Theaters

  • November 12, 2003

    Portage Park Theatre Struggles to Open

    CHICAGO, IL — According to the Chicago Sun Times, Paul Warshauer, the new owner of the Portage Park Theatre (located in the Chicago neighborhood of the same name), is attempting to reopen the theater as a venue for classic and family-friendly films, but it would seem that the city’s revenue department has other plans.

  • November 10, 2003

    Theater Marquee Sparks Downtown Fire

    AVENAL, CA — According to a report by local television station ABC 30, the marquee of a historic movie theater was responsible for starting a blaze on Saturday evening that damaged several downtown buildings.

  • November 5, 2003

    Chicago and the Movies

    CHICAGO, IL — Monday’s issue of the USA Today took a look at all things cinematic in the Windy City. The profile includes a list of Chicago’s contributions to film history, prominent film festivals, famous movie moments, and a few of the city’s better known movie houses (like the Biograph and Gene Siskel Film Center).

    What are your favorite Chicago movie moments? (Comment below.)

  • November 4, 2003

    Chicago’s Music Box Theatre to Get New Management

    CHICAGO, IL — According to the Chicago Tribune, the Music Box, one of Chicago’s best-loved art house theaters, will soon be under the management of its current owner, lawyer William Schopf. The miniature movie palace is currently managed by Chris Carlo and Robert Chaney, who are seeking an early termination of their lease to pursue other interests.

  • October 30, 2003

    Coconut Grove May Return to Movie House Roots

    MIAMI, FL — According to this article in the Miami Today News, Miami’s famous Coconut Grove Playhouse is planning on adding a movie screen and projection equipment to show films while the theater is not being used for stage productions. The Coconut Grove was originally opened as a movie house in 1926. Says the theater’s executive director Laura Calzolar, “It’s a return to our history. In many respects, we are coming back to our roots”.

  • October 27, 2003

    Halloween Arrives Early at Theater

    SOMERVILLE, MA — According to this article in Sunday’s Boston Globe, the Somerville Theatre is haunted by a former patron, dressed in a flapper outfit from the 1920s.

    “She moves the seats. One of the first nights I was working here alone I was up in the balcony, right by the railing. There was nobody else in the theater; all the movie people had left. All of a sudden I heard all these seats, as if there were several people getting up. I ran downstairs as fast as I could, but there was nobody there. No one had exited. I kind of took it as the ghost’s way of saying, ‘Welcome.’”

  • October 6, 2003

    Surprise

    Cinema Treasures will not being publishing any news today. And, in a few hours, you’ll see why…

  • October 1, 2003

    KCET To Air Raymond Theatre Segment Tonight

    PASADENA, CA — Gina Zamparelli writes in with this update on the Raymond:

    We recently filmed a segment on the Raymond Theatre for the television show Life & Times. It will be broadcast:

    Date: TONIGHT! (October 1, 2003)
    On: KCET (Channel 3)
    Time: 7 p.m. and 11.p.m.

    The program will be televised in central and southern California. We hope everyone will tune in and watch!

    The show addresses development and growth issues in Pasadena, and in contrast our 15 years effort to protect the Raymond Theatre from redevelopment. You will see historic and current photo’s of the Raymond Theatre, old programs and flyers from the 1920’s and clips of concerts from the recent Perkins Palace era.

    View the Raymond Theatre


    Colonial Theatre To Celebrate 100th Anniversary
    PITTSFIELD, MA — Read the Berkshire Eagle Online article
    View the Colonial Theatre


    Lorenzo Theater Plans Outdoor Screening/Fundraiser
    SAN LORENZO, CA — Read the Argus article
    View the Lorenzo Theater


    Pickwick Theatre To Host Architectural Tour
    PARK RIDGE, IL — Read the Park Ridge Advocate article
    View the Pickwick Theatre

    (Thanks to Bryan Krefft for this one!)


    Memories of Baltimore’s Hippodrome
    BALTIMORE, MD — Read the Baltimore Sun article
    View the Hippodrome Theatre

  • September 9, 2003

    Mountain View Theater For Sale

    Mountain View Theater For Sale
    MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Nick Perry writes in with news about the Mountain View Theater:

    I don’t know if this qualifies for your news section, but the Mountain View Theatre building in Downtown Mountain View just went up for sale. The building housed the theatre from 1926 to the mid-1980s, and since then has been used by a series of nightclubs.

    I think a lot of people in town are crossing their fingers hoping that someone will come and bring the movies back to Downtown (instead of another nightclub or restaurant…we have PLENTY of those).

    The theater has been extensively remodeled since it started being used as a nightclub in the mid 1990s, but the basic layout of a theatre is still there. Maybe someone reading your web page has the drive and $$$ to bring this important piece of our Downtown back to life.

    If anyone out there wants more info they can email . While I’m not affiliated with the theatre’s owners, I do know a lot about its history and have some contacts within the city that may be helpful.

    Read the Mountain View Voice article
    View the Mountain View Theater

  • September 8, 2003

    Pantages Theater To Reopen In 2004?

    VANCOUVER, CANADA — Sean Jung writes in with an update on Vancouver’s Pantages Theater:

    Today, the Pantages Theater at 144 East Hastings Street in Vancouver lies surrounding by urban blight. Its neighbors are drug addicts, derelicts and homeless citizens.

    But the area known as Downtown Eastside was once the entertainment and business core of Vancouver. Many vaudeville theaters were built here which included the Imperial, Avenue, Savoy, the majestic Rex and the opulent Beacon Theater (which was the 2nd Pantages Theater built here).

    Last used as a chinese language cinema, it has been dark since 1994. Although the facade has lost much of its original appeal, the interior remains largely intact. Original wood flooring, fixture, ceiling are all still there. There is a renewed effort to resurrect the theater and restore it in hopes that it will also revitalize the area. Much of the area retains many of its historic structures including the beautiful Carnegie Library, the Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank buildings and the Ford Building.

    Much red tape holds back its redevelopment but conservationist hope to reopen this grand theater in 2004.

    Read recent Pantages article from the Vancouver Courier
    View the Pantages