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Theaters
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October 26, 2006
Pearl River Theater purchased by town
PEARL RIVER, NY — With plans to hopefully revitalize the Pearl River Theater, the city is saving it from the wrecking ball. At the moment, they are entertaining proposals for its future.
Orangetown may soon purchase a vacant theater for less than the cost of a matinee movie ticket.
Town Supervisor Thom Kleiner said the town reached a tentative agreement this week to buy the Pearl River Movie Theater building on Central Avenue for $1 from Skyview Plaza Development Corp. All the board has to do is grant a zone change for another project the developer has in town.
To read more, visit the Journal News.
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October 24, 2006
Santa Clarita theater shortage
SANTA CLARITA, CA — As evidenced by the number of articles you see on this website, new megaplexes are popping up all around the country to fulfill the growing suburbia. However, with a constantly rising population, the Santa Clarita Valley is not seeing a rising number of screens.
Every year, throngs of movie crews flock to the Santa Clarita Valley to capitalize on the area’s photogenic suburban streets and mountainous topography.
But these days the rapidly growing city is missing a key component in the film business: movie screens.
Santa Clarita has just two movie theaters and 22 screens for an area of nearly 168,000 residents.
To read more about this, visit the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.
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Ground broken for Texas theater
BURLESON, TX — The growing Burleson Commons area will soon have a modern movie theater with flashy additions such as a jazz bar and amphitheater.
Burleson Partners LLC and a company called Screenworks broke ground last week on a 12-screen movie theater that is regarded as one of the main anchor businesses in the commercial development here known as the Burleson Commons.
“This is a great day for the city of Burleson,” Mayor Ken Shetter said at Thursday morning’s groundbreaking ceremony at the site. “We believe it’s a good deal for the city. This is going to be an asset for Burleson families and the city of Burleson.”
Burleson Commons, a 38-acre property on the southeast corner of Texas 174 and Farm-to-Market Road 714, is under development by Burleson Partners through its parent company Cullinan Properties in Peoria, Ill.
For more, read the Burleson Crowley Connection.
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October 23, 2006
Vintage theater shopping to purchase
How’s everyone in the theater industry today? I’m in the market to acquire historic or vintage theaters for sale in the United States. There have been some opportunities where you may purchase them for a dollar, but you have to fully restore them. Cities have been known to give them away, but they have to generate tax revenue. Please keep me posted on such underlying opportunities. I would highly appreciate it very much. You may e-mail on viable prospects to or ..
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October 18, 2006
Loew’s Kings Theatre to be saved
BROOKLYN, NY — The city’s Economic Development Corp. is seeking proposals from developers interested in reviving the 77 year old theater.
A legendary but long-shuttered Brooklyn performance palace – which in its heyday saw the likes of Bob Hope and Milton Berle take the stage – has been saved from the wrecking ball.
The majestic Loew’s Kings theater on Flatbush Avenue had been in danger of being demolished by City Hall bulldozers before community groups and Borough President Marty Markowitz jumped in with calls for the iconic venue’s revival.
For more on this story, visit theNY Post.
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October 17, 2006
Wrecking ball awaits Downtown Beirut landmark
BEIRUT, LEBANON — After a much varied past, highlighting the changes in its country, the famous Dome will be torn down.
It’s an icon, it’s an eyesore – whatever it is, it’s doomed again. The bulbous, pock-marked structure flanking Martyrs Square in Downtown Beirut – an old movie theater known variously as the dome, the egg, the bubble, the blob, saboune (meaning soap) or by its official name, the Beirut City Center Building – is inevitably going to be demolished, according to all parties currently involved in deciding the building’s fate.
Originally designed by Lebanese architect Joseph Philippe Karam, the dome was built in 1965 as part of a larger, three-part complex of towers and shopping arcades that was expected, in an untimely burst of inauspicious optimism, to become the most important commercial center in the Middle East.
For more, visit the Daily Star.
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October 13, 2006
State Theatre wins State Historical Society Top Award for Preservation
BAY CITY, MI — The State Theatre was awarded the Historical Society of Michigan’s 2006 State History Award for Preservation at the 132nd State History Conference in Bay City.
Built in 1908 during the booming lumbering era in Michigan, the State Theatre was known as the Bijou and was one of many vaudeville and burlesque houses in downtown Bay City. The Bijou was renovated in 1930 by renowned architect C. Howard Crane whose impressive body of work includes the twin Fox Theatres in Detroit and St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Crane designed the Bay City State Theatre to resemble a Mayan Temple and the theater remains a magnificent example of art deco architecture which exudes a warm and intimate character with seating on the main floor as well as a second floor balcony.
To read more, visit My Bay City.
(Thanks to John Trudell from the State Theatre for providing the photo.)
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October 12, 2006
Historic Michigan Theater restored by SmithGroup wins award
ANN ARBOR, MI, — The SmithGroup-designed restoration of the historic Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, MI, was recently recognized with LHAT’s prestigious 2006 Outstanding Historic Theatre Award. SmithGroup is the nation’s 7th largest architecture & engineering firm (according to Building Design Construction magazine 2006).
The award was presented to Russ Collins, the Michigan Theater’s long-time director, during the League’s annual awards banquet in Hollywood, CA this past summer.
According to Russ Collins, the Michigan Theater was selected for two reasons: one, for its interesting and diverse programming and two, for the ambient quality of the restored architecture. Members of the SmithGroup historic preservation studio worked on this project from almost the beginning. It is that continuity and commitment that was recognized and appreciated by the awards panel.
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October 11, 2006
Aspen purchases Isis Theatre
ASPEN, CO — The Isis Theatre will remain afloat now that the city and private investors are chipping in to keep it open. While one screen will turn into retail, the four remaining ones will still be leased out to Aspen Filmfest.
The city of Aspen, along with private investors and Aspen Filmfest, have reached a deal to acquire the Isis Theater for $7.5 million, the city announced on Tuesday.
The city claims the public/private/nonprofit partnership won’t cost taxpayers anything because of the method of financing. The city is selling certificates of participation on the municipal credit market that will be paid back over 30 years with the proceeds generated from the building. Certificates of participation are similar to bonds.
For more, read the Aspen Daily News.
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October 9, 2006
Pavilion Theatre sold
BROOKLYN, NY — The Pavilion Theatre has been sold in Park Slope. Despite rumors saying otherwise, it will remain a movie theater.
Park Slope’s Pavilion multiplex theater may have been sold, but it’s not a wrap for the popular neighborhood movie house.
While rumors had been circulating that the theater would be converted to residential housing, Abraham Hidary of Manhattan-based Hidrock Realty, whose affiliate purchased the property for $16 million, said they never had any foundation in reality.
For the full story, go to Courier-Life.