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Openings
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February 12, 2010
Concrete Theatre reopens
CONCRETE, WA — Today, the Concrete Theatre reopened after being dark for several years. Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like it Hot” (1959) was the first movie to play in the 87-year-old theatre since 2007.
New owners Valerie Stafford and Fred West refurbished the interior, moving all the seats to allow more leg room, installing curtains on the auditorium walls, adding new carpet and paint throughout and generally giving the venue a fresh look.
Please note that the official website is here.
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February 8, 2010
Everett’s Puget Park Drive-In shuttered
EVERETT, WA — When Everett’s Puget Park Drive-In closed for the season in September 2009, patrons had no idea that the triple bill “9,” “The Proposal” and “District 9” would be the final films to flicker on the 50'x 100' screen.
Owner Sterling Realty Organization has made an agreement with Swedish Health Services of Seattle to open a $30 million stand-alone emergency room on the drive-in property.
The three-story building is expected to be constructed near the spot where the theater’s red-and-blue snack bar now sits. Construction could begin as early as next month.
The drive-in was a throwback, and for many customers that was part of its charm.
More can be read in the Daily Herald.
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February 2, 2010
Pontiac Silverdome Drive-In
The Pontiac Silverdome Drive-in is re-opening starting April 9th 2010. They will have 3 screens running each showing double feature first run movies. the season will run through September. prices are Adults: $7
Students (w/id): $6
Children (4-12): $5Phone number is 248-346-6634
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January 28, 2010
Sumner Sunset Theatre moves to reopen Grand Theatre
OELWEIN, IA — The Sumner Sunset Theatre, a non profit community based organization, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Oelwein theatre complex effective 1 February 2010. The acquisition was made possible in large part by a funding grant from the Northeast Iowa Charitable foundation and the cooperation of the current complex owner, Fridley Theatres.
The Sunset Theatre has successfully operated a 99 movie house in a restored single screen cinema in Sumner for approximately five years. Community leaders in Oelwein approached the Sunset for assistance when it learned Fridley was interested in selling the property to a community based group as an alternative to shutting down the complex.
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Starz Theatre reopens
BROWNFIELD, TX — The former Regal that had been shuttered for 10 years is now open and is called the Starz Theater. Located in Brownfield Texas, it is the only one of 5 theaters owned by the Jones Family from 1926 to reopen and once again show movies on the Silver Screen. The theater’s web site is here.
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January 20, 2010
Brooklyn’s King’s Plaza shuttered by AMC
BROOKLYN, NY — The nearly forty-year-old, six-screen AMC King’s Plaza has closed. It originally opened as a twin in 1970.
It seems that the curtains have finally closed on theAMC Loews' Kings Plaza movie theater.
The six screen cinematheque that thrilled audiences of all ages for over 30 years quietly closed its doors earlier this month without any hooplah and fanfare.
By Monday, in fact, there wasn’t even a sign that there had been a theater inside the Flatbush Avenue mall at Avenue U: the entrance to the theater was replaced with a blank wall; the fresh plaster securing it in position still visible.
Read the full story in Your Nabe.
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Closed Foxmoor 7 becomes Poconos Movieplex
MARSHALLS CREEK, PA — Closed since early December, 2009, the former Foxmoor 7 has reopened as the Poconos Movieplex. The new owner is Vermont Senator Kevin J. Mullin, who owns theaters in New York and Vermont. Since the closure, the theater had apparently been vandalized.
“The demographics for the area are right for a theater. I know when people go to resorts they want to do something at night. I’m confident the theater is going to do well,” Mullin said.
He has cleaned the property and even replaced long-missing mirrors in the men’s and women’s bathrooms.
The Theater’s new name is Poconos Movieplex. A Web site with showtimes isalready online.
Read more in the Pocono Record.
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January 14, 2010
Restored Fox Riverside reopening as performing arts center
RIVERSIDE, CA — It has had its ups over the years (as, for example, the site of the first public preview of a certain film with Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh) and downs (as a porno house and pigeon roost), but $32 million and painstaking attention to detail has brought new life to the Fox Riverside. A gala reopening will be held on January 15 and the new center will be booked by the Nederlander Organization.
“There were piles of debris. It was dark and dangerous to walk around and you needed a flashlight because you didn’t know what you were stepping on,” said Peyton Hall, a principal at Historic Resources Group, a Los Angeles firm hired to help restore the theater.
Cleaning up that mess — and recreating the theater as it looked 80 years ago — was Wise’s job, with help from Hall and other experts.
There’s much more in this article at PE.com.
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January 7, 2010
Staten Island Paramount to reopen as banquet and live performance center
STATEN ISLAND, NY – Closed for over a quarter century, the Paramount Theater will reopen as a banquet hall, restaurant, and live performance venue. Originally opened in 1930, this Rapp & Rapp theater closed in the late 1980s after housing a nightclub.
The venue will serve as a catering hall, restaurant and performance center, with bands, comics and plays potentially appearing on stage, said Hsiu Sung (David) Yang, who is opening the Paramount with partners Charley Zerrilli and Peter Lisi as part of SI Paramount Inc.
“It’s going to revitalize the neighborhood by bringing in some good acts,” said Lisi.
Read more inSI Live.
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December 24, 2009
New multiplex opening in Chicago’s South Loop area
CHICAGO, IL — With the cinemas planned for the Block 37 project up in the air, the opening of the sixteen-screen Showplace ICON theater at Roosevelt Place will be welcome news to those who had been looking forward to having more movie choices in downtown Chicago. Located at Clark and Roosevelt, the screen all have stadium seating. There is a cocktail bar in the lobby and a VIP screening room.
More in Chicago Now.