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Renovations
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October 10, 2007
New owners plan to renovate Lewis Theatre
LEWISBURG, WV — With new owners, the Lewis Theatre has some exciting things in the works including renovations and adaptive reuse for live theatre.
With first-run classics such as “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” as part of its storied history, new life is being breathed into the 68-year-old Lewis Theatre through a fresh set of owners with plans to renovate the Art Deco building for live theater, dance and other performing arts.
The 10,000-square-foot building, originally commissioned by the Yarid family, was recently purchased by Ann Davis and Lin Preston, both of Lewisburg, and Larry Levine of Hinton. The building had previously been owned by Barbara and Ed Spurlock of Maxwelton since 1990.
The trio calls itself ALL Arts and plans to scale down the current 500-seat theater to about 175 seats to make way for workshop space, a live theater stage and education classes, said Levine, an investment manager by trade. The dance group known as the Trillium Performing Arts Collective, a staple in Lewisburg arts for the last 26 years, has already committed to a long-term lease in the building, he said.
Read the full story in the Register-Herald.
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September 21, 2007
Garden Theatre featured on PBS
WINTER GARDEN, FL — Click on the link to see “The Artist Connection” from WMFE-TV in Orlando, the local PBS station. The third segment is devoted to the restoration of the Garden Theatre, slated to open in January, 2008.
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September 19, 2007
New owners for the 95 year old Texas Theatre
McGREGOR, TX — The Studio Pros Inc. is very proud to announce their purchase of the 1912 Texas Theatre on June 7th 2007 from the Smith family (original owners). Over the next 12 to 18 months, the Texas will be undergoing extensive ground up restorations allowing The Studio Pros to relocate their offices inside the building. As well, we’ll be completely refurbishing all of the theatre’s live & 35mm capabilities and adding an extensive array of newer media technologies to complement the old.
For more information and continual updates on the progress of restoration of the Texas Theatre please check the official web site.
We also wish to thank CT for all of their dedicated efforts with theatre history. Over the past 4 years this web site has offered priceless information and insight to us and is one of the top 3 influences in our decision to take on the challenges of restoring and preserving the Texas theatre’s history. We feel very proud and blessed to be a part of this. Once again we thank all of the folks at CT and all of its dedicated contributors. Please rest assured we will be doing our part in promoting this site to all of our theatre goers as well as trying to financially support this site.
Very Sincerely
Trey Concilio -
September 18, 2007
Lebowsky Center volunteer cleanup held September 8.
OWOSSO, MI — A construction cleanup work bee was held by volunteers at the Lebowsky Center on Saturday, September 8. The cleanup was held to prepare for the rebuilding of the fire damaged and partially demolished theater.
The Owosso Community Players newsletter dated August 2007 gives an update of the rebuilding progress which also gives details about the recent donation of the adjacent building.
The Argus-Press reports on the work as well.
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September 10, 2007
Historic Granada Theatre gets new life
THE DALLES, OR — Dormant no more, construction will begin next May on the Granada Theatre so it can be used for concerts and meetings.
1 of the first movie theaters west of the Mississippi River to show talking pictures has been silenced for almost five years.
But the historic Granada theater in The Dalles — which dates to 1929 and is on the National Register of Historic Place — is getting a second chance.
A tourism company has bought the building to use as a venue for seminars and acoustic concerts, as well as a tasting room for local wineries.
You can read the full article at KTVZ.
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September 7, 2007
Bryn Mawr lives on
BRYN MAWR, PA — Inspiring story of one woman’s project of turning an endangered theater into a local film institute.
Like so many art-house pioneers — those perpetually optimistic souls who devote their lives to the restoration and preservation of institutions and cherish the notion that cinema should go beyond the big-budget sequel — Juliet Goodfriend said she never imagined that she would one day found and lead a film institute. In many ways, it was a mission that chose her.
Seven years ago, Ms. Goodfriend was sitting on the Board of Trustees at Bryn Mawr College, located just west of Philadelphia, when she began hearing rumors that the local downtown movie theater was about to be sold to a developer who wanted to turn it into a fitness center. She was immediately mortified by the prospect of losing this Bryn Mawr landmark, an old-time movie palace that served nearly 30,000 students and even more year-round residents as an anchor in the downtown business district.
For more, read the New York Sun.
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August 31, 2007
Kansas City’s Screenland owner buys Armour Theater
The wheels are in motion for the Armour Theater to reopen and show films.
Local cinema owner Butch Rigby plans to buy and renovate the Armour Theatre Building in North Kansas City, which also has been known as the Paradise Theatre and the Northland Opry.
Under an agreement approved by the North Kansas City Council, Rigby will buy the single-screen theater at 408 Armour Road and adjacent two-story properties, which are part of the theater building, for $600,000.
Rigby, operator of the Screenland Crossroads Theatre at 17th and Washington streets and owner of the Screenland Granada in Kansas City, Kan., said Wednesday that he would restore the building, which the city has owned since 2005.
Read the full story in the Kansas City Star.
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August 2, 2007
Momence Theatre renovation begins
MOMENCE, IL — This small bordertown on the Kankakee River has a stage and screen that have been silent for over 30 years. The Moemence Theatre Friends was founded in November of 2005. To date they have raised $100,000.00.
In July of ‘06, the purchase was completed of the building which consists of a theatre, apartment and two retail stores.
In addition to the fundraising, they have brought shows into town as well as film festivals with events being held in other spaces in the community.
Want to know more? Call 815-549-4175
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July 17, 2007
Fairborn Performing Arts & Cultural Center to begin Master Planning process
FAIRBORN, OH — The Fairborn Performing Arts & Cultural Center has contracted with Hardlines Design Co. to begin master planning services for the Fairborn Theatre. The 1948 Art Moderne theatre will be converted back to its original single screen and stage configuration.
The theatre will be a cultural arts destination for Greene County and surrounding communities. The theatre will be home to local and touring productions, classic and silent movies, art galleries, classrooms and meeting spaces.
Potential users of the theatre are asked to contact Jon Flynn at 937-469-1691 or through to participate in the master planning process.
(Thanks to Jon Flynn at the Fairborn Performing Arts & Cultural Center for providing the drawing.)
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July 6, 2007
Majestic Crest interiors
As a photographic artist, I recently I completed a labor of love – a photo shoot of the wonderful murals and interior of the Westwood Crest Theatre, on Westwood Boulevard in Los Angeles.
The owner kindly allowed me to set up in their with all the lights and blacklights. The first round of slides is at the Theatre website then click in Special Events, then on the link to Majestic Crest Pictures.
Or you can go directly to the slideshow at my site James Gordon Gallery or the web page version of the same images.
I plan to add more shots of different angle and more details of the murals. Note, these images are not for sale or distribution.