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The latest movie theater news and updates
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July 16, 2004
Fine Arts Cinema Officially Dead
BERKELEY, CA — Theatergoers of Berkeley, CA and the East Bay recently suffered the end of an era of repertory cinema when the Fine Arts Cinema was officially declared dead.
Patrick Kennedy, owner and developer of the apartment and commercial complex being completed on the cinema’s former site, said that the last operator, Keith Arnold, had informed him that he had given up on reopening in the building bearing its name because he had been unable to raise the $800,000 to $1.2 million necessary to outfit the unfinished space offered by Kennedy.
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July 15, 2004
Norwest Theatre to be Demolished Next Week
DETROIT, MI — The Norwest Theatre will be demolished within the next two weeks to make way for an A & W or Long John Silvers Drive-Thru. (The theater’s owner previously demolished the Mercury theater.
Many have asked the owner if they can get pictures of the theater’s interior before it’s demolished, but he’s refused their requests, saying there is “mold and smoke” in the theater. But I hardly believe that. This is a perfectly viable theater — it closed just four years ago, in 2000.
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WANTED - Velvet Ropes with Stanchions
Currently looking for (red, gold, etc) velvet ropes with stanchions (posts) for independent film fundraising events. During the fundraising events, we plan to create a “RED CARPET” enterance, the velvet ropes would add a classy touch to the entrance. Please contact Allyson if you know of anyone/theater that would want to sell velvet ropes. Thanks!
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July 14, 2004
De Uitkijk In Amsterdam About To Close
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS — The first and oldest art house theater in The Netherlands, “De Uitkijk”, is about to close. The tiny theater on the Prinsengracht 452 has been running since 1929, but now faces a final shut-down after a couple of years of loss.
Currently there aren’t any cinema chains or owners looking into saving the site, nor does the local government seem to care. The Filmmuseum has shown interest (since it’s roots lie in the theater), but have no money at all. The current owner is still looking for financial aid to keep the theater open.
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Arts Cinema Opening Within Historic Art Deco London Landmark
From press release:
“Picturehouse Cinemas, operators of London’s favourite neighbourhood cinemas (Living London Awards as voted by LBC 97.3FM listeners ), announce the opening of their 19th venue The Olympia Cinema, located within the Olympia Exhibition complex in Kensington.
The cinema opens to the public on Friday July 23rd, and for the opening weekend all tickets to all films will be just £1 and there are also free previews of summer blockbusters, details of how to get tickets are available from the website www.picturehouses.co.uk.
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July 13, 2004
Today’s Newsreel
Boston’s Opera House prepares to reopen, a battle is on to save the Odeon in Christchurch, New Zealand, while the Strand in Plattsburgh, NY looks ready for its comeback — all in today’s newsreel.
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July 12, 2004
Parkway Theater Closed
Minneapolis, MN — Bill Irvine, the owner of the Parkway Theater, has closed the doors after 29 years in operation, according to an article in the Pulse of the Twin Cities. Citing rising property taxes and the ongoing struggle of independent theaters as the reason for the closing, there is now a ‘For Sale’ sign on the building.
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July 9, 2004
Mayfair Theater To Be Demolished In August 2004
VENTURA, CA — The S. Charles Lee designed Mayfair Theater will be demolished to make room for a new housing development in August.
The building was gutted by fire three years ago, but the marquee and facade still stand. Some community members have gotten donations to remove the marquee and store it for an as yet unknown project. For more info, contact me by e-mail at .
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July 8, 2004
Attempt to Save Tivoli From Demolition
HAMILTON, ON — The following email was sent in by Loren Lieberman, Executive Director of Creative Arts @ the Tivoli Theatre:
“Hi Everyone,
I’m sure that most, if not all of you know what’s going on at the Tivoli. I’ll make it brief for those who don’t. Last Tuesday night part of the roof and wall on the third floor of the Tivoli collapsed. Since then, the city has removed the entire third and fourth floors of the building as well as the marquee.
Some city workers say the destruction will end there, some say the whole building is coming down. Just to be clear – the auditorium is fine and the last 1/3 of the lobby (closest to the auditorium) should come out unscathed, but we stand to lose the oldest part of the Tivoli (it was built as a carriage factory built in 1875).
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July 7, 2004
Manchester’s Historic Odeon Faces Final Curtain
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — Manchester’s historic Odeon cinema may be closing, according to a report on Manchester Online. The nearly 75-year-old theater is regarded as the oldest theater in the city center.
The article quotes a staff member “who was close to tears” as saying, “This has come as a real bombshell. It will be a terrible loss to Manchester. I hope we all get the chance to fight to keep it open because it is as much a part of the fabric of the city as any of the great buildings we have.”