The latest movie theater news and updates
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May 25, 2004
Tampa Theatre Documentary Debuts
TAMPA, FL — On Thursday night, the Tampa Theatre will be showing a very special movie — a documentary about the theater itself, according to this report from USF campus newspaper The Oracle.
The film, shot by University of South Florida students, is a 30-minute documentary about the history of the Tampa Theatre and its contribution to the local community.
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May 24, 2004
Villa Theatre Sold; Will Become Rug Gallery
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — According to a report from deseretnews.com, the Villa Theatre was bought by local businessman Hamid Adib.
Adib plans to preserve and hopefully restore the theater, and will use the theater as a showcase for his rug business while creating a “museum” of sorts of the Villa.
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Fox Theatre to Celebrate 75th Anniversary
ST. LOUIS, MO — The Fox Theater will celebrate its 75th anniversary this coming August 1st (a bit of a stretch as the theater opened 1/31/29).
The celebration will include a stage show as well as a showing of the film which opened the house, “Street Angel,” starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. Accompanying the film will be Stan Kann at the 4/36 Wurlitzer.
Admission will be priced the same amount as patrons were charged on the theater’s opening night: 75¢.
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May 21, 2004
Des Plaines Theatre Supporters Seek Happy Ending
DES PLAINES, IL — The Des Plaines Theatre Preservation Society has been fighting to save the Des Plaines Theater, a former vaudeville house in downtown Des Plaines, for over a year and a half. During that time, the theater has been saved from planned demolition and declared eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Furthermore, the society has collected signatures (and money) in support of their drive to convert the 1926 theater into a performing arts center. However, a proposed feasibility study approved by the City Council last summer is now on hold. Meanwhile, the city awaits the finalization of a deal between the preservation society and the theater’s owner (who is now using the theater for Indian films and live concerts).
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Sioux Falls State Theater Seeks Donations/Suggestions
SIOUX FALLS, SD — The Sioux Falls Film Society, present owners of the State Theater located in the heart of the downtown area, is seeking donations and other assistance in the restoration of the building.
The vaudeville/movie theater has been closed for ten years plus since it was last used as a movie theater. The Film Society was recently fortunate that a previous owner, Joe Floyd, donated $100,000, which paid off a bank mortgage on the building. However, any funding for further restoration must be provided by donations and other contributions.
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May 20, 2004
Church Sets Sights on Defunct Concord Cinema… Again
CONCORD, CA — The long-gone Capri Theatre, located in the city’s Park & Shop shopping area, is at the center of another debate between a local church that needs a home and city business leaders.
The church, which has unsuccessfully bid for the property in the past, is now making another push for the property. But city officials are fighting against this, citing a rejuvenation of the theater, and a commitment to supporting a retail-only environment.
Full details can be found in this report from the San Francisco Chronicle.
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May 19, 2004
Today’s Newsreel
Digital cinema gets a big boost in the United Kingdom, the Brooklyn Academy of Music repairs its cornice, and theatre legend Tony Randall passes away — all in today’s newsreel.
- UK cinemas to get digital screens
- Vintage smut breaks 100 year taboo
- What am I going to bid for this chair?
- A Brooklyn Landmark Gets Its Crown Back
- Imagineight Theatres planning 100,000-square-foot movie complex
- Tony Randall dies at 84
- Demolition of old movie theaters is ‘on schedule’
- Pickwick owners opt out of study
- What Germs Lurk In Movie Theater Seats
- Lorenzo Theater fans swing into action to save it
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Port St. Joe Allows Project to Proceed
PORT ST. JOE, FL — Yesterday, the City of Port St. Joe decided to recommend that a building permit for the “reconstruction project” next door to the Port Theatre be issued.
In spite of legal counsel and abrogation laws in our favor, it was determined that if we wish to continue fighting this, it will have to become a civil matter in a court of law.
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May 18, 2004
Now That’s a Movie!
ESSEX, VT — A Vermont couple has tied the knot in their favorite place to have dates—a movie theater!
Renee Bleau and Travis Vigneau, who often spent dates watching movies together, were married yesterday in a local Essex multiplex. The wedding, attended by fifty guests, included tickets, popcorn, and even movie previews (‘The Day After Tomorrow’ and ‘Spiderman 2’).
The full account of the wedding can be found in this report from ChannelOklahoma.com.
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May 17, 2004
REMINDER: Raymond Theatre Hearing at 6:30pm Tonight!
PASADENA, CA — If you live in the Pasadena area, don’t forget to attend tonight’s City Council meeting to show your support for the Raymond Theatre! (See our previous story for more detail.)