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The latest movie theater news and updates
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December 30, 2005
ABC News: No Happy Ending in 2005 For Hollywood
ABC is reporting the bad news that everyone has been pretty much expecting… ticket sales continued to drop this year:
The bad news is that audiences did not exactly go ape over the rest of 2005’s cinema offerings, making this the third straight year of decline in Hollywood ticket sales — the first such stretch of bad news in 40 years. Because of the continued falloff — sales are down 12.6 percent from 2002 — a growing number of analysts are wondering whether America’s movie habits are changing permanently.
“The industry has to consider whether or not American audiences are sending a message about the quality of the movies they are getting — or just the way and the place in which they get them,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, a firm that analyzes box-office trends. “You can bet that producers, writers, directors and studio heads are all huddling intensely to consider what this means and change their behavior to keep it from continuing.”
20 comments -
December 29, 2005
Buy the State Theatre in South Bend
SOUTH BEND, IN — The State Theatre in downtown South Bend is closed and is available for sale.
Most recently operated as a night club featuring live music, the 34,000 plus square foot building is awaiting renovation. South Bend’s downtown is experiencing growth as a restaurant and entertainment destination with the Morris Performing Arts Center being the main attraction.
Check out these two sites for South Bend’s potential:
http://morriscenter.org/
http://www.downtownsouthbend.com/index.htmContact the Prudential One Realty Commercial Division for more info… e-mail .
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December 28, 2005
‘Palace Treasure’ author to read at Chicago’s Uptown
CHICAGO, IL — Selections from “Palace Treasure,” a screenplay by Jerry Vasilatos, will be read by the author at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, in Uptown.
The venue is the Golden House Restaurant/Pancake House party room, 4744 N. Broadway. Write for more information. Seating is limited.
Based on memories of Chicago’s Uptown and Granada theatres and the legends of the buildings' owners and caretakers, “Palace Treasure” is Vasilatos' tribute to the Chicago of his youth and to the spirit of such historic buildings. The story features community-minded underdogs who race against the clock to thwart a planned demolition and real-estate development of a historic theatre. Their adventure includes looking for a valuable-but-lost silent film that is thought to be hidden somewhere within the palatial 1920s movie palace.
Vasilatos, who now calls Hollywood home, is an indepedent film writer, editor, director and producer. He is visiting Chicago friends and family for the holidays and has volunteered to host this special “Friends of the Uptown” night.
A synopsis of “Palace Treasure” can be read on Vasilatos' Web site,
http://www.nitestar.com/palace_synopsis.htmlFriends of the Uptown, Uptown Theatre, Chicago.
http://www.uptowntheatre.com -
Gilt mirrors from New York’s Paramount Theatre
My family has 2 large gilt mirrors from the Paramount in NYC (1501 Broadway) that were rescued prior to the demolition.
We are trying to value the mirrors. Any ideas about how to do this? Or where I could find pictures of the original interior showing the mirrors?
Thanks!
Emily
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December 27, 2005
Seeking info on Percival “Patty” Roberts
NEW YORK, NY — Hello, I am looking for information on my great-grandfather, Percival “Patty” Roberts who died on Staten Island in the early 1960’s.
My great-grandfather was the stage manager/electrician at the Palace Theater, I assume on Staten Island, but could be the one in Manhattan?? Possibly at the turn of the century, 19-twenties? I have old photos of him at a switchboard backstage which looks to be about six feet wide by eight feet tall, lots of “Frankenstein” switches.
I remember him smoking cigars and calling me “wildwoman” when I was about three. He died shortly after that. He knew a lot of vaudeville stars, Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, etc.
My grandmother, Florence Adelaide Roberts, would fill in between acts singing opera on stage as a little girl.
Thank You!
Florence M. “Rennie” (Castle) Miller
1060 Rock Road
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 -
December 26, 2005
Oceanside Twin Closed For Good?
LONG ISLAND, NY — Just before Thanksgiving, a fire was intentionally set to an old abandoned supermarket. The building burned down. Unfortunately, this building was connected the the Oceanside Twin movie theater.
The theater itself sustained no fire damage. It did however sustain heavy smoke and water damage. But the main damage was done by the fire department ripping the ceilings and walls open.
The theater is currently closed. All indications from the ownwers are that the theater will never re-open.
Long Island loses another of it’s oldtime movie houses.
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Harem Theatre in NYC?
Up until the revitalization on West 42nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue, there was a porno theater called The Harem, located at what looks like where the BB King now stands.
I need some assistance finding out what The Harem was known as before its life as a porno theater.
I know it must have had a life before porn.
Thanks again,
Greenpoint -
December 23, 2005
Loews and AMC to Sell 10 Theaters
Loews and AMC have agreed to each sell five theaters as a condition for the government to approve their merger next year. From the official press release:
“Five theaters from each circuit have been selected by the [uS Department of Justice and various state attorneys general] for sale as a condition to enable the companies to proceed with their transaction. The theaters are as follows:
AMC Fenway 13 (Boston)
AMC City North 14 (Chicago)
AMC Union Station 9 (D.C.)
AMC Kabuki 8 (San Francisco)
AMC Van Ness 14 (San Francisco)
Loews Webster Place 11 (Chicago)
Loews E-Walk 13 (New York City)
Loews (Cineplex Odeon) Meridian 16 (Seattle)
Loews Keystone 16 (Dallas)
Loews (Cineplex Odeon) Wisconsin Ave. 6 (D.C.)It is anticipated that the sales process could take at least four months.
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8th Avenue Theatre?
NEW YORK, NY — What theatre was located on 8th Avenue between West 50th and West 51 streets? I remember they demolished this theatre when they erected the Longacre Apartments. This was sometime in the late 90’s.
It was one block over from the old Madison Square Garden, which was demolished in the late ‘60’s / early 70’s and became the Worldwide Plaza and home to the Cineplex Odeon Worldwide Cinemas (now the Dodger Stages).
I recall the entrance as being on Eighth Avenue closer to West 50th Street. Please help me figure this out, its been on my mind.
Thanks,
Greenpoint -
WANTED: General Cinema’s trailer theme for my cell phone
Does anybody have the classic General Cinema trailer theme that can be downloaded into my cell phone?
Please reply to : .
Thank You Much