I knew it

From the Weekly Standard:

"Take heart. The tarnish is real, according to Edward Jay Epstein. In lucid detail he explains how theaters cut costs by employing just one projectionist to run several screens, with the frequent result that neglected machines jam, allowing the projection lamp to burn a hole in the film. 'To prevent such costly mishaps,' Epstein writes, 'multiplexes frequently have their projectionists slightly expand the gap between the gate that supports the film and the lamp. As a result . . . films are often shown slightly out of focus.' Likewise, theater owners are loath to change projection bulbs, which cost $1,000 apiece. So even the sunniest sequences look like nuclear winter."

I've been miffed at blurry, dim screens for years. It's one of the reasons I'm more of a home watcher of movies, and selective about where I go to see films. And really, in these days of monster-sized televisions, home surround sound and whatnot (none of which I have, BTW, I like my 13-inch TV just fine) it's really unconscionable that movie theaters would degrade their product. I suspect it is part of the reason that the home entertainment boom has hit the movie theater business pretty hard. Well, that and cheaper technology.