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The latest movie theater news and updates
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June 2, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
Telethon Raises Over $100,000 to Restore Tennessee Theatre
KNOXVILLE, TN — Read the WATE-TV story
Read the Knoxville News article
Fox Visalia Announces Its Summer Movie Lineup
VISALIA, CA — Read the Tulare Advance Register
Visit the Fox Visalia website
Cinema Scoped for Block 37 Site
CHICAGO, IL — Read the Chicago Business articleAs Bryan Krefft notes, “The old movie palaces that used to sit on this block were the United Artists and the Roosevelt, which were both torn down with the rest of the block in 1989-90.”
Thanks to Bryan and Brendan McKenna for the update.
Car Museum at State Theatre Closes
WAIRARAPA, AUSTRALIA — Read the Wairarapa Times-Age0 comments -
May 30, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
Lincoln Cinemas Safe For Now
LINCOLN, IL — Read the Lincoln Courier article
Academy Taps Understudy for Old Marquee
NORTHAMPTON, MA — Read the Gazette article
Economic Forces Hurting Bharat Mata Cinema Hall
MUMBAI, INDIA —Read the Indian Express report
A New Dawn For Hansen Theater
MONTEREY BAY, CA — Read the Californian article
Former Nickelodeon Theater Reopens As Roxy
BURLINGTON, VT — Read the WCAX-TV article
Will Des Plaines Back Theater Preservation Effort?
DES PLAINES, IL — Read the Daily Herald articleThanks to Bryan Krefft for the update.
Theater Owner Skeeter Maxey Dies
SENATOBIA, MS — Read the Democrat obituary
Former Belle Meade Theater
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Help Out At The Former Central Park Theatre
CHICAGO, IL — The following email was sent in by the Friends of the Uptown. The Central Park was Balaban & Katz' first movie palace and, according to Douglas Gomery’s “Shared Pleasures,” the first theater in America cooled by air conditioning for the sweltering summer months.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to assist in some house chores and heavy lifting, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at the former Central Park Theatre, on the West Side, in the North Lawndale neighborhood, at 3535 W. Roosevelt, east of Central Park Avenue. Look for the large sign that reads House of Prayer.
We will work until approximately 2 p.m. Please come and work for any amount of time that you can. Meet the group in the vestibule/lobby of the theatre/church building itself. RSVP by email to: .
Work clothes, gloves, a bottle of water and a snack are good things to bring along. Surplus cleaning supplies, brooms, mops, trash bags, light bulbs, etc. are always are appreciated.
We will meet and work with the Rev. Dr. Lincoln Scott and his staff. You may meet Mr. Butler or Mr. Roosevelt first if you choose to use the fenced parking lot adjacent to the building to the immediate west.
Home to The House of Prayer COGIC since the 1970s, this important Chicago venue will be featured on a special Chicago: Three Centuries of Theatres tour, July 8 through 13. A little work from Friends of the Uptown this Saturday will make for a better tour and will show our support for this very special landmark.
Theatre historians recall that the 1916 CENTRAL PARK is the fountainhead of movie palace design and the second successful venue of Balaban & Katz (following the CIRCLE). Its success led B&K to build later landmark venues and its design influence can be seen in other important theaters. After the RIVIERA came the TIVOLI, the CHICAGO, the UPTOWN, the ORIENTAL … from B&K and the same architects, C.W. and George L. Rapp!
Thank you for your time and attention. You will definitely enjoy this unique opportunity to experience the combination of historic theatre, appreciative owner-operator and vested constituency! Apologies for the impromptu notice. This was arranged to fit the venue’s schedule and needs.
The Friends' effort is in anticipation of the upcoming Theatre Historical Society of America conclave, “Three Centuries of Theatres,” to be held from July 8 -13, 2003 in Chicago.
For more information on the conclave, visit THSA’s website.
Have a great weekend everyone and see you on Monday!
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May 29, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
Movie Theatre Revamp Bears Fruit
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Read the Business Day storyThanks to Bryan Krefft for the news.
Camelot Regained: Nevada Theater to Reopen
NEVADA, IA — Read the Ames Tribune articleThanks to “Stacey” for the update.
Senator Owner, Tom Kiefaber, Honored
BALTIMORE, MD — Read the Baltimore Sun articleCongratulations to our old friend Tom who continues to inspire us and those around him.
Now Showing in the Neighborhood: Backyard Theatre
EASTHAMPTON, MA — Read the Gazette article
Under-21 Dance Club to Open At Former State Theater
LEBANON, PA — Read the Lebanon Daily News
Moving Movies Out to the Suburbs
WINFIELD, KS — Read the Winfield Courier editorial -
May 28, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
Public Meets to Discuss Varisty’s Future
CARBONDALE, IL — Read the Southern Illinoisan
Read the KFVS-12 storyThanks to Bryan Krefft for the update.
Quentin Tarantino Focuses on (Re-)Opening a Specialty Movie House
LOS ANGELES, CA — Read the Downtown NewsThanks to Warren Dewey for the news.
Madison’s Curtains May Close Forever
PEORIA, IL — Read the first Journal Star article
Read the follow-up article in the Journal Star
Fire Destroys Montepelier’s Oldest Theater
MONTPELIER, VT — Read the first Times Argus story
Read the second Times Argus article
Dramatic Changes as Theater Keeps Pace With Region
FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Read the Washington Post
See you tomorrow!
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May 27, 2003
Last D-150 Theater Closes
LITTLE ROCK, AR — According to an email sent in by local resident, Steve Yoder, the UA 150 closed abruptly last night. The United Artists Cinema 150 was the last of the Dimension 150 theaters which once dotted the country from New York to Seattle. In recent years, the Seattle, Washington and Syosset, New York D-150 theaters were also shuttered and then later demolished.
After being a local icon in the Little Rock area for 35 years, tonight this classic 703 seating capacity cinema showed it’s final show. I sat with my wife and two children watching X-Men 2, remembering having sat there as a 7 year old child watching Sean Connery’s, “Diamond’s Are Forever”, thinking that unfortunately some things aren’t forever.
In 1968 the theater opened it’s doors with classic movie “The Odd Couple”. One of it’s early highlights was when it hosted the world premiere of John Wayne’s, “True Grit”. From the information I could gather, Regal Entertainment, had made a business decision to close it and put the property up for sale. This closing followed the opening of an ultra-modern 10 screen stadium seating theater.
For more information, read the Baxter Bulletin article.
This may be the last chance to save this unique widescreen theater. Any interested parties out there???
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In Other News
Old-Style Glamour Still Sells in Bangkok
BANGKOK, THAILAND — Read the Bangkok Post
‘Lights Out’ Marks Start of New Era for Theater
KNOXVILLE, TN — Read the Knoxville News -
May 26, 2003
Closed For Memorial Day
Cinema Treasures is closed for the Memorial Day holiday, but will return tomorrow.
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May 23, 2003
Coming to a theater near you… Easycinema?
LONDON, UK — According to Yahoo News, EasyInternetCafe and Easyjet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou has opened Easycinema, a new low-cost, no-frills movie theater.
How low-cost, you ask? Well, since Easycinema uses the same pricing technique first pioneered by its intercafe sibiling, EasyInternetCafe, ticket prices will be based on demand.
So, if you buy early, tickets will be as cheap as 33 cents. But as demand fluctuates, the price will be raised or lowered, depending on availability. If a movie becomes very popular, patrons will be charged a full-ticket price (approximately $8 in the UK).
In addition to the cheap tickets, Easycinema will do away with both box offices and concession stands…
“We’re keeping it as simple as possible,” said James Rothnie, an easyGroup spokesman, adding he believed it was the first such scheme in the world. “There’ll be no rip-off popcorn, no catering of any sort. If you want to eat and drink, bring your own.”
So far, not surprisingly, response from film distributors has been less than supportive, with some refusing to book blockbusters with Easycinema. But, regardless, the new company will certainly prove to be an interesting experiment for the exhibition industry.
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Court Brings End to Adult Movies at the Garden Theater
PITTSBURGH, PA — Also according to Yahoo News, an appeals court has upheld a previous decision giving the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority the right to seize and redevelop the Garden Theater as part of an urban renewal project.
The legal battle, ongoing since 1997, had pitted the First Amendment rights of owner George Androtsakis (who used the Garden to show adult movies) against the city’s right to use eminent domain (in pursuit of its $45 million urban renewal project).