THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Impairment, Taxes, Isurance (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares
Impairment losses
Impairment of long-lived assets		$ 1,702,000	$ 3,149,000
Total impairment losses		$ 1,702,000	$ 3,149,000	$ 1,370,000
Number of theatres | item		3	8
Number of screens in theatres | item		15	94
Investment expense (income)				1,370,000
Income and operating taxes
Amount of valuation allowance reversed	$ 265,600,000			$ 265,600,000
Increase (decrease) in net earnings resulting from change in valuation amount (USD per share) | $ / shares				$ 3.47
Casualty Insurance
Casualty insurance reserves, net of estimated insurance recoveries		$ 19,973,000	$ 17,197,000
Expenses related to general liability and workers compensation claims		18,487,000	$ 16,329,000	$ 16,332,000
Property
Impairment losses
Impairment of long-lived assets		863,000
Intangible Assets
Impairment losses
Impairment of long-lived assets		839,000
Maximum
Casualty Insurance
Self-insured amount for general liability per occurrence		1,000,000
Deductible limit per occurrence for workers compensation claims		$ 500,000