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Openings
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September 5, 2006
Queen Mary to show Rocky Horror
While visiting the beautiful RMS Queen Mary this week, I learned that they plan to screen “Rocky Horror Picture Show” on a regular basis.
This has been playing at the venerable Art Theatre on 4th Street in Long Beach. I’m also told that the Art will be closing its movie programs and will reopen as a night club. I do hope they will restore the original Chinese decorations on the walls. The seats were a bit hard, but I enjoyed supporting the Art -such nice people!
-Simon Overton
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September 4, 2006
Capitol Theatre returns
CHAMBERSBURG, PA — The Capitol Theatre will reopen in the next few months providing a much needed addition to the city’s cultural landscape. They will be showing independent, revival, and spanish-language films.
The Capitol Theatre has been a fixture in downtown Chambersburg since 1927. Many residents of Franklin County saw their first movie there.
In the early days of movies, Chambersburg had two theaters — the Rosedale and the Capitol. After the Rosedale closed, the Capitol was all alone until the 1970s, when a movie theater opened across from Southgate Shopping Center. Eventually, the Capitol stopped showing films and the theater at Southgate was torn down, leaving Chambersburg Mall as the only site for movies in the greater Chambersburg area.
For more, read the full story in Public Opinion.
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August 30, 2006
Capawock to reopen in November
VINEYARD HAVEN, MA — Despite rumors saying otherwise, the Capawock Theatre’s owners still aim to reopen the theater in a few months.
A sign posted last week over the Capawock Theatre’s entrance on Main Street in Vineyard Haven reads, “Reopening November 1st or earlier.”
Despite costly and time-consuming setbacks in renovating the vintage 1912 movie theater building, the prospect of operating a business that loses money, a mounting campaign of public criticism, and veiled threats of eminent domain, the Hall family set a date to reopen the movie theater after its screens have been dark for almost two years.
The full story is availablein the Martha’s Vineyard Times.
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August 28, 2006
TCU razing former movie theater
FORT WORTH, TX — The Frog Theatre is closing and set to be demolished for a campus bookstore.
Texas Christian University, having ordered the demolition of the old TCU Theater on South University Drive, is preparing to remake the northeast corner of the busy intersection with a campus bookstore as the centerpiece.
TCU officials aren’t ready to announce what the bookstore will look like or what its footprint will be, but the acquisition of the former movie theater in late July and its razing this week significantly opened up the corner of Berry Street and University Drive.
For more, read the full story at The Star-Telegram.
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Showcase Cinema 14 East Hartford, CT To Close
HARTFORD, CT — Citing low attendance, Showcase Cinema owner National Amusements has decided to close its East Hartford Connecticut 14 screen house.
Built in the early 70’s with 4 screens, the theater was expanded and renovated through the years to the present 14 screens.
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August 27, 2006
Last week for Odeon York, England.
YORK, ENGLAND — The 69 year old Odeon Cinema, in York, has entered its final week of showing films. The fantastic grade II listed Art Deco monument is the last of the city’s original picture houses and undoubtedly one of the best examples of its type in the country.
As part of the famous Odeon circuit of cinema built up by Oscar Deutsch (1893-1941), the York Odeon is one of two that had to be specially designed and executed because of the historic surroundings in which they were situated. The other was/is at Chester but York’s is regarded as the better of the two, with its moderne streamlined outline and excellent brick detailing.
Threats of closure came about in 2003 when the Odeon company were refused permission to carry out an insensitive re-branding scheme which would have removed the last original name sign of its type in the whole of the UK and the carving up of the building largest auditorium into bland smaller units.
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August 22, 2006
Sunset Theatre to reopen
WELLS, BC — Historic Theater set to open!
The Sunset Theatre in Wells, BC is set to open its doors after nearly 25 years of silence.
Built in 1934 by Gold Quartz Mine proprietor Fred Wells, the Sunset Theatre has recently been restored to reflect its original glory. With a new foundation to rest on and a new roof to keep patrons from being rained on, the Sunset has undergone major changes to accommodate professional theatre, film and live music.
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Parkway Theatre in Minneapolis sold
The Parkway Theatre in South Minneapolis was sold in July of 2006. The new owners are Joe and Sue Senkyr Minjares who own the adjacent popular restaurant, Pepitos.
Plans are to restore the interior and exterior to its original condition and continue operating as a movie and meeting facility. Reconstruction began in early August on the exterior of the theater.
For more information contact Joe at .
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August 15, 2006
No happy ending for theater
MOUNT EPHRAIM, NJ — Local residents clamor over the loss of their beloved Harwan Theatre to yet another drugstore.
Steve and Dave Harwan are disappointed that a private tour of the movie theater their grandparents built was abruptly canceled.
But what really saddens family members is the impending demolition of the Harwan Theater. A landmark at Black Horse Pike and Kings Highway in Mount Ephraim, the venerable, long-vacant movie house will soon make way for a Walgreens.
For more, read the full story in the Courier Post.
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July 25, 2006
Vogue Theatre in Chula Vista is Officially Closed
CHULA VISTA, CA — The theater is now closed. We want to thank everybody for 61 years of coming to the movies. and ahh… have a good one.
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Hello Cinema Treasures,
The Vogue Theatre in Chula Vista, California is now officially closed. The last day of “Now Playing” movies was on July 20, 2006. The building is for sale but I’m not sure for how much. I will find out. The concessions stand still has the ads on the walls, popcorn machine, and window display counters. I just came back from taking pictures. If this is of any interest please tell me how to send them.
I would like to know how I can organize a community meeting to bring this theater back. Possibly by numerous private and city investments, taxes, etc, not sure. I already wrote a letter to the city of Chula Vista about the closing of my beloved Vogue Theater. Below is a copy. If there is anything else I can either do or say please direct suggestions to me.
Thank you.