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Renovations
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March 14, 2011
Carmike Main Street 6
CARROLLWOOD, FL — The Main Street 6 is being remodeled. All theaters will have digital and reserved leather seats.
Main Street Cinemas, which is owned and operated by the same group as Channelside Cinemas 10, recently signed a lease with the shopping center’s property owner, RMC Property Management Group.
The building on N Dale Mabry, north of Hudson Lane, will span 20,500 square feet and show the latest films. In keeping with CineBistro theaters in Wesley Chapel and Hyde Park, moviegoers will be able to order from a restaurant-style menu and be served inside the theater.
Read more in the St. Petersburg Times.
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March 3, 2011
Former Hyde Park area theater to reopen in 2012 in Chicago
CHICAGO, IL — The former Harper Theater which last operated as as a quad called the Hyde Park Theaters will be renovated and reopened as five-plex according to a press release issued by the University of Chicago which owns the property and the surrounding retail space. The theater opened in 1915 and has been operated by several theater chains but has been closed for several years. The university has reached an agreement with the owner of the New 400 Theaters in Chicago’s Rogers Park to manage the revamped theater.
“We believe students, faculty, staff and our neighbors will be very excited about having a new movie theater within walking distance,” said Kimberly Goff—-Crews, Vice President for Campus Life. “As we talk to members of our community about how to enhance campus life, this is one of the ideas that comes up frequently.”
The agreement with The New 400 Theaters is part of a broader effort to revitalize the 53rd Street corridor as a focus of commercial, retail and entertainment activity.
The full release can be read here.
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February 22, 2011
Empress theatre to be reopened as a art cinema in Montréal
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA — Locals are looking at the potential of reopening the long dormant Empress Theatre.
“The idea started last year, told Metro Elaine Ethier. I thought it would be interesting to open a cinema in the district because there is a shortage at this level. The idea is to have a neighborhood theater for the locals. A film addressing people of West Island, which provide projections in English, French and other languages. ”
For now, the project is embryonic. The three employees are still trying to determine the potential of their idea. “You have to see if people in the community will follow, if the project is feasible, if it is profitable, said Ms. Ethier. We can still save the building. It is not in the same state as the Seville Theatre [which was demolished to make way for condos, Ed]. You have to see how much it will cost and then we’ll be able to prepare a financial package. ”
Read the full story(in French) in Metro.
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February 14, 2011
Renovations at the Rio
IDAHO FALLS, ID — A video from five years ago at KPVI shows the famous sombrero sign being taken off the side of the Rio Theatre. There has recently been further discussion of how this building will be reused.
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February 11, 2011
Restoration to start on Globe Theatre Stockton-on-tees
CLEVELAND, ENGLAND — It has been announced that a £4 million restoration project on theGlobe Theatre will start soon,creating a new large entertainment venue between Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne. Stockton Council will contribute £1 million to the scheme with owners Jomast funding the remainder. The venue has been closed for over a decade was last in use as a bingo hall. During its heyday, it hosted many top groups, including The Beatles & The Rolling Stones. It is expected to open late 2012.
More can be found on the following articles in the Evening Gazette:Gazette #1,Gazette #2 and a short video from the local news program North East tonight.
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February 3, 2011
The Warwick Theatre may rise again
MARBLEHEAD, MA — The Historic Warwick Cinemas may once again be showing movies. The Theatre closed in 1999 an had been used in the interim by the local YMCA. Now a developer wants to renovate the building and there is a grassroots movement afoot to bring movies back to Marblehead.
As to the former theater, which closed its doors on Oct. 28, 1999, and reopened sometime later as the YMCA’s gymnastics center, the plans would “restore and conserve existing original elements at façade, canopy and signage.” That includes the marquee, which would have its lettering “reconditioned.” The rest of the façade would be beautified as well but would still be recognizable to longtime residents.
There’s more in The Marblehead Reporter.
There is also a Facebook page for those rallying to the cause.
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January 18, 2011
Efforts launched to acquire, renovate Polk Theatre in Columbia
COLUMBIA, TN — The Maury County Arts Guild has initiated efforts that would enable them to acquire the long-closed Polk Theatre. Once acquired, the group plans to embark on a drive to raise the estimated $2 million it will take to turn the theater into a mixed-use venue. The theater opened in 1948, was later twinned, and then used for retail.
The Polk Theatre and Cultural Arts Center would include a theater with a seating capacity of up to 500, but the building will be much more than that, Manning said.
“This place is not just going to be a theater; it’s going to be an art gallery where we’re going to have classrooms, it’s going to be a banquet room where we could hold lectures and parties,” Manning said. “It’s just going to be pretty darn incredible.”
There is more in the Daily Herald.
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January 17, 2011
East Nashville’s Roxy to become mixed-use venue
NASHVILLE, TN — Originally opened in 1938, the Roxy closed as a movie theater in 1960. After lying dormant for several years, it later became a recording studio. Plans now will convert it to a mixed-use music venue with some movie showings; some space will again be used as a recording studio.
The 1998 tornadoes destroyed the small studio. Solomon plans to reopen Woodland Studios as part of the Roxy Theater. The recording studio will take about 3,400 square feet of the venue’s space.
Stephanie Silverman, managing director at Belcourt Theatre, said she supports Solomon’s decision to expand the venue beyond a film house.
There is more at Tennessean.com.
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January 12, 2011
Capitol Theatre in contest
FALL RIVER, MA — The grand Capitol Theatre, the only one left in Fall River, was hidden for years. Sold two years ago, the new owners are trying to restore it. They are included in the Pepsi Grant Challange. All you have to do is vote for their project, if they can get enough votes, they get a grant. The site is here.
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January 10, 2011
How Coronado’s Village Theatre is being saved
CORONADO, CA — The previously announced renovations of the Village Theatre are finally getting under way as this piece discusses the city’s relationship with this classic gem of a theater.
Older residents long for the “pre-bridge,” small-town character of Coronado and many new residents come because they like what’s still left of that atmosphere, said former Mayor Tom Smisek, who was involved in the early restoration talks.
“People can walk or ride their bikes anywhere,” Smisek said. “That wide landscaped median strip down Orange Avenue may not be the best way to move traffic, but it keeps that area nice. We have the overall ambiance of a little town, and our little theater kind of fits with what we’re trying to keep here.”
Read the full story in Sign on San Diego.