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Theaters
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October 9, 2006
Old time movie theater has low prices and hometown feel
ANTIOCH, IL — The Antioch Theater receives praise for providing a superior moviegoing experience like the old days with modern amenities.
Going to a movie at the Antioch Downtown Theater, 378 Lake St., is taking a step back in time to when prices were low and service was important.
Cindy Kottke, 49, president of “C” You at the Movies, Inc., McHenry, last year gutted and renovated the theater, installed new sound and picture equipment, spruced it up with movie memorabilia and still manages to keep ticket and concession prices lower than any modern multi-plex.
To read more about this story, visit the Suburban Chicago News.
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October 6, 2006
Orpheum Theater Hannibal, MO bought by Chalet Theaters (UPDATED)
HANNIBAL, MO — THe Historic Orpheum Theater in Hannibal, MO, has been purchased by Chalet Theaters of Florida. They are a small ‘chain’ that is investing in historic and vaudeville era theaters.
Chalet Theaters now has 10 theaters of this nature and has plans on geting up to 15 within the next year. The owners are interested in preserving the history of the older and grand theaters that once stood for beauty and class. With the purchase of this theater this adds to their list of these.
They bought the theater after its past owners ran out of funds and could not secure any more. Extensive repairs and remodeling has already been done and Chalet Theaters plans more starting in November 2006. They will be updating the sound and projection to state of the art, and also plan to have continued live shows. Below is the info about the theater.
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Vogue Theatre N/A
LOS ANGELES, CA — My quest to aquire the Vogue Theatre in Hollywood has failed! One of the owners, Carol, told me she was not interested in either renting, leasing or selling. There are proposed plans to convert it into another night club -such as they are doing to the Fox Theatre across the road.
Meanwhile, I’m still searching for a southern California moderate size cinema/theater to screen British Films in; independent, art, second run, etc.
If readers have any news, I’d welcome their comments and help at .
Many thanks,
Simon Overton
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Parkway Theater revamps ‘dinner and a movie’
OAKLAND, CA — Long a purveyor of a superior moviegoing experience to the people of Oakland, the Parkway Theatre receives praise for its format. Serving food and prohibiting most showings to anyone under 21, the theater is still building a loyal customer base.
Dinner and a movie is a classic combination, but Oakland’s only “speakeasy theater,” the Parkway Theater, revamps the combination.
Described by the Speakeasy Theater’s Web site as being “the anti-multiplex,” the Parkway boasts two screening rooms offering a variety of movies that include recent blockbusters, cult classics and local films not shown anywhere else.
For more, visit the Mills Weekly.
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October 4, 2006
Fox Riverside renovation
RIVERSIDE, CA — In a proposal city officials say will produce long-planned projects and make up for previously deferred upgrades, the Riverside ( Calif. ) City Council is set to vote this week on the initial plans for a $780 million citywide proposal for municipal facilities and infrastructure.
The plan contains essential cultural upgrades, including a retrofitted Metropolitan Museum , expanded Convention Center, rehabilitated Municipal Auditorium and a completely refurbished Fox Theater —– which is probably the most forward-looking aspect of the plan. Not only will it restore one of the city’s historical gems, it will finally give Riverside a first-class performance arts facility.
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October 2, 2006
Cinema owner protests new films by shutting down theater
HOOPESTON, IL — The Lorraine Theatre was recently shut down in protest over the new films from Hollywood.
A small-town theater owner says he wasn’t trying to send Hollywood a message when he shut down for two weeks rather than show box-office leader “Jackass 2” or other new releases that he calls, “drivel.”
“The movies are so bad and I don’t need the money … I just didn’t think I should use my high-quality facilities to show people vomiting on screen,” said Boardman, whose theaters boast a high-tech, eight- channel digital sound system.
For more on this, read theAssociated Press Article or visit the Lorraine Theatre’s Website.
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Madison South Towne Cinemas closed
Marcus Theatres seems to be on a closing spree, they recently closed the 5 screen South Towne Cinemas in Madison, WI. They are going to build a new 12 screen complex about a half-mile east of this closed cinema. This theater never really did that well and in recent years was a “discount” first-run house. It was in very tough shape.
No info on the inclusion of either digital screens or one of the Marcus “Ultra-Screens” in the new complex. It will not open until sometime next year.
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September 22, 2006
Art Theatre Update
LONG BEACH, CA — My recent news that the Long Beach Art Theatre was to close and resurface as a night club was, as the manager said to me: “the deal fell
through.”The marquee lights and neon sign are still shining in the night. I’m so glad. Long live the Art.
But now the “Rocky Horror” crowd will have to cross the bay to the liner Queen Mary for their
toast and rice throwing escapades!See you at the movies… Simon Overton
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September 21, 2006
Chalet Theaters Rescues Pioneer Theater
FALFURRIAS, TX — After a long time of being silent, Chalet Theaters is rescuing the once-grand Pioneer Theater in Falfurrias, TX. The theater has seen better days and the former owner ran it for 30 years before leasing it out to others. These people did not know how to run a theater and the folks had to go sit down only to get back up again to get their hot dogs and popcorn.
Chalet Theaters will redo the balcony and other aspects of the theater. It has many numerous designs inside. The first order of business is to equip the theater with state of the art projection and sound. The neon will be on soon again. With plans to show both English and Spanish movies, it will be a hit again to a town that needs it badly.
A picture of the theater can be found here:
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September 20, 2006
UA Travis on the market again
STATEN ISLAND, NY — The former UA Theater is being turned around again, mostly due to the booming commercial real estate market.
The building that used to house the UA Theater in Travis is back on the market for $21 million — three times more than what it sold for last year.
The largest and busiest multiplex on Staten Island when it opened in 1987, the UA Theater was overshadowed by its newer sister cinema in Mariners Harbor, the UA Stadium 16 Theater, which opened in 2001.
For more, read the Staten Island Advance.