You’re right. I had “Treasure Island” on the mind when I was writing this. But there’s some definite scrambling going on out there to grab as many digital screens as possible. Over the weekend, reports were that Bolt was grossing 50% more per screen in digital theaters than in the 35mm theaters.
Here’s an article about the Bloor talking about how an astronomy fan painted an accurate 7,000-star representation of the night sky on the roof of the balcony over the orchestra seats and gives astronomy talks there.
I think this is a really interesting idea. There are tons of blackbox theaters and little theater troupes all around the country, and for the most part, their theaters sit unused 95% of the time. Why not use them to show non-commercial and independent films?
There is a ton of product out there that is never seen by the public, and a small admission fee could keep some revenue coming in when the theater would have otherwise been dormant. And there’s usually the theater manager or stage manager hanging around doing paperwork during the day, why not set up a desk at the door and collect admissions?
You can get a decent 480p projector and DVD player for less than $1000. Or you can get a Blu-Ray player and a 1080p projector for around $2500. That’s just about the same quality of the first generation of digital cinema projectors. The light output won’t be the same, and it’ll feel more like a home theater, but this could increase the number of venues for indie films exponentially if other theater companies did this.
I remember seeing an unreleased Kenneth Branaugh film at the Coolidge Corner’s video screening room on ¾" video tape some years ago, and I still remember it fondly despite the 8-foot wide screen image. So it could work, and I hope other theater companies pick up on this.
MT. LEBANON, PA — Fundraising to renovate the Denis Theatre is going slower than expected. $238,000 has been raised, but its non-profit board had hoped to raise $1 million by the end of the year.
The Denis Theatre Foundation received its first six-figure gift of $100,000 last Oct. 29th, but it seems unlikely to make this year’s goal.
An estimated $3 million will be needed for an extensive renovation to reopen the 1938 theater closed in 2004. The theater went non-profit earlier this year.
After being closed for nearly six months, the Pocono Cinema is reopening this week as a non-profit community theater.
Going non-profit allowed the cinema to fundraise $30,000 for renovations and to utilize volunteers.
The community will be paid back by bringing people downtown to patronize shops and restaurants.
The previous operator ran out of money after only a year. The building’s owner and former operator ran it for a couple of months before closing it down last April.
LUFKIN, TX — The city has set aside $500,000 for the initial renovation of the historic Pines Theater as part of a plan to bring the downtown area back to life.
Last July, the city bought the 1925 theater, which was being used as a church, for $112,860.
The $500,000 will be used to secure the structure by installing a new roof, upgrading the wiring and lighting, hanging new doors and windows, redoing the marque, and stripping off material from previous renovations. The entire project will cost $1.4 million and could take years to fund completely.
The city is looking to private funding to help with the construction costs.
For example, in 2007 there were 5,928 theaters, 383 of them being drive-ins. And there were 38,794 screens with 635 of them being drive-ins.
So analyzing this, the average drive-in has about 2 screens and the average indoor theater has about 6 screens. And there are almost 20 times as many indoor theaters as drive-ins, and 50 times as many screens.
Apparently, the theater closed last April, but reopened in May because of public pressure. Starting in October, it closed Mondays and Tuesdays because of poor economic conditions on the islands.
A couple of years ago Pittsfield thought the $22 million restoration of the legit Colonial Theater was going to revive downtown. On top of this is that there’s very little parking downtown and no public transportation. Plus the city’s population has been declining as GE has gradually closed down most of its operations.
I hate to say it, but I’ve come across dozens of stories in the last few months where small old cities and towns are hoping the reopening of a theater is going to revive their downtown areas, and in most cases, the theaters close within a year and the downtowns continue to decline. There are very few examples where this actually works.
The Fiske is currently closed for renovations and will reopen in December as a second-run movie theater with the largest screen (18' x 32') in a 60-mile radius!
By Sean F. Driscoll
BusinessRockford.com
Posted Oct 28, 2008 @ 03:00 PM
Last update Oct 28, 2008 @ 07:22 PM
ROCKFORD â€" The region will lose a quarter of its movie screens by next week when Kerasotes Theatres closes its two smallest locations.
Thursday marks the last day of business for the North Towne theater, 890 W. Riverside Blvd. The last day for Colonial Village, 4228 Newburg Road, is Nov. 6, Kerasotes Marketing Director Clair Malo said. North Towne showed second-run movies for $1 or $1.50 a seat on its six screens; Colonial Village showed first-run movies and arthouse fare on its five screens.
Malo declined to comment on why the chain was closing the two locations, but patrons who were catching late-afternoon shows today said they were upset with the move.
“I’m shocked,†said Colleen Poleski, who was seeing “Fireproof.†“It’s the only theater I go to because I like a smaller theater and smaller films.â€
Linda Schelman and Kris Lambrecht drove from Roscoe for a screening of “The Duchess.â€
“A lot of these things aren’t showing at other theaters,†Lambrecht said. “I don’t know what we’re going to do now.â€
The Chicago-based theater chain is the seventh-largest in the country, operating 941 screens at 100 locations, according to the National Association of Theater Owners. It opened a new 14-screen theater on Anjali Way in Machesney Park in 2005 and closed the nine-screen theater in the Machesney Park Mall later the same year. It also operates a 16-screen theater on East State Street in Rockford.
The closings will leave the Rock River Valley without a dedicated first-run arts theater for the first time in decades. Kerasotes started showing art and independent films at Colonial Village in 2001, and the independent Storefront Cinema stopped showing films at the Riverfront Museum Park in 2003.
Storefront currently operates out of EIGERlab, 605 Fulton Ave.; its next screenings are of Betty Boop movies and the uncut version of 1933’s “King Kong†on Nov. 12.
Board President Ron Schultz said the closing is a loss to Rock River Valley movie lovers.
“I think Kerasotes loses out by not offering a greater variety, and maybe they’ll move some of those films into the bigger multiplexes,†he said. “Some of those films are going to find an audience, and they need to be aware that those films that are independents sometimes strike gold and deserve a wide audience. Hopefully they won’t abandon those films.â€
Malo said she didn’t know if art films would be shown at another Kerasotes theater in the area.
American Theater Corp. announced plans in May to open a multiscreen movie/dinner theater complex at Riverside Pavilion, at Riverside Boulevard and Mulford Road, in late spring or early summer.
Rosemary Weathers Burnham, a spokeswoman for Paul Hemmer Cos., which owns the shopping center, said American Theater Corp. plans to show first-run shows at the theater.
“They certainly have the ability to meet whatever the market demands there,†she said. “We’ll see what the market demands when it opens.â€
One year after opening, Eastland Mall’s latest movie theater has closed.
Utah-based Red Carpet Cinemas spent several weeks last year upgrading the existing theater, which had closed in 2006.
The new venue opened in March 2007 with more comfortable seats, digital sound and â€" for the first time in years â€" mainstream films such as “Happy Feet†and “Dreamgirls.â€
Previously, the theater had unsuccessfully featured movies geared toward Spanish-speakers or children.
Company officials could not be reached last week to comment on when or why the theater closed. Red Carpet Cinemas president Jim Ferguson could not be reached, and Eastland no longer has a general manager. Mall owners also could not be reached.
Some store owners and shoppers, however, said they weren’t surprised the theater faltered. Several said the theater was difficult to find and that there weren’t enough signs inside or outside the mall advertising that it was open.
“They could have done a better job letting people know it was there,†said resident Joy Parker, 37. “You had to really work to find it.â€
The closure comes at a time when Eastland, a longtime community anchor at Central Avenue and Albemarle Road, has been losing money and large national and regional anchors have left. Belk and Dillard’s have closed, in addition to several national retailers such as Bath & Body Works , Victoria’s Secret and New York & Co.
Over the years, such retailers have struggled to earn a profit at Eastland as other malls such as SouthPark and Northlake have gained dominance.
In the past, a spate of shootings at and near the mall scared some shoppers away.
Despite the store departures, the mall remains popular among small business owners who thrive in an urban market niche. Anchors Burlington Coat Factory and Sears are also still operating.
After three years of trying to sell the mall, Eastland owner Glimcher Realty Trust said in July it was walking away from its lease, and the company asked the court to appoint a third party to run the mall or sell it.
Then in August, the mall cut its operating hours, including closing entirely on Mondays, to save money.
“I’ll keep going there as long as they’re open,†resident Carrie Mayes said. “I’m just not sure how long that’s going to be.â€
BY VALERIE BOATENG • STAFF WRITER • OCTOBER 29, 2008
COSHOCTON – After being without a local movie theater for a little less than three months, area residents can resume theatergoing on Nov. 7.
Jodi and Kim Lowe of Warsaw, who managed Hollywood Studios Movie Theater at 460 Downtowner Plaza for eight years, are the new owners and will be operating under a new name – Shelby Theaters. Shelby is the name of their daughter who passed away four years ago. She was 9-days-old.
“(Kim) just always said that if we ever owned a movie theater … we were going to name it after her,” Jodi said.
The couple will be replacing ceiling tiles, laying new carpet, painting and making repairs in the building prior to opening. Keeping everything in working order will be easier, according to Jodi.
“There were a lot of things, if something would go wrong like painting or fixing the popcorn machine, I always had to get the OK to go do it,” Jodi said. “Now, if something’s broke, I can fix it right now. There’s nobody over top of me.”
Former owner, Mark Siegel of Cincinnati, closed the theater for reorganization purposes after profits were down due to the economy and because filmgoers were traveling to Zanesville for the multi-screen, stadium seating style theater that had opened two years ago.
“Even though I was running it for eight years, there’s so much more to doing this than just being a manager,” Jodi said. “There’s film companies, a booker, electric and water companies … you can’t just unlock the door and open for business.”
Working with a booker, the Lowe’s will show first run movies.
“We’ll probably show more family movies than the rated R,” Jodi said. “The family movies do so much better here.”
Scheduled for opening day will be “Madagascar 2” and “High School Musical 3.”
“I can’t say we’ll never run an adult movie … what we’re going to shoot for is the number one movies,” she said.
Prices will remain $2 for matinees and $4 for evenings “as long as the film places will allow us to keep them that low,” Jodi said.
Next week, the theater will have a new phone and Web site. A recording with movie times can be heard by calling 622-FILM; the main line will be 622-6855; and the Web site will be www.shelbytheaters.com
I hope the owner has registered the business name in her state rather than copyrighted it, because you can’t copyright a name.
You’re right. I had “Treasure Island” on the mind when I was writing this. But there’s some definite scrambling going on out there to grab as many digital screens as possible. Over the weekend, reports were that Bolt was grossing 50% more per screen in digital theaters than in the 35mm theaters.
Here’s an article about the Bloor talking about how an astronomy fan painted an accurate 7,000-star representation of the night sky on the roof of the balcony over the orchestra seats and gives astronomy talks there.
Then the next step is closing in a year or two.
I think this is a really interesting idea. There are tons of blackbox theaters and little theater troupes all around the country, and for the most part, their theaters sit unused 95% of the time. Why not use them to show non-commercial and independent films?
There is a ton of product out there that is never seen by the public, and a small admission fee could keep some revenue coming in when the theater would have otherwise been dormant. And there’s usually the theater manager or stage manager hanging around doing paperwork during the day, why not set up a desk at the door and collect admissions?
You can get a decent 480p projector and DVD player for less than $1000. Or you can get a Blu-Ray player and a 1080p projector for around $2500. That’s just about the same quality of the first generation of digital cinema projectors. The light output won’t be the same, and it’ll feel more like a home theater, but this could increase the number of venues for indie films exponentially if other theater companies did this.
I remember seeing an unreleased Kenneth Branaugh film at the Coolidge Corner’s video screening room on ¾" video tape some years ago, and I still remember it fondly despite the 8-foot wide screen image. So it could work, and I hope other theater companies pick up on this.
Apparently, they’re building a Walgreens in the theater now and extending the balcony into a true second story.
You can read more here.
MT. LEBANON, PA — Fundraising to renovate the Denis Theatre is going slower than expected. $238,000 has been raised, but its non-profit board had hoped to raise $1 million by the end of the year.
The Denis Theatre Foundation received its first six-figure gift of $100,000 last Oct. 29th, but it seems unlikely to make this year’s goal.
An estimated $3 million will be needed for an extensive renovation to reopen the 1938 theater closed in 2004. The theater went non-profit earlier this year.
Read more in The Almanac.
After being closed for nearly six months, the Pocono Cinema is reopening this week as a non-profit community theater.
Going non-profit allowed the cinema to fundraise $30,000 for renovations and to utilize volunteers.
The community will be paid back by bringing people downtown to patronize shops and restaurants.
The previous operator ran out of money after only a year. The building’s owner and former operator ran it for a couple of months before closing it down last April.
Read more at WNEP Newswatch 16 and at the Pocono Record.
LUFKIN, TX — The city has set aside $500,000 for the initial renovation of the historic Pines Theater as part of a plan to bring the downtown area back to life.
Last July, the city bought the 1925 theater, which was being used as a church, for $112,860.
The $500,000 will be used to secure the structure by installing a new roof, upgrading the wiring and lighting, hanging new doors and windows, redoing the marque, and stripping off material from previous renovations. The entire project will cost $1.4 million and could take years to fund completely.
The city is looking to private funding to help with the construction costs.
Read more in the Lufkin Daily News.
The National Association of Theater Owners is the best Website for any statistical information.
For example, in 2007 there were 5,928 theaters, 383 of them being drive-ins. And there were 38,794 screens with 635 of them being drive-ins.
So analyzing this, the average drive-in has about 2 screens and the average indoor theater has about 6 screens. And there are almost 20 times as many indoor theaters as drive-ins, and 50 times as many screens.
Apparently, Wilcox Theaters is in the process of renovating this theater and hopes to open in a few weeks.
Read more here.
Apparently, the theater closed last April, but reopened in May because of public pressure. Starting in October, it closed Mondays and Tuesdays because of poor economic conditions on the islands.
Read more here and here.
I think the moral of the story is that if you’re going to reopen a closed cinema, you better have a better business plan than the previous owners.
A couple of years ago Pittsfield thought the $22 million restoration of the legit Colonial Theater was going to revive downtown. On top of this is that there’s very little parking downtown and no public transportation. Plus the city’s population has been declining as GE has gradually closed down most of its operations.
I hate to say it, but I’ve come across dozens of stories in the last few months where small old cities and towns are hoping the reopening of a theater is going to revive their downtown areas, and in most cases, the theaters close within a year and the downtowns continue to decline. There are very few examples where this actually works.
The new owners of the Norwin theater is donating the theater seats to the Lamp. See this article.
The Norwin is being turned into Galaxy Fitness.
Read more here.
Here’s another article on Grandview’s renovation.
There is a news article in the Kingman Daily that says The Movies will reopen December 12.
You can read more about its opening here.
That’s great! I’ll be tuning in on the Internet!!
Here’s an article on the Grandview’s renovation.
David Nedrow is spending $50,000 of his savings to reopen the theater.
The Fiske is currently closed for renovations and will reopen in December as a second-run movie theater with the largest screen (18' x 32') in a 60-mile radius!
Read more here.
The Enzian has added a bar to the restaurant. This has got to be one of the swankiest places to see an independent film in the world.
Here’s a recent article.
Kerasotes closing Riverside Blvd., Newburg Road facilities
By Sean F. Driscoll
BusinessRockford.com
Posted Oct 28, 2008 @ 03:00 PM
Last update Oct 28, 2008 @ 07:22 PM
ROCKFORD â€" The region will lose a quarter of its movie screens by next week when Kerasotes Theatres closes its two smallest locations.
Thursday marks the last day of business for the North Towne theater, 890 W. Riverside Blvd. The last day for Colonial Village, 4228 Newburg Road, is Nov. 6, Kerasotes Marketing Director Clair Malo said. North Towne showed second-run movies for $1 or $1.50 a seat on its six screens; Colonial Village showed first-run movies and arthouse fare on its five screens.
Malo declined to comment on why the chain was closing the two locations, but patrons who were catching late-afternoon shows today said they were upset with the move.
“I’m shocked,†said Colleen Poleski, who was seeing “Fireproof.†“It’s the only theater I go to because I like a smaller theater and smaller films.â€
Linda Schelman and Kris Lambrecht drove from Roscoe for a screening of “The Duchess.â€
“A lot of these things aren’t showing at other theaters,†Lambrecht said. “I don’t know what we’re going to do now.â€
The Chicago-based theater chain is the seventh-largest in the country, operating 941 screens at 100 locations, according to the National Association of Theater Owners. It opened a new 14-screen theater on Anjali Way in Machesney Park in 2005 and closed the nine-screen theater in the Machesney Park Mall later the same year. It also operates a 16-screen theater on East State Street in Rockford.
The closings will leave the Rock River Valley without a dedicated first-run arts theater for the first time in decades. Kerasotes started showing art and independent films at Colonial Village in 2001, and the independent Storefront Cinema stopped showing films at the Riverfront Museum Park in 2003.
Storefront currently operates out of EIGERlab, 605 Fulton Ave.; its next screenings are of Betty Boop movies and the uncut version of 1933’s “King Kong†on Nov. 12.
Board President Ron Schultz said the closing is a loss to Rock River Valley movie lovers.
“I think Kerasotes loses out by not offering a greater variety, and maybe they’ll move some of those films into the bigger multiplexes,†he said. “Some of those films are going to find an audience, and they need to be aware that those films that are independents sometimes strike gold and deserve a wide audience. Hopefully they won’t abandon those films.â€
Malo said she didn’t know if art films would be shown at another Kerasotes theater in the area.
American Theater Corp. announced plans in May to open a multiscreen movie/dinner theater complex at Riverside Pavilion, at Riverside Boulevard and Mulford Road, in late spring or early summer.
Rosemary Weathers Burnham, a spokeswoman for Paul Hemmer Cos., which owns the shopping center, said American Theater Corp. plans to show first-run shows at the theater.
“They certainly have the ability to meet whatever the market demands there,†she said. “We’ll see what the market demands when it opens.â€
Here’s the article:
Eastland Mall theater closes
By Nichole Monroe Bell
Posted: Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008
One year after opening, Eastland Mall’s latest movie theater has closed.
Utah-based Red Carpet Cinemas spent several weeks last year upgrading the existing theater, which had closed in 2006.
The new venue opened in March 2007 with more comfortable seats, digital sound and â€" for the first time in years â€" mainstream films such as “Happy Feet†and “Dreamgirls.â€
Previously, the theater had unsuccessfully featured movies geared toward Spanish-speakers or children.
Company officials could not be reached last week to comment on when or why the theater closed. Red Carpet Cinemas president Jim Ferguson could not be reached, and Eastland no longer has a general manager. Mall owners also could not be reached.
Some store owners and shoppers, however, said they weren’t surprised the theater faltered. Several said the theater was difficult to find and that there weren’t enough signs inside or outside the mall advertising that it was open.
“They could have done a better job letting people know it was there,†said resident Joy Parker, 37. “You had to really work to find it.â€
The closure comes at a time when Eastland, a longtime community anchor at Central Avenue and Albemarle Road, has been losing money and large national and regional anchors have left. Belk and Dillard’s have closed, in addition to several national retailers such as Bath & Body Works , Victoria’s Secret and New York & Co.
Over the years, such retailers have struggled to earn a profit at Eastland as other malls such as SouthPark and Northlake have gained dominance.
In the past, a spate of shootings at and near the mall scared some shoppers away.
Despite the store departures, the mall remains popular among small business owners who thrive in an urban market niche. Anchors Burlington Coat Factory and Sears are also still operating.
After three years of trying to sell the mall, Eastland owner Glimcher Realty Trust said in July it was walking away from its lease, and the company asked the court to appoint a third party to run the mall or sell it.
Then in August, the mall cut its operating hours, including closing entirely on Mondays, to save money.
“I’ll keep going there as long as they’re open,†resident Carrie Mayes said. “I’m just not sure how long that’s going to be.â€
Theater to reopen under new ownership
BY VALERIE BOATENG • STAFF WRITER • OCTOBER 29, 2008
COSHOCTON – After being without a local movie theater for a little less than three months, area residents can resume theatergoing on Nov. 7.
Jodi and Kim Lowe of Warsaw, who managed Hollywood Studios Movie Theater at 460 Downtowner Plaza for eight years, are the new owners and will be operating under a new name – Shelby Theaters. Shelby is the name of their daughter who passed away four years ago. She was 9-days-old.
“(Kim) just always said that if we ever owned a movie theater … we were going to name it after her,” Jodi said.
The couple will be replacing ceiling tiles, laying new carpet, painting and making repairs in the building prior to opening. Keeping everything in working order will be easier, according to Jodi.
“There were a lot of things, if something would go wrong like painting or fixing the popcorn machine, I always had to get the OK to go do it,” Jodi said. “Now, if something’s broke, I can fix it right now. There’s nobody over top of me.”
Former owner, Mark Siegel of Cincinnati, closed the theater for reorganization purposes after profits were down due to the economy and because filmgoers were traveling to Zanesville for the multi-screen, stadium seating style theater that had opened two years ago.
“Even though I was running it for eight years, there’s so much more to doing this than just being a manager,” Jodi said. “There’s film companies, a booker, electric and water companies … you can’t just unlock the door and open for business.”
Working with a booker, the Lowe’s will show first run movies.
“We’ll probably show more family movies than the rated R,” Jodi said. “The family movies do so much better here.”
Scheduled for opening day will be “Madagascar 2” and “High School Musical 3.”
“I can’t say we’ll never run an adult movie … what we’re going to shoot for is the number one movies,” she said.
Prices will remain $2 for matinees and $4 for evenings “as long as the film places will allow us to keep them that low,” Jodi said.
Next week, the theater will have a new phone and Web site. A recording with movie times can be heard by calling 622-FILM; the main line will be 622-6855; and the Web site will be www.shelbytheaters.com