The Marcus Corporation Reports Increased Revenues and Operating Income in First Quarter

Marcus Hotels and Resorts and Marcus Theatres achieve record performance

Press Release: The Marcus Corporation
September 20, 2002
MILWAUKEE, WI -- The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS) yesterday reported increased revenues and operating income for the first quarter ended August 29, 2002.

Total revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 increased 2.9% to $119,577,000 from revenues of $116,168,000 for the first quarter of the prior year. Operating income increased 1.4% to $25,155,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2003, compared to operating income of $24,799,000 for the comparable prior period.

Earnings from continuing operations were $12,371,000 or $0.42 per diluted share and net earnings were $13,587,000 or $0.46 per diluted share for the first quarter of fiscal 2003, compared to earnings from continuing operations and net earnings of $14,723,000 or $0.50 per diluted share for the same period in the prior year. Continuing operations include The Marcus Corporation's limited-service lodging, theatre and hotels and resorts divisions.

"The increases in revenues and operating income were generated by the record first quarter performance of Marcus Hotels and Resorts and Marcus Theatres. This solid performance is especially significant in view of the continued slowdown in business travel and the soft economic climate," said Stephen H. Marcus, chairman and chief executive officer of The Marcus Corporation. "Although performance of our Baymont Inns & Suites was down from the same period a year ago, we are encouraged by industry data indicating that we actually realized some improvement in our market share during this challenging time period."

Marcus noted that the entire decrease in earnings from continuing operations and net earnings was due to the impact of capital gains and historic tax credits in the prior year's first quarter, partially offset by an additional gain on the sale of the company's former KFC restaurant operation in the first quarter of fiscal 2003.

A strong summer season enabled Marcus Theatres to achieve record results for its fifth consecutive quarter. Hit movies during the quarter included Austin Powers in Goldmember, Signs, Men in Black II and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. "The film product for fall and the busy holiday season is also very promising, with anticipated hits including Red Dragon, Die Another Day, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," said Marcus.

Marcus said the division will open three new screens in time for the holiday season, including the company's third 75-foot-wide UltraScreen(TM) in Appleton, Wis. "We are considering additional new screens in selected markets," he added.

"The record performance of Marcus Hotels and Resorts is a significant achievement, given the economic environment and the continued soft market for business travel and group bookings. The division's Milwaukee properties had a strong quarter due to a steady stream of summer events in the area, including baseball's All-Star Game. The division also benefited from improved performance at its newer properties and its vacation ownership development," said Marcus.

He said Marcus Hotels and Resorts continued to outperform its segment of the lodging industry, with revenue per available room (RevPAR) for comparable properties down only 1.4% for the quarter. Marcus noted that a new parking structure opened at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in July, completing a four-year capital program to expand and enhance this major convention-center property.

Baymont Inns & Suites reported decreased revenues and operating income in the first quarter. "Baymont's RevPAR continues to track fairly consistently with the majority of properties in the mid-price segment of the limited-service lodging industry and was down 4.1% for the quarter. Although RevPAR trends have improved in the year since the September 11 tragedy, Baymont's results continue to be impacted by the overall reduction in business travel," said Marcus.

He said the customer response to the division's new Ovations Rooms has been positive. "This new feature is a key part of our strategy to differentiate the Baymont brand in the marketplace. With the new rooms, our frequent stay program, 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, new prototype design and enhanced sales and marketing activities, the division continues to focus on building the Baymont brand," said Marcus.

Additionally, Marcus noted that the May 2001 asset purchase agreement with the buyers of the company's former KFC restaurants provided for a potential additional purchase price payment if certain performance conditions were met. During the first quarter of fiscal 2003, the buyer elected to terminate this provision of the agreement by making an additional payment of $2,050,000 to the company. As a result, the company reported an additional after-tax gain of $1,216,000 or $0.04 per share in the first quarter.

"We are off to a solid start for the fiscal year. Although our lodging businesses continue to be affected by reduced business travel, we believe we are positioned for further improvement over the long term," said Marcus.

Marcus Corporation management will host a conference call today, September 19, 2002, at 3:00 p.m. Central/4:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the first quarter results. Interested parties can listen to the call live on the Internet through the investor relations section of the company's Web site: www.marcuscorp.com, or by dialing 1-913-981-5568. Listeners should dial in to the call at least 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the call or should go to the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. The call will be available for replay through Thursday, September 26, 2002 on the company's Web site or by dialing 1-888-203-1112 and entering the passcode 224255.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging and entertainment industries. The company's limited-service lodging division operates or franchises 182 Baymont Inns & Suites in 31 states, seven Woodfield Suites in Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Ohio and Texas and one Budgetel Inn in Wisconsin. Marcus Theatres owns or manages 490 screens at 47 locations in Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois and Minnesota, and one family entertainment center in Wisconsin. Marcus Hotels and Resorts owns or manages 11 hotels and resorts in Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas, and one vacation club in Wisconsin. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.marcuscorp.com

Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may generally be identified as such because the context of such statements will include words such as we "believe," "anticipate," "expect" or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) our ability to successfully define and build the Baymont brand within the "limited-service, mid-price without food and beverage" segment of the lodging industry;(ii) the availability, in terms of both quantity and audience appeal, of motion pictures for our theatre division; (iii) the effects of increasing depreciation expenses and pre-opening and start-up costs due to the capital intensive nature of our businesses; (iv) the effects of adverse economic conditions in our markets, particularly with respect to our limited-service lodging and hotels and resorts divisions; (v) the effects of adverse weather conditions, particularly during the winter in the Midwest and in our other markets; (vi) the effects on our occupancy and room rates from the relative industry supply of available rooms at comparable lodging facilities in our markets; (vii) the effects of competitive conditions in the markets served by us; (viii) our ability to identify properties to acquire, develop and/or manage and continuing availability of funds for such development; (ix) the adverse impact on business and consumer spending on travel, leisure and entertainment resulting from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the United States' responses thereto and subsequent related hostilities; and (x) our lack of comprehensive terrorist attack insurance. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

                        THE MARCUS CORPORATION
                  Consolidated Statements of Earnings
                 (in thousands, except per share data)
                              (Unaudited)

                                                13 Weeks Ended
                                   August 29, 2002     August 30, 2001
                                   ---------------     ---------------

Revenues:
  Rooms and telephone                  $    52,796         $    53,588
  Theatre admissions                        29,211              27,611
  Theatre concessions                       13,692              12,475
  Food and beverage                          9,257               8,479
  Other income                              14,621              14,015
                                          --------            --------
Total revenues                             119,577             116,168

Costs and expenses:
  Rooms and telephone                       20,986              21,627
  Theatre operations                        22,387              20,564
  Theatre concessions                        3,190               3,027
  Food and beverage                          6,927               6,582
  Advertising and marketing                  7,731               6,972
  Administrative                            10,330              10,224
  Depreciation and amortization             11,438              10,978
  Rent                                         602                 731
  Property taxes                             4,344               3,969
  Pre-opening expenses                           3                 576
  Other operating expenses                   6,484               6,119
                                          --------            --------
Total costs and expenses                    94,422              91,369
                                          --------            --------

Operating income                            25,155              24,799

Other income (expense):
  Investment income                            622                 571
  Interest expense                          (5,324)             (4,971)
  Gain on disposition of property, equipment
    and investments in joint ventures          409               2,264
                                          --------            --------
                                            (4,293)             (2,136)
Earnings from continuing operations
  before income taxes                       20,862              22,663
Income taxes                                 8,491               7,940
                                          --------            --------
Earnings from continuing operations         12,371              14,723

Discontinued operations:
  Gain on sale of discontinued operations,
    net of applicable income taxes           1,216                  --
                                          --------            --------
Net earnings                          $     13,587         $    14,723
                                          ========            ========

Earnings per share - basic and diluted:
  Continuing operations               $       0.42         $      0.50
  Discontinued operations             $       0.04         $      0.00
                                          --------            --------
  Net earnings per share              $       0.46         $      0.50
                                          ========            ========

Weighted Ave. Shares Outstanding:
  Basic                                     29,333              29,198
  Diluted                                   29,560              29,416


                        THE MARCUS CORPORATION
                 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                            (in thousands)

                                   August 29, 2002        May 30, 2002
                                   ---------------        ------------
                                     (Unaudited)            (Audited)
Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents           $      4,975         $     5,614
  Accounts and notes receivables            22,015              19,804
  Refundable income taxes                        -               4,947
  Real estate and development costs          1,594               2,532
  Other current assets                       4,602               4,512
  Property and equipment - net             677,939             683,639
  Other assets                              57,705              53,738
                                           -------             -------
Total Assets                          $    768,830         $   774,786
                                           =======             =======

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
  Accounts and notes payable          $     16,926         $    20,708
  Income taxes                               3,588                   -
  Taxes other than income taxes             15,132              13,947
  Other current liabilities                 19,981              17,820
  Current maturities of long-term debt      20,389              20,777
  Long-term debt                           277,949             299,761
  Deferred income taxes                     36,884              36,529
  Deferred compensation and other           11,549              11,176
  Shareholders' equity                     366,432             354,068
                                           -------             -------

Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
  Equity                              $    768,830         $   774,786
                                           =======             =======

                        THE MARCUS CORPORATION
               Business Segment Information (Unaudited)
                            (in thousands)

                        Limited-
                        Service              Hotels/   Corporate
                        Lodging   Theatres   Resorts   Items     Total
                        -------   --------   -------   -----     -----

13 Weeks Ended August 29,
2002
Revenues               $ 37,449   $ 44,262  $ 37,458   $ 408  $119,577
Operating income (loss)   8,558     11,341     7,137  (1,881)   25,155

13 Weeks Ended August 30,
2001
Revenues               $ 39,342   $ 41,165  $ 35,299   $ 362  $116,168
Operating income (loss)   9,989     10,075     6,430  (1,695)   24,799

    Corporate items include amounts not allocable to the business
segments. Corporate revenues consist principally of rent and the
corporate operating loss includes general corporate expenses.


----------------------------------------------

Contact: 
     The Marcus Corporation
     Douglas A. Neis, 414/905-1100


Source: The Marcus Corporation