The latest movie theater news and updates

  • March 5, 2004
    Fundraising

    Looking for Funds to Refurbish Old Smalltown Theater

    I have started to refurbish an old 600 seat theater in a small Indiana town about one hour from Indinapolis, Indiana. I have been in the theater business for almost 17 years now, and I have been looking for an indoor and or outdoor theater I can own and operate.

    I have finally found one and have everything ready to get open, but I am in need of more money in order to continue. Banks have been no help because I have no business credit and not enough personal assets to satify them.

    I am looking for a silent partner, or limited partnership, or a loan, or grant. Will be glad to talk more with anyone who might be interested in helping. Thank you.

    Please call me at 317-357-8981 or email me at .

    4 comments
  • March 4, 2004
    Preservation Alert

    Harrogate Royal Hall

    NORTH YORKSHIRE , ENGLAND — Harrogate Council met on Wednesday to discuss the future of the troubled Royal Hall, according to a report in the Harrogate Today.

    The concrete in the balcony is crumbling in this Grade 2* listed building designed by pre-eminent UK theater architect Frank Matcham. Repair costs have been estimated at £11 million (including full restoration of this beautiful hall) and the Heritage lottery fund has awarded £6 million towards the cost – but Harrogate say they cannot afford the balance.

    It was used as a cinema on a regular basis up until the 1930s.

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    4 comments
  • Fundraising

    Live Theatre in Long Beach, CA Needs Seats

    LONG BEACH, CA — Hello my name is Peter Kreder and I am with Six Chairs & a Couple of Artists Theatre company here in Long Beach, CA.

    We are currently in the stages of reopening our theatre company in a new venue. We desire to upgrade our seating and provide “real” seating for our audiences. We are poor. We are looking for an organization that may be upgrading their facilities and have seats to dispose of that they may want to donate to see that the seats have a second life.

    2 comments
  • March 3, 2004
    Preservation Alert

    Notting Hill’s Coronet Saved?

    LONDON, ENGLAND — According to a spokesperson for Colliers CRE, the organization handling the sale of the 105 year-old Coronet Cinema, “New plans involve improving the building and maintaining the cinema”, but the spokesperson could not elaborate further.

    The existence of the Notting Hill movie palace, featured in the Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant film “Notting Hill”, was rumored to be in danger.

    Read the full report on the ITV website.

    1 comment
  • Today's Newsreel

    Today’s Newsreel

    Alexandria’s Old Town Theater reopens but is quickly closed by fire code violations, a judge upholds a 15-year “no movies” restriction at the former Von Lee Cinema, and one highschool student builds his own “cinema treasure” — all in today’s newsreel.

    0 comments
  • Theaters

    Cineplex Founder Nat Taylor Passes Away

    TORONTO, CANADA — Canadian exhibitor Nat Taylor, credited with creating the first multiplex theater in 1948 (Elgin and Little Elgin in Ottawa) and introducing movie theaters to shopping malls (Yorkdale Theatre and Cinema), passed away on Tuesday at the age of 98, according to the Toronto Star.

    Some of Taylor’s innovations include:

    • One of the earliest multi-screen movie theaters (when he added a second screen to Ottawa’s Elgin Theatre)
    • First triplex theater
    • First quad theater
    • First quintuplex theater (the Uptown)
    • First theater in a shopping mall (the Yorkdale Plaza/Silver City)
    • First 18-screen theater (a precursor of today’s megaplex)
    • Coined the term “cineplex”

    5 comments
  • Renovations

    Jewett City’s State Theatre to Reopen

    JEWETT CITY, CT — The State Theatre, which closed in April 2003, is nearly finished with a year’s worth of renovations and is expected to reopen under new ownership this April, according to this report in the Norwich Bulletin.

    1 comment
  • March 2, 2004
    Renovations

    Hippodrome Renovation Photos

    BALTIMORE, MD — Ed Dobbins sent in some great shots of the recently reopened Hippodrome Theatre, along with this note:

    “I went to a public open house at the Hippodrome last Saturday morning. I got some really nice pictures you can have. You can see in the daylight picture that the new complex takes up the whole block, this place is fantastic! Finally something got done right. Also from what I hear the Town Theater around the corner on Fayette street is being renovated, not sure for what purpose, movies/plays or both. I’ll have to check it out soon.”

    9 comments
  • Demolitions

    Bad Weather Delays Demolition of Hull Cannon

    HUMBERSIDE, ENGLAND — Demolition of the former Regal/Cannon which should have been completed by now has been delayed because of bad weather.

    Much of the interior has now been gutted — the photograph above was taken last December and shows the scaffolding in Screen 1 used to remove asbestos from the ceiling. Demolition of the rest of the theater commenced on Monday and the structure should be finally laid to rest within days.

    1 comment
  • March 1, 2004
    Preservation Alert

    Sister of Flushing’s Keith Needs Federal “Offset” Funding to Keep the Curtain Rising

    HUNTINGTON, WV — Huntington’s Keith-Albee could meet the wrecker’s ball due to federal and state subsidizing of a competing 14-screen stadium multiplex one block away.

    The Transit Authority, which is administering the federal portion of the project, claims it has complied with all historic and environmental laws. However, the TTA director claims that the Keith is not on the Federal Register.

    3 comments