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The latest movie theater news and updates
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March 4, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
Time is Tight for Theater Preservationists
DES PLAINES, IL — Read the Daily Herald articleThanks to Bryan Krefft for the update.
Theater Owner Plans to Spend $750K on Cinema
VALPARAISO, IN — Read the Post-Tribune story
The Strand in 1948
BOOTHBAY HARBOR, ME — Read the Boothbay Register editorial
Group Buys Bluffs Drive-In Theater
COUNCIL BLUFFS, NE — Read the Omaha World-Herald article
Symphony of Sound to Roll Back the Years
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA — Read the Advertiser story
Triplex Deftly Juggles Film Fare
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA — Read the Berkshire Eagle story0 comments -
Welton Becket Event Tonight At The Cinerama Dome!
This was sent to us by Arclight Cinemas; Event open to the public:
Cinerama Dome and Architecture Aficionados Invited to WELTON BECKET Tribute, March 4 at the Dome
ArcLight members are invited to join the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Modern Committee on the evening of March 4, 2003 for a centennial tribute to legendary Los Angeles architect Welton Becket and the firm of Welton Becket & Associates.
The Becket office produced many of the space-age icons of mid-century Los Angeles including the Capitol Records building, the Music Center, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and the Beverly Hilton, as well as master plans for UCLA and Century City.
This once-in-a-lifetime event, to be held in Becket’s landmark 1963 Cinerama Dome includes a reunion of designers, a screening of rare historical footage, and an exhibition of archival materials. Alan Hess will lead a discussion on the architect’s work and Leo Marmol will moderate a panel of designers from the Becket office.
Included in the ticket price is a commemorative booklet with a self-guided tour of Becket buildings and a docent-led tour on Saturday, March 8.
For more information please contact the Los Angeles Conservancy at 213-623-2489 or go to www.laconservancy.org. Tickets are $20 for Conservancy and ArcLight members and $25 for non-members.
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March 3, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
New Stiefel Marquee Installed
SALINA, KS — Read about, or watch, the installation
Visit the Salina Journal’s Stiefel/Fox sectionThanks to Joel Weide for the update!
In related news …
Hutch Fox Shows Theaters' Struggles
HUTCHINSON, KS — Read the Salina Journal story
At Ambler Theater, It’s Showtime
AMBLER, PA — Read the Philadelphia Inquirer articleThanks to George Quirk and Gregg Anderson for the story.
This is Cinerama — In All Its Original Glory
SEATTLE, WA — Read the Daily Herald storyFor more information visit the Seattle Cinerama website
Second Run for Theaters
ST. PAUL, MN — Read the Pioneer Press article
Art House Theaters Dip Into Mainstream Audiences
PLANO, TX — Read the Plano Star Courier article
Marcus Veteran has Scripted Growth of Theater Chain
MILWAUKEE, WI — Read the Business Journal story -
February 28, 2003
The Reel Cinerama Film Festival Begins Tonight!!!
SEATTLE, WA — Lucky Seattle-area residents can be the first to see a newly restored print of the last 3-strip Cinerama film, “How The West Was Won” at the Seattle Cinerama Theatre. In addition to HTWWW, the festival, which is being sponsored by Paul Allen’s Vulcan, Inc., will also be showing the following Cinerama films:
- Fri, 2/28: How The West Was Won – 7:00pm
- Sat, 3/1: How The West Was Won – 10:00am, 2:00pm, 7:30pm
- Sun, 3/2: Search For Paradise – 11:00am, 2:00pm, 7:30pm
- Mon, 3/3: Windjammer – 11:00am, 2:00pm, 7:30pm
- Tue, ¾: This is Cinerama – 11:00am, 2:00pm, 7:30pm
- Wed, 3/5: This is Cinerama – 11:00am, 2:00pm, 7:30pm
- Thu, 3/6: How The West Was Won – 2:00pm, 7:30pm
“Search For Paradise” and the Cinemiracle film, “Windjammer” are “historic” prints which have not yet been preserved.
This is a festival not to be missed!
Visit the Seattle Cinerama website
Buy tickets at Movietickets.com
Read the Seattle Post-Intelligencer article -
Today’s Newsreel
More Seattle Theater News — SOUNDS for Silents
SEATTLE, WA — Famed organist Bob Mitchell playing at the Uptown this weekend:
(EVEN MORE SEATTLE THEATER NEWS?!?)
Tony Bennett to Help a ‘Really Nice Place’ Celebrate its 75th Birthday
SEATTLE, WA — Read the Seattle Post-Intelligencer article on the Paramount
RKO Keith’s Theater Gets A New Life
RICHMOND HILL, NY — Two articles:Forest Hills Ledger: RKO Keith’s theater showcases industry’s past
Queens Chronicle: Museum Of Sound Recording Opening Soon In RKO Keith -
February 27, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
Book Sale Raises $4,000 for Movie Project
ELKADER, IA — Read the Clayton County Register article
Trying to Keep the Theater A Theater
BRISTOL, RI — Read the East Bay Newspaper story
New Federal Funds to Fuel Ozarks Projects (Including the Gillioz)
SPRINGFIELD, MO — Read the News-Leader story
It’s Curtains For Burlington Movie House
BURLINGTON, VT — Read the WPTZ-TV update
Alhambra Backers Working Overtime
RIVERS BEND, IN — -
Raymond Theatre Benefit Tonight In Pasadena
PASADENA, CA — This has been sent in from Gina Zamparelli of the Friends of the Raymond:
Our benefit for the Raymond Theatre is tonight at the Ice House in Pasadena. We hope to see all our supporters there! It will be a great opportunity for all of us to get together and raise funds to help continue our work to preserve The Raymond Theatre.
Comedian and show producer Julie Sandoval is kindly donating all door receipts to Friends of the Raymond Theatre. Julie will be performing, along with a host of great comedians!
We will also be holding a 50/50 raffle. Raffle tickets will be $1. You can purchase them before you enter the Annex showroom or from people wearing yellow “Save the Raymond Theatre” buttons. Winners will be drawn tomorrow night. Someone will win half the money we raise from raffle.
We want to see everybody at the Ice House tonight!
Where: The Ice House
The Annex Room
24 Mentor Avenue, Pasadena, California
(626) 577-1894When: This Thursday, February 27, 2003
Time: 8:00 pm
Admission: $10 (+ $2 drink minimum)
Website: www.icehousecomedy.com
Parking: Parking is available on the street or in the lighted garage across from the Ice House for $3.
Entrance: Enter in the main entrance to the Ice House, which is in the alley. Once inside the Ice House, follow the signs that say “Saving Raymond” to the Annex showroom.
Thanks to Gina Zamparelli for the update!
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February 26, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
Time Short as Theater Backers Give Tour
DES PLAINES, IL — Read the Daily Herald story
Schedule Set for Ebert’s Overlooked Film Festival at Virginia Theatre
CHAMPAIGN, IL — Read the News-Gazette articleThanks to Bryan Krefft for both of these articles.
Landmark To Build New 14-Plex in Westside; Replace Old 4-Plex
LOS ANGELES, CA — Read the Hollywood Reporter article
Read Variety’s story (Subscription Required)The Variety article also details the upcoming reconstruction of the AMC theaters in Century City and the “multimillion-dollar renovation” of the Mann National theater. According to Variety, the National will probably not convert to stadium seating. Other details are unknown.
Thanks to Andreas Fuchs for the updates!
Ramon Theater Purchased
FROSTPROOF, FL — Perry Bird reports:The Frostproof Chamber of Commerce agreed to purchase the 1925 Ramon Theater and adjacent building. They are currently seeking funding to restore both buildings. Plans are to once again show movies and have live performances at the Ramon.
Read an earlier story from the Ledger
Thanks Perry!
Friends of the Boyd Holding Event Next Week
PHILADELPHIA, PA — This has been sent in from the group:Adrian Fine of National Trust for Historic Preservation presents “Saving Historic Theaters: Examples from Across the U.S.” and discussion led by architect Shawn Evans, AIA & Howard B. Haas, Esq. of status of Sameric theater.
This free event will be held March 5th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and will follow a 5:30 pm tour of ‘On the Edge of Your Seat: Popular Theater and Film in Early Twentieth-Century Art’ [at] Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Broad & Cherry.
For more information, visit the organization’s website.
Thanks to Howard Haas for the update!
Artist Captures Colonial on Canvas
PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Read the Phoenixville NewsThanks to Gregg Anderson for the news.
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February 25, 2003
Today’s Newsreel
Children’s Museum Considers Theater Site
GRAND HAVEN, MI —Read the Muskegon Chronicle story
Eastman Raises Curtain on Facelift
ROCHESTER, NY — Read the Democrat and Chronicle article
Woman Tries to Give Old Theater New Life
MOUNT EPHRAIM, CA — Read the Courier Post story
Connecticut Theaters Booming
Read the Republican-American storyThanks to Roger Katz for the update!
Spectrum Theater Bought; To Be Demolished
HOUSTON, TX — Read the Houston Chronicle article
Tough Times for Museums, Theaters
PITTSFIELD, MA — Read the Berkshire Eagle noticeThanks to Gregg Anderson for the news.
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Former Key Theater To Reopen As Cinema & Drafthouse
WEST HAZELTON, PA — Sybil Hillman, the new owner of the former Key Theater in West Hazelton, PA, has sent in the following update, which corrects earlier information we received which identified local competition as the reason for the movie house’s closure:
The reason for the theater’s [earlier] closing was my purchase of the building. I have since renovated the entire building and will be reopening the theater as the Cinema & Drafthouse [on] March 21, 2003.
The entire Hazleton community is extremely excited about our Grand Opening and has shown support for both my project and the revitalization of such an historical theater.
To see the progress of the renovations, please visit our website.
Thanks to Sybil Hillman for setting the record straight. We wish her and the Cinema and Drafthouse the best of luck!