Pacer Corp, manufacturer of computerised theatre management systems up in Bothell, Washington, counts Pathe’ Cinemas as its largest French customer, and reports that the chain is moving over to a system of selling cinema tickets by means of the embedded microprocessor Smart Card. The Smart Cards will be bought in advance and will be valid for multiple admissions to Pathe’ cinemas. The cards will be able to be recharged with cash for additional admissions after the original electronic cash has run out. Pacer makes the Dataticket II computerised ticketing equipment, which deducts the entrance price each time a moviegoer presents the card. Pacer developed the system in conjunction with Schlumberger Ltd, one of the makers of the Smart Cards in France. One of the three largest cinema chains in France, Pathe’ began installing the Dataticket II systems in its French and Belgian theatres in March, and the largest French movie circuit, Gaumont, has since ordered $600,000 of Pacer equipment to start equipping its chain of cinemas too.
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