William B. Doeren, a former AMC Entertainment, General Cinema Theatres, MGM, and Kodak executive, died on March 8 of multiple dementias, including FTD, Alzheimer’s, and Vascular. He was 76.
Doeren worked in the film industry for over 40 years. His work as AMC’s COO, General Cinema’s president and CEO, and MGM Theatres’ managing director in Europe advanced the modern cinematic experience.
Some of his most notable innovations include advanced ticket and credit card sales, AMC’s “Movie Watcher” and General Cinema’s “Credits” programs, and the first dine-in theatre in the United States, General Cinema’s Yorktown “Premium Cinema,” which opened in 1998. He also helped to digitize the motion picture industry while at Kodak.
Doeren was born on September 11, 1946, in Camp Lejuene, North Carolina, before his family relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. Doeren received his MBA from Memphis State before serving four years in the United States Navy. Doeren returned to Kansas City after his service and began working as a theater manager for AMC. He then advanced through the ranks, eventually becoming AMC’s division vice president in Los Angeles, which led to his position as EVP and chief operating officer in Kansas City.
Doeren is survived by his wife, Ellie, his brother, Roger Doeren, his son and daughter-in-law, David and Sara Doeren, his daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Mark Hambidge, his six cherished grandchildren, Jacob, Luke, Connor, Abby, Charlie, and Maddie, and his nephew, Burke Doeren.
