beyond theaters, Smith expanded into beverage bottling and retail, notably acquiring a significant Pepsi bottler and a controlling interest in Carter Hawley Hale, diversifying revenue and leveraging synergies between these sectors​.

• Focused capital allocation: His leadership was marked by prudent capital allocation, emphasizing per-share value and strategic debt use for acquisitions, avoiding dilutive stock issuances, and prioritizing shareholder value through disciplined share repurchases​.

• Legacy of visionary leadership: Smith's strategies transformed General Cinema from a regional player into a diversified conglomerate, embodying the impactful, forward-thinking approach celebrated in William Thorndike's "The Outsiders".

General Cinema’s origins date back to 1935 when Dick’s father, Philip Smith, ventured into the drive-in theater business. However, it was under Dick’s leadership that the company pivoted from drive-in to indoor theaters as a strategic response to changing entertainment preferences and suburbanization in America.

As TV became more prevalent, and as the population increasingly moved to suburbs, General Cinema innovated by opening theaters in suburban shopping centers, leveraging mall traffic and ample parking. Smith’s approach included leasing land for theater development, reducing upfront costs, and increasing the number of screens per theater to boost audiences and concession sales. This move not only blended retail and entertainment in a way that became an industry standard, it also capitalized on the predictable cash flow from theaters and laid the groundwork for further diversification.

Furthermore, Smith’s strategic vision was evident in his handling of the megaplex cinema era, where General Cinema innovated the movie-going experience. The company was among the first to introduce megaplexes that featured state-of-the-art amenities like large screens, digital sound, and stadium seating, catering to evolving consumer preferences.

In 1968, Smith ventured into the beverage bottling industry by acquiring the American Beverage Company, the largest independent Pepsi bottler at the time. This acquisition was driven by his understanding of the lucrative nature of the beverage industry, characterized by high returns on capital and the oligopolistic dominance of major beverage companies. The fragmented nature of Pepsi bottlers, compared to the more consolidated Coca-Cola bottlers, offered Smith an opportunity to purchase bottlers at lower valuations, enabling General Cinema to become the largest independent bottler in the United States.

Further reading: The Coca-Cola and Pepsi Duopoly: The Secret Ingredients

Smith’s vision was further demonstrated in the 1980s through the acquisition of a controlling interest in Carter Hawley Hale (CHH), the tenth largest clothing retailer in the U.S at the time that included prestigious brands like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

Smith’s leadership at General Cinema is highlighted in “The Outsiders” by Will Thorndike, showcasing his ability in optimizing a family firm through strategic expansions and diversifications. As stated above, he took over after his father’s death in 1962, and transformed the company from a regional movie theater chain into a diversified conglomerate.

Moreover, as with all the eight profiled managers in Thorndike’s book, Smith’s management style was marked by collaboration and an emphasis on capital allocation. He worked closely with top executives, maintaining a focus on per-share value, cash earnings, and using debt strategically for acquisitions. His reluctance to issue stock, minimal dividend payments, and significant share repurchases all reflected his disciplined approach to capital allocation.

Dick Smith passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of innovation in the entertainment industry and beyond. His strategic leadership transformed General Cinema into a diversified conglomerate, demonstrating the power of visionary leadership and strategic acquisitions.