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Theaters
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May 16, 2003
Community Action Award Awarded To “Save the Sameric”
PHILADELPHIA, PA —
The following was sent in by “Save The Sameric”:
At a luncheon ceremony attended by Mayor Street of Philadelphia, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia presented the Community Action Award to The Committee to Save the Sameric, Howard B. Haas, Chairman.
The Committee to Save the Sameric was formed in June 2002 following the issuance of a demolition permit for historic Boyd Theater in Philadelphia. Dedicated members of the film community, film buffs, and preservationists were brought together by Howard B. Haas, a Center City lawyer, to create a grass-roots campaign to preserve the theater. Media support and petitions signed by 5000 individuals eventually led to Mayor Street’s endorsement for preservation.
Although the future of the theater is still in question, the efforts of hundreds of volunteers-coordinated by a leadership group consisting of Haas, Shawn Evans, AIA, Michael Norris, Jay Farrell, Rob Bender, Andrew Repasky McElhinney, Adrian Scott Fine, and John Andrew Gallery-have demonstrated the effectiveness of grass-roots preservation action and given hope that the Boyd will be returned to its Art Deco splendor.
Haas accepted the award and pointed out in particular the heroic volunteer assistance of architect Shawn Evans, but noted that Philadelphia’s last movie palace has not been saved yet and asked the 300 people in the audience to help.
Congratulations to Howard Haas and Shawn Evans and all of the supporters of Save The Sameric for a job incredibly well done!
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May 8, 2003
Save The Sameric Event Next Tuesday!
PHILADELPHIA, PA — “Save the Sameric,” the preservation organization fighting to save the shuttered Boyd/Sameric Theater, will hold an event for Preservation Month on Tuesday, May 13th, at 6 PM at the Academy of Vocal Arts, Helen Corning Ward Theater, 1920 Spruce Street in Philadelphia.
This is a free event with a lecture, illustrated with slides, featuring an overview of the fate and preservation of historic movie palaces throughout the U.S. The presentation will also highlight Philadelphia movie palaces, including the Boyd (Sameric), by Adrian Fine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Save the Sameric architect, Shawn Evans.
Reservations can be made by calling (215) 546-1146 x10.
For more information on this event or the group, visit their website.
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April 12, 2003
Help Needed To Restore The Oasis In Pasadena
The following was sent in from the Oasis Theatre:
The original Pasadena California Warner Egyptian Theatre (AKA Uptown Theatre) has started restoration for musical stage productions. Famous Broadway Producer, Michael Butler has voiced an interest in producing HAIR 2003 and other musicals at this location.
Currently known as the Oasis Theatre. Located at 2316 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA. 90017, skilled craftmens are needed for the project. Anyone interested in participating should contact Oasis owner, James Perry at (626)844-8886 for more information.
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April 7, 2003
Cinema Treasures Reaches Over 3,500 Theaters!
Cinema Treasures is proud to announce that we’ve reached another milestone — 3,500 theaters … and counting!
In addition to adding more of your theater submissions, we’ve begun our long overdue effort to update our theater entries. If your update isn’t posted yet, it will be soon.
As we look forward to reaching the 4,000-theater mark, we’d just like to thank all of you for your continued support over the past few years. We’d also like to extend a special thank you to Bryan Krefft who has been serving as the new theater editor during 2003.
Thanks again everyone and enjoy!
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April 1, 2003
Latest News On The Sameric/Boyd Theater
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The recent fundraiser held by the Friends of the Boyd raised over $6,000 from ticket sales for “The Show-Off,” proceeds from the sale of a new print of the 1928 Boyd theater facade by artist Lynne Neuman, and other donations.
Added to a new $7,500 grant from the Fels Foundation, and the organization is more than half way to their goal of raising $25,000 that is needed to match a city grant of the same figure.
Howard Haas writes of the fundraiser:
[Philadelphia Inquirer film critic] Carrie Rickey gave a wonderful introduction, Warner Bros. sent us a beautiful archival print that looked new (which will help save a movie palace built by the Warner chain), Don Kinnier’s piano playing was perfect, and I was happy to speak to so many of you at our reception.
Photos of people in the auditorium & at the reception are on our website homepage, scroll down to Show-Off, click on photos! Because we had an overflow crowd, we raised a substantial amount of money for the business & architectural studies we need. We also had to turn away some latecomers, so it was good so many purchased tickets in advance or early.
More information can be found in the following articles and editorial:
Philadelphia Daily News — Pennsylvania Ballet eyeing Sameric for classrooms, offices
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March 28, 2003
“The Lost Theatres of Somerville” Exhibit Opens Today!
SOMERVILLE, MA — “The Lost Theatres of Somerville” is a special year long exhibit that opens tomorrow at 5:00 pm at the Somerville Museum.
The exhibit focuses on the the fourteen cinemas “that once thrived in this small working class city near Boston and how these ‘nabes’ — neighborhood cinemas — fostered a sense of place and common culture.”
According to Mimi Graney, “The exhibit includes a wealth of archival photographs, contemporary photos, and all sorts of memorabilia from tickets and posters to a ten foot neon marquee. [We also have] a series of lectures coming up in April and others planned for the rest of the year long run.”
For more information on this amazing exhibit, read the Lost Theaters press release or visit the exhibit’s website. The exhibit is curated by Tufts University Anthropology professor David Guss.
Hopefully this exhaustive study of Somerville’s theaters, which couples other such efforts by theater historians such as Cesar Del Valle, will inspire more of these around the county.
We’ll continue to update you about special events surrounding this terrific exhibit.
Thanks to Mimi Graney for keeping us updated and to David Guss for reminding all of us what we’ve lost.
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March 24, 2003
Another 1960s Theater To Be Demolished
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The original 1964 Andorra Theater, last known as the AMC Andorra 8, is slated to be demolished and replaced by a fitness center.
Read the Review article
Read more about this theaterThis all too familiar story serves as a reminder that the most endangered theaters in the country have, of late, been those built after 1960.
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Loew’s Jersey Announces Upcoming Events
JERSEY CITY, NJ — The Loew’s Jersey Theatre will host the following events this coming weekend:
The 2nd Annual Classic Comedy Weekend
Saturday, March 29, 4PM
The Sons of the Desert (1933) 73 min.Saturday, March 29, 8PM
A Night At The Opera (1935) 92 min.
Shown with three classic Three Stooges shorts!Paul Wesolowski will display rare posters and film stills in the Loew’s and will give a brief introduction to A Night At The Opera that will include questions from the audience.
Sunday, March 30, 2PM
Bob Hope’s 100th Birthday Double Feature
The Road To Morocco (1942) 83 min.
The Seven Little Foys (1955) 93 min.If you haven’t been to the restoration-in-progress, this is a perfect time to show your support.
Thanks to the Friends of the Loew’s for the update!
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Aero Theatre Announces Farewell Party
SANTA MONICA, CA — The following email has been sent from Chris Allen of the Aero:
I’m pleased to announce that we will be hosting a farewell party on Saturday, April 12, 2003. The movie “Blazing Saddles” will be the feature presentation because it is a time for laughter and not tears. Like our other special events, there will be food and wine, and tickets will once again be $20.
I want to thank all of you for your support over the last year. Without your help, the Aero would have surely met its demise.
American Cinematheque will have a representative on hand that night to let us all know of their plans to bring the Aero back to its original glory! I hope to see everyone that night. Continued vigilance will assure the Aero’s safety for years to come.
For more information, visit the Aero Theatre website.
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March 17, 2003
Two Remain In Running For Chicago Theatre
CHICAGO, IL — The list of potential owners and operators of the famous Chicago Theatre has been reduced to two.
Read the Chicago Tribune article
Thanks to Bryan Krefft for the update.
(Three more stories below.)