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The latest movie theater news and updates
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July 13, 2006
Documentary on Film Exhibition Network in Russia
We recently completed a documentary film on film exhibition and distribution in Russia:
THE PROVINCE OF LOST FILM
Dir. Alexander Gershtein, Thomas Lahusen, Tracy McDonald, Alexander Nikitin. 46 min., 21 sec.
Digital video; color and b&w.
Russian with English subtitles.For a synopsis and a trailer, see: www.chemodanfilms.com
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30 Years of Movie Posters
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Estate Sale of Anne Warner.
Twenty boxes of Movie posters collected over 30 years from local theaters by high school theater/business technology teacher. Some are rolled; some are folded. Have been stored in dry climate controlled area. Posters were displayed at local theaters; condition varies, but most are in very good condition or better. Posters will be sold from $2.00 and up. Just TOO many to inventory.
Sale is SATURDAY JULY 22, 2006
9:00 AM 514 Powell Drive Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-849-8054 -
16-screen “Movie Palace” for Milwaukee?
MILWAUKEE, WI — Lou Rugani of Kenosha Wis., was kind enough to send me this notice from a local paper. Whether one could call this to-be-built complex of screens wth a raucous lobby of “entertainment” a “Movie Palace” is up to the observer, but I guess it is good for this ritzy suburb of Milwaukee. Double Grande Staircases? Something tells me they won’t be of marble, but at least there is more attention to decor. I wonder if they will have lines of different color LEDs in the carpeting to help one find his screening room among the 16?! All they will be missing is a platoon of ushers to keep the vastness under control. And no mention of digital projection, hmmmmm. Still I give them my Best Wishes, even though they do still own one of the most glorious true movie palaces in the Midwest; the former WARNER, now called the GRAND in downtown Milw., now sitting dark, low these eleven years now with little effort by Marcus to re-program and reopen it. I guess their definition of ‘movie palace’ has changed. Jim Rankin, Milwaukee
Marcus theaters Corp., a division of Milwaukee-based Marcus Corp., is making the dinner-and-a-movie date a one-destination affair. Marcus announced Thursday it will break ground July 12 on The Majestic, a 16-screen movie theater complex in the town of Brookfield that will include an Italian cafe, a coffee and ice cream shop, a lounge and an auditorium for live performances and meetings.
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July 12, 2006
Former Odeon Middlesbrough collapses
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND — Part of Middlesbrough Town Centre was closed today, when part of the former Odeon Cinema collapsed during demolition works.
The collapse also took away scaffolding that had been erected on the Fry Street side of the auditorium. It is believed the wall gave way whilst work to remove the auditorium roof was being carried out.
It appears that the demolition was being done from within using large bulldozers to remove the ceiling. luckily, no-one was injured, although some cars parked in Fry Street are believed to been damaged.
The roads are expected to remain closed until Wednesday Evening to allow emergency demolition work on the remainder of the auditorium and removal of the scaffolding.
The Evening Gazette has more information on the collapse.
I’ve also added photos of the collapsed building to Flickr.
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Help with some Northwest cinemas
Hi, I’ve just started a PhD on the Broadhead family, and their theatre circuit.
At least 4 theatres became cinemas. They are the Tameside Hippodrome, Crown Theatre Eccles, Victoria Pavilion Morecambe and the ill-fated Empress Electric.
I have already viewed the interesting pages on this site, but would be delighted if anyone had any more info on any of the above, either as cinemas or theatres, or whatever they were in other incarntions.
Thank you very much,
Vikki -
July 11, 2006
Old Russellville Theatre seeks marquee
The old Russellville Theatre has been closed for the last 30 years and now Main Street Russellville is trying desperately to raise monies to the restore the theatre into an art deco multi-purpose facility.
Here’s what I need from all of you theatre buffs — is there a closed theatre that you know of that has a marquee that could possibly be purchased and transported to be used on another theatre? Previous owners destroyed the marquee. The theatre is now owned by the city and has been placed on our hands to preserve it and bring it back to life.
Thanks for your help.
S. Darlene Gooch
Main Street Russellville – Director
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July 10, 2006
Montreal’s Cinema du Parc to close
MONTREAL, CANADA — Sadly, it appears Cinema du Parc will be closing its door in a few weeks:
Montreal’s last English-language repertory cinema, Cinema du Parc, will close Aug. 3 because attendance has declined significantly in the past year, its owner says.
A spokesperson for the Daniel Langlois Group, which owns the theatre, said Wednesday that it had faced stiffer competition recently because other theatres started screening similar films.
The spokesperson said the company hopes to sell it to a group that would be interested in reopening the facility.
“It’s really bad for films, in the sense, apart from mainstream films, we’re losing out,” said Peter Rist, a professor of film at Concordia University in Montreal.
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July 7, 2006
Theatre Historical Society 2006 Awards
The THS Awards Banquet at the Boston Conclave was a grand and exciting occasion! And the winners are:
This year saw the inauguration of our first annual CREATING THEATRE HISTORY AWARD which will be given each year to a theater or a person as selected by the Local Conclave Chairs to honor excellence within our conclave area. The committee this year selected CESAREO PALAEZ and the Cabot Street Theatre in Beverly MA. Cesareo’s story of his escape from Cuba as a young boy and his subsequent success in America is heartwarming. His childhood love of theaters led him to buy and restore this fabulous French Deco delight and use it to house his world famous magic shows.
THE BOOK OF THE YEAR went to THEATRES OF BOSTON by our late member Don King. This book was a long time project of Mr. King and was published after his death thanks to the dedication and determination of his friends. THS Northeast Director Bob Stinson accepted the award in Don’s memory.
The HONORARY MEMBER OF THE YEAR was given to Bob Ohmann who singlehandedly restored his family business The Ohmann Theater in Lyons, NY. Mr. Ohmann today is a successful developer in North Carolina but never lost his love of his grandfather’s vintage theater in the small canal town of Western NY state. Bob used his own resources and work crews to recreate the simple beauty of the theater while updating the projection and stage equipment to accomodate modern presentation.
And the main award of the night…. MEMBER OF THE YEAR went to Dr. John Kiesendahl for his many years of quiet service to THS. Dr. John heads up our all-important Elections Committee which does not get much public attention but plays a vital part in the smooth operations of your Society. Dr. John also produced, with Dr. Tom DuBuque, the wildly popular and successful Kansas City Conclave in 2004.
Congratulations to all of our winners!
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Theatre Historical Society Names New Directors
Also at the Boston Conclave, the THS Board appointed two long time members to fill board vacancies until the 2007 elections.
In the SouthWest: FRED BEALL has agreed to represent the region. Fred has previously served THS as Secretary and has attended many conclaves over the years. He has always been a strong supporter of the organization and is looking forward to contacting the members in his region.
In the MidAtlantic: (formerly known as the Mideast region) Founding member Fr. Francis Early is stepping back into the THS inner circle to guide the region. His duties to his parish prevented him from being as active in THS as he would have liked for many years, but thankfully he is now at a point where he can devote a bit more time to his enjoyment of historic theaters and to the organization in which he was a charter member alongside Bro. Andrew and Ben Hall as founders.
For more information on Theatre Historical Society please visit our website at www.historictheatres.org
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July 6, 2006
New Chicago Theaters
CHICAGO, IL — Crain’s Chicago Business reports that Sundance Cinemas is now looking to locate on the site of Chicago’s former Fanny May factory, at the somewhat surprising location of Jackson & Racine on the West Side.
This is, however, a rapidly developing area. As a part of the Metro 290 development, Sundance plans to open a 6-to-8 screen arthouse. The site is convenient to the University of Illinois at Chicago campus, the Eisenhower Expressway, and the CTA Blue Line.
Elsewhere, as previously reported, Kerasotes plans to open two new complexes; a 14-screen near the old Bricktown Square cinemas, at Grand & Armitage, and a 16-screen in a South Loop development at Roosevelt and Wells.