The latest movie theater news and updates

  • August 11, 2005
    Theaters

    Des Plaines Theatre Prepares For 80th Birthday

    DES PLAINES, IL — The 1925 Des Plaines Theatre in downtown Des Plaines may soon have Miner Street glowing again with the neon lights of its marquee, according to the Daily Herald. Much-needed repairs on the theater’s marquee are expected to be completed by October 7-9th, when the Des Plaines will celebrate its 80th anniversary. Repairs to the sign include electrical work and a new paint job.

    The Des Plaines Theatre Preservation Society is playing host to the celebration, which will feature one of the first films to play at the theater, W.C. Fields' “Sally of the Big Sawdust”, which will be accompanied by live organ music. (The Des Plaines actually opened with “The Unholy Three” starring Lon Chaney). Ticket prices for the anniversary weekend will be the same as in 1925, a quarter. Since last year, the Society has been presenting classic films and other events, while Bollywood features continue to play on the theater’s second screen.

    1 comment
  • August 10, 2005
    For Sale

    Live In Your Own Theater!

    FLOYDADA, TX — Verlyn Ratzlaff sent us this note:

    I used to be a relief projectionist at the Palace Theater back in the early ‘70s. Lived in Floydada about 6 years during Junior High and High School and sometimes visit the Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon’s online edition.

    Noticed this classified ad in the 8/4/05 edition and thought you’d be interested. I don’t really want to join your site, but did want to share this info.

    “HOUSE FOR SALE—Unique home located inside the former Palace Theatre in Floydada. Includes 2800 sq feet office space; 2500 sq feet, 3 bedroom and 3 bath house; 500 sq. ft self-contained apartment. 5 lots. Could be used for rental or business income. Must see!”

    2 comments
  • Theaters

    3,000 British Theatre Images to go Online

    Auditoria news reports on August 4th 2005:

    Historic theatre archive to go online
    Theatres Trust awarded grant

    An image database of up to 3,000 British theatres is to be made available to the public for the first time through an online archive being created by the Theatres Trust.

    The organisation has been awarded a GBP50,000 (USD89,000) grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and hopes to upload some 8,000 images on to its website by the end of 2006. These include engravings going back to the early 19th century and photographs and posters from the turn of the 20th. There are also pictures of lost buildings, original plans of existing theatres and up-to-date photographs.

    “We have this huge resource, probably the biggest source of information about theatre buildings in the country, but up until now no one has really known about it,” says Peter Longman, Theatres Trust director.

    2 comments
  • Events

    Movie Poster Museum Exhibit

    NEW HOPE, PA — The Michener Museum is currently exhibiting old movie posters through September 4, 2005. This event is being held in their satellite location in NEW HOPE, PA (not the main museum in Doylestown, PA).

    5 comments
  • August 9, 2005
    Fundraising

    Woodsfield, Ohio

    This is my first post and I really didn’t know where to put it, so I just picked news. I live in a very small (pop under 3,000) town in East Ohio called Woodsfield. When I was younger, I knew that we had two theaters in town and after some snooping around, I learned that there was three active at the same time. That in itself is hard for me to believe.

    The first was opened by the Shannon Brothers of Sistersville, WVa. on March the 19th, 1930. It was located at 138 South Main Street here in Woodsfield. The first film ever shown in town was called “Desert Song”. The place closed in the early ‘40’s. Then in October of '38, Glen and Mena Flieman opened the Monroe Theater at ao2 North Main Street. It was open till the '70’s. And in 1939, Jesse Shannon opened the New Life Theater. It was open till the '70’s and then Re-opened in the '80’s by Ellis Smithburger who changed the name to Swissland Cinema. The last picture was shown in the mid '80’s. It’s now a church.

    The main reason I am writing this is to get any help on how to save and re-open an old theater. The Monroe Theater still stands today. I can remember it being used as an auction house and then as an antique mall. Now it stands there empty. This town needs something to be excited about again. I think a theater could be just what it needs.

    I would like to know how I might get the ball rolling or at least getting people to care about the theater again.

    -Dan

    9 comments
  • For Sale

    Great Movie Palaces : Color and B&W. $19.99

    Nostalgia Family Video, inc.
    P.O. Box 606, Baker City , OR 97814
    (800)784-3362
    Fax (541) 523-7115

    E-mail:

    3 comments
  • August 8, 2005
    Theaters

    Downtown Landmark to be Redevloped

    AUGUSTA, GA – According to the Augusta Chronicle, the historic Miller Theater was purchased last week by Augusta businessman Peter S. Knox IV. Opened in 1940 and closed since the mid-1980s, the theater will be repaired and eventually redeveloped either for “renovation” or “mothballing,” according to a statement.

    According to the Chronicle, “The Miller Theater was owned by Martinez resident Homer H. Boyd, who was facing a foreclosure sale today on the property because of more than $5,200 in delinquent taxes from 2003 and 2004 … The theater has been the focus of a grass roots effort to save it from dilapidation and was marketed through the Web page www.friendsofthemiller.com.”

    If anybody has any historical media or information that they wouldn’t mind contributing to the Miller Theater website, please visit the official website and use the contact link at the bottom of the page.

    0 comments
  • August 4, 2005
    For Sale

    Capitol Theater For Sale

    BLOOMSBURG, PA — The Capitol Theater is listed for sale on the website below.

    The theater, which I think closed in 1999, had a balcony which was converted to a second theater in the 1970’s. It’s located in the heart of Bloomsburg’s downtown and near the Bloomsburg University Campus. I was in this theater in the 1980’s and it was in decent shape but had been heavily remodeled.

    The owner opened a multi-screen outside of town and decided to close this theater.

    5 comments
  • August 3, 2005
    Memories

    Jonah In Jeopardy

    This is a long shot…but any info would be appreciated.

    In 1981, Quintet Productions put out a Book and Sing A Long tape called “Jonah in Jeopardy”. My parents purchased a copy while we were attending a Marionette play at the Promised Valley Playhouse.

    My father went to a lot of work to make a puppet theater, and my mom made puppets and we put on a puppet show for family and friends that went a long with the tape. (It has really cute songs by Ron Simpson and Clive Romney, Pictures by Pat Hoggan, Story told by Barbara Slaymaker and Marian Garnder, Marionettes for live production by Lynn Anne Richards).

    Anyways, I have inherited the theater, the puppets, and the book. Somehow along the way the tape disappeared. I am looking for a way to get a hold of a copy, additional works, etc. I am pretty sure it was a Utah based company… but could be wrong.

    Any help or ideas where to look would be appreciated.

    Thanks, Kim

    7 comments
  • For Sale

    Excellent Irwin Seats For Sale Immedately

    840 Irwin seats for sale in California.

    Email for details and price. Price does not include transportation. These seats are in used but in excellent conditon and are like new. Contact Carl at 480-710-5360 or 480-987-9801.

    Sound panels and speakers are also available in Arizona location. Everything must sell soon.

    0 comments