The latest movie theater news and updates
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May 5, 2004
Today’s Newsreel
The Fox Oakland sets its sights in reopening in July 2006, the “popcorn fumes” workers have settled their case, and the New York Daily News takes a look at the legacy of Loews — all in today’s newsreel.
- Settlement announced by lawyers in Missouri ‘popcorn lung’ case
- What’s Next, Free Popcorn?
- Movie theaters still wary of digital projection
- Eat At Your Own Risk: Movie Theaters
- Senate Panel Moves on Movie Pirates
- Now showing: Simple home theaters
- Loew’s legacy is alive on screen
- Drive-in theaters project a return to nostalgia
- Rialto operator marks 50 years in film business
- Fox supporters to roll out the red carpet
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Port Theatre Seeking Buyers
PORT ST. JOE, FL — The Port Theatre is a unique theater in the heart of the downtown area in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico. Built of brick and steel, it was built to last. It has survived hurricanes and economic change.
Although it is not currently being used as a theater, the current owners are hoping someone with the energy to continue the project of restoration will buy this property.
Contact Wade at 850-229-9282 or email us at . Long live theaters!
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May 4, 2004
The Grand: Before and After
BALTIMORE, MD — Ed Dobbins writes…
“These pictures are from 1940, showing how ‘grand’ the Grand Theatre was.
Even up until I saw my last movie there, Return of the Jedi, Feb 1984, the theater still looked great. They still did the whole sequence of having the curtains closed & lit up, slowly opened, then dimmed to show a cartoon, followed by the movie. Up until the end, the theater still had class.
These pictures show was once was and what could have been again."
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Tour London’s Historic Theaters!
LONDON, ENGLAND — The League of Historic American Theatres is planning a tour of London’s historic theaters!
“A Celebration of London’s Historic Theatres”, planned for July 25 – August 1, 2004, will take tour participants to the heart of London’s theater district, with unique behind the scenes tours of some of the most renowned West End theaters.
Support the League and join us for this unforgettable custom-designed tour. We are now accepting reservations for “A Celebration of London’s Historic Theatres.” For more detailed information, visit our special tour webpage.
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May 3, 2004
Northumberland’s Wallaw Cinema Closes
BLYTH, ENGLAND — Unfortunately, due to lack of demand, Northumberland’s historic cinema, the Wallaw, has drawn its curtains for the last time. Despite many attempts to get a lot of public support behind the small, but comfortable theater house, the owners have decided to close.
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1948 Ziegfeld Playbill for Sale
Cinema Treasures user Sean Doerr pointed us to this 1948 Ziegfeld Theatre playbill that’s for sale on eBay:
THIS AUCTION IS FOR WONDERFUL PLAYBILL FOR THE ZIEGFELD THEATRE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1948. IT FEATURES THE PLAY “ THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA”…A MUSIC DRAMA IN 2 ACTS…WITH KITTY CARLISLE, (EVENINGS) AND BELVA KIBLER, (MATINEES) AS LUCRETIA. IT IS IN GREAT CONDITON FOR IT’S AGE… ONE TEAR, MEASURING 1/8 INCHE APPERS ON THE BACK COVER. THE COVER HAS YELLOWED SOMEWHAT, BUT IT IS PRINTED ON CREAM GLOSSY PAPER. THE INSIDE PAGES ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND SUCH A NICE PIECE OF HISTORY AND MEMORABILIA, WITH THE ADS.
Currently, at just $2.99, this item is a steal. But if you want this item, make sure to make a bid before the auction’s close on Wednesday.
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April 30, 2004
DuPage Theatre Gets Renovation, New Name
LOMBARD, IL — The 1928 DuPage Theatre in downtown Lombard is getting a slightly new name, the DuPage Theatre and Arts Centre, in an effort to show that the former movie palace isn’t only going to be showing movies once its nearly $6 million-plus restoration and renovation project is completed in about two years.
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Garden Theater in Charleston in Danger
CHARLESTON, SC — A few dozen people gathered on Monday night, April 26, to discuss a strategy for saving the Garden Theater as a theater. It was recently sold to a group of investors who plan to lease it to a national clothing chain. Many said converting the theater to retail space would be a loss for the city.
Jonathan Poston of the Historic Charleston Foundation said that would be “a perfect example of the mall-ization of King Street. If Charleston wants a theater on King Street that is still a theater… the community has to come up with the money.”
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City Council Explores Renovating Capitol Theatre
NEW LONDON, CT — The New London City Council is going to explore ways to renovate the long-abandoned Capitol Theatre and make it into a cultural attraction for the city, according to a new report in the New London Day.
The Capitol Theatre closed in 1974 after a fire marshall shut the theater down for code violations. It has remained padlocked ever since. Despite the fact that $400,000 was put into stabilizing the theater’s roof in 2000, the building is a wreck and would need millions of dollars of renovations to become a usable theater again.
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Highway 21 Drive-In to Reopen
BEAUFORT, SC — About three weeks ago, a group of people headed by Bill Gerke and is brother-in-law, Joe Barth, purchased the Highway 21 Drive-In Theater in Beaufort, South Carolina.
The refurbished drive-in reopens its gates Friday, April 30 with second-run screenings of “50 First Dates” and “Starsky and Hutch.” Plans include a move to first-run features after the theater is re-established.