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Renovations
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January 7, 2004
Colonial Theatre Pics
CANAAN, CT — As a followup to yesterday’s story about the Colonial Theatre, Roger Katz sent in a few pics of the theater’s restoration. The first shot was taken approximately a year ago (before restoration began), while the other shots were taken within the last few weeks.
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January 6, 2004
The Colonial: Slowly Coming Back to Life
CANAAN, CT — According to a recent report from the Litchfield County Times, restorations are slowly bringing the Colonial Theatre back to life.
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December 29, 2003
Flagship Cinemas Sued by State of Maine, May be Forced to Sell Strand Theatre
ROCKLAND, ME — The Maine Attorney General’s office has filed an antitrust suit against Flagship Cinemas, the present owners of Rockland’s long-closed Strand Theatre, according to a report in the Village Soup.
The suit charges that Flagship, which purchased the Strand in 2001 with promises of restoration, has kept the theater closed as a means of preventing competitors from using the theater. As a remedy, Maine’s Attorney General is seeking to force Flagship to sell the Strand to an independent third-party.
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December 19, 2003
Cla-Zel Investors Look to the Future
BOWLING GREEN, OH — According to a report in the Toledo Blade, the current owners of the CLA-ZEL Theatre have replaced the theater’s roof, upgraded the lobby, and made many general improvements over the past few years.
But what’s next? The group plans to create a comprehensive, five-year plan for keeping the CLA-ZEL in good shape. A top priority: the theater’s marquee.
“It is the landmark of the downtown,” said Paul Yon, director of development of Cla-Zel Theater, Inc. “The marquee is vitally important for the preservation of the facility itself.”
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December 17, 2003
Granby in Norfolk Va
NORFOLK, VA — The old Granby Theatre, which has been closed for several years, is under renovations at this time.
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November 26, 2003
Ritz Theater Officially Begins Restoration
WELLINGTON, TX — Work has officially begun on the Ritz Theater restoration in tiny Wellington, Texas. Historic Wellington Inc., which is spearheading the restoration, received $150,000 in funding from a local foundation and has contracted with an area building contractor to remove 20-plus years of debris and rebuild the damaged roof and interiors of the 1928 mission-revival theater.
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November 17, 2003
Reconstruction Underway at the Loew’s State
EUREKA, CA — The former Loew’s State is in the process of a $2 million reconstruction, according to an article in the Eureka Reporter. Converted into retail space in 1971, it has sat vacant for more than a decade. To be renamed the Historic Sweasey Theatre, the theater will showcase live stage shows, both local and visiting companys will be sought to use this future cultural landmark.
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November 13, 2003
Strand Restoration Estimated to Cost $3 Million
ATLANTA, GA — The Friends of the Strand, who are trying to save Atlanta’s long-closed Deco movie theater, have determined that the cost of a complete restoration of the theater is just shy of $3 million dollars, according to an article in today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution. The Strand, which hasn’t shown a movie for 27 years, is perhaps the only remaining Art Deco theater in the state of Georgia and is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
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November 10, 2003
Milwaukee in Theater Spotlight
MILWAUKEE, WI — Events in the past two days have literally put the city of Milwaukee in the theatrical spotlight.
On Thursday last, the first Milwaukee International Film Festival opened at the Oriental Theatre, with hundreds of people being greeted by the huge searchlight brightening the night sky. From Nov. 6th through the 16th, some 10,000 people are expected to enjoy some 100 films by independent filmmakers from three dozen nations as the show moves each day to other local vintage theaters including the Downer, and the Times, as well as the University of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee Cinema. More info is available at www.milwaukeefilmfestival.org.
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November 6, 2003
Avalon Theatre Restoration Wins 2 Awards
KENSINGTON, MD — GTM Architects has announced that the firm has won two awards for its restoration work on Washington, D.C.’s Avalon Theatre. The awards, the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation in the category of community involvement and the Pro Bono Design Award from the Washington Architectural Foundation, were given for the firm’s work on the Avalon’s facade and lobby areas, and improving the theater’s ADA compliance.