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The latest movie theater news and updates
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April 1, 2006
Kent Theatre Moving to Japan
CEDAR SPRINGS, MI — The Kent Theatre has had a long 120 year history in Cedar Springs Michigan, but that is soon to change. The Cedar Spring Theatre Association announced tuesday that the Kent Theatre has been sold to the Japanese Investment Company IBPC OSAKA, located in Tokyo Japan. The company has long strives to improve U.S. and Japanese relations and feel this move is beneficial to both countries.
The sale of the Kent Theatre will be finalized April 20th 2006. The final movie to be show will be April 15th 2006 with the Dustin Hoffman Classic “Little Big Man” All resident attending will receive a * free egg rolls in celebration of the final showing. *(Limit one per paid admission)
After the sale the Kent Theatre , it will be disassembled and all pieces number and shipped to its new home in city of Osaka Japan. The Theatre will be lovingly reassembled in its new home and the residents are delighted with the prospects. The theatre will feature the American silent movies of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd.
Len Allington, President of the Cedar Springs Theatre Association was instrumental in the negotiation of the sale. Speaking from a phone in Osaka Japan , Len expressed how proud he was of the sale stating “I am very impressed with the amount of respect the Japanese people have for this classic theatre, I feel this is the best move available for the true preservation of this theatre. Adding, "We will also make about $10.000 profit in this deal and that will be added bonus!!” Mr. Allington also stated “Under the June 2001 agreement between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President George W. Bush, the governments of Japan and the United States have jointly held seminars in order to promote better understanding of foreign direct investment, and facilitate investment in Japan at the local level. Both sides have been emphasizing the very real investment opportunities that exist in Japan, made even more appealing by the recent upturn in the Japanese economy. This sale is a direct response to President Bush’s ideas, a man I hold in high regard!”
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March 31, 2006
Trylon Theatre Denied Landmark Status
FOREST HILLS, NY — The Landmarks Preservation Commission has decided that the 66 year-old Trylon Theatre does not meet its designation criteria, according to this story in today’s New York Daily News.
In a letter to City Councilwoman Melinda Katz, Chairman Robert Tierney said, “[The Trylon] will not be recommended to the full commission for further consideration as an individual landmark”. Since last summer, the former movie house has been in the process of being converted into the Education Center for Russian Jewry, serving the area’s Bukharian Jewish populace.
Michael Perlman, founder of the Committee to Save the Trylon Theatre, maintains that as one of the few remaining structures built in homage to the World’s Fair of 1939-40, the theater does have architectural and cultural significance. Perlman said of the commission, “They don’t give a damn about the opinions of the people who inhabit their communities. They are the ones who know their communities best.”
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Yahoo! Features Cinema Treasures
Yahoo is featuring Cinema Treasures, along with a photo by Cinema Treasures user and volunteer Sean Doerr, on its Yahoo Search Directory homepage.
Cool!
(And greetings to new users who are visiting us from Yahoo for the first time!)
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March 30, 2006
SOLD: Fox Theatre in Hays, Kansas
HAYS, KS — The Historic Fox Theatre has been sold to Colorado Real Estate Developer and Fort Hays State Alumni Brooks Kellogg for $101,000.00.
In Wedneday’s edition of the Hays Daily News, there is front page article titled “Buying a piece of history,” which indicates work on the building will start sometime this summer, which will include bringing the building up to code, but specifics were not reveiled.
The building, which was owned by the City of Hays, after it was given to them in December 2003, has set unused for 2 years. Dickinson Theatre is final owner of the building had the stipulation that it could not be used for 1st or 2nd run moives, which limited the buying potential according to the auctioneer.
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Grant lights up theater sign fund-raising campaign in Amarillo, Texas
AMARILLO, TX — Center City of Amarillo, Texas has awarded a $40,000 grant to the Amarillo Historical Preservation Foundation (AHPF) to restore the historic Paramount Theater electrical sign that adorned the Paramount Building in downtown Amarillo from 1932 until the late 1970s.
The AHPF plans to raise at least $80,000 to complete the job and provide long-term maintenance on the sign, which will be placed in its original location on the Paramount Building, Ninth Avenue at Polk Street, when completed. The sign was removed in the late 1970s for use at a disco in the city’s warehouse district northeast of downtown. The AHPF acquired the sign in late 2005.
“We wouldn’t have considered a job so large without Center City’s help,” said Wes Reeves, president of the AHPF. “We can now get started on a dream we’ve had for a number of years.”
Wellborn Sign Company of Amarillo, with a major restoration award under its belt, has been chosen to restore the Paramount sign. Wellborn was the 2005 winner of the Texas Sign Association’s best restoration project for its work on the historic Ritz Theatre in Wellington, Texas, where a 1940s-era sign and marquee were brought back to life after years of neglect.
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March 29, 2006
Final Act for Act 1 & 2 Cinemas
BERKELEY, CA — According to a report from the Berkeley Daily Planet, the Act 1 & 2 Cinema closed for good on March 26:
Act 1&2 Theatre at 2128 Center St., showed final screenings of C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America and Summer Storm to sparse audiences Sunday before closing down for good.
The lease for the two-screen cinema, owned by Landmark Theatres, had run out, said Vice President of Marketing Ray Price.
He refused to comment on specific reasons for the closure, but said, “In general, one of the problems with theater properties is the retail value of the square footage is higher than the value of the theater. Other retail venues can better afford to pay that.”
“It’s not uncommon,” he said.
Landmark operates 57 theaters nationwide and specializes in art-house first-run independents, foreign film classics and other nontraditional cinema. In the East Bay, the company owns the California Theatre, Shattuck Cinemas, Piedmont Theatre and the Albany Twin. It acquired Act 1&2 in 1994.
Employees who chose to stay with the company were given the option to transfer to other theaters, said Act 1&2 Manager Chris Hatfield.
Last week, a theater employee told the Daily Californian on condition of anonymity that the theater was closing because low customer turnout was exacting a toll on financial solvency. Price would not confirm that.
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March 28, 2006
Looking for theaters to revitalize
I recently fell upon this wonderful site and became a member.
I was doing a search on a local theater in NJ, the Harwan Theater. I had wanted to revitalize it and was hoping somehow I could re-design the space or buy it. I found out the theater is in the process of renovation and re-opening.
I am an interior designer and have always wanted to open my own club/restaurant. I was wondering if there are any theaters that are closed that can possibly be turned into a venue either for live theater, live music, club or a restaurant.
I am all for saving theater in this country but I didn’t realize the amount of theaters we have, unfortunately most of them are closed. I would like to save the architecture and possibly turn an existing run down space into something new and exciting.
Please if anyone can help me in achieving this I would highly appreciate this. Who do I need to contact? I will look into each theater individually if I have to. I would also be interested in saving the building to us as a theater if I felt that was the best use for the space.
Last thing, on average how much does a theater cost to buy? I live in NJ so anything in surrounding states is fine.
Thanks, Kristin
(My email is )
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March 27, 2006
Ridgewood Theater to close?
NEW YORK, NY — On Sunday, the New York Daily News published a report about the future of the Ridgewood Theatre.
Preservationists fear the opening of a Glendale multiplex could force the historic Ridgewood Theatre to close its doors for good – about a decade shy of its 100th birthday.
The Ridgewood, designed by architect Thomas Lamb and first opened in December 1916, is believed to be one of the oldest continuously operated theaters in the country, having never closed for renovations during its 89-year run.
But residents think the upcoming opening of a Regal Cinemas multiplex in the Shops at Atlas Park, an office/retail complex on Cooper Ave. between 80th and 83rd Sts., will bring too much competition for the Ridgewood.
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Cinemart Theater To Undergo Partial Restoration: Search for vintage photos
FOREST HILLS, NY — My name is Michael Perlman, and I am a Forest Hills preservationist who is assisting the owner of the Cinemart Theater with the restoration of an ornate coffered ceiling from 1925.
The ceiling is located in the entryway/lobby, & is concealed with lackluster, industry-standard paneling. The theater was formerly known as the Metropolis and the Inwood. This is one of the many activities I hope to accomplish in honor of Forest Hills' 100th anniversary this year.
I would appreciate it if anyone can share photos of the interior/exterior prior to the 2002 renovation (1925-2001), since this will assist us in the restoration. If you don’t have any photos, I would appreciate any bit of advice as to where I can find some. Also, if you can provide some restoration tips, that would be of great help too. Please e-mail me at Thank you!
Please read the following March 15th Daily News article by reporter Nicholas Hirshon, which documents our effort and the history of the Cinemart:
www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/399660p-338622c.html
The Cinemart website is as follows: www.cinemartcinemas.com/chc/cc/about_us.asp
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Theater Equipment for sale
We recently purchased a theater located in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. We have acquired numerous theater equipment such as: Art Deco theater seats, light bars, projector equipment, 45' screen, curtains, Marquis Letter’s, etc.
If anyone is interested in purchasing these items, please contact Mike.
Thanks and as always have a great day!
Mike A.
608-637-3291