DORMONT, PA — The Hollywood Theatre. was in danger of being mothballed when local councilman John Maggio had an idea. He reached out to Motion Picture Heritage who had just finished re-fitting a drive-in in Shelbyville, Indiana to come on board to bring the Hollywood back to life. MPH had just done the unthinkable, they had implemented a low cost digital projection system for use in a drive-in, total cost $10,000. The principals of MPH fell in love with the Hollywood, a 400 seat theatre in the green South Hills of Pittsburgh. August 1st, the theatre came to life again featuring over 6 new titles every week.

BOULDER, CO — Boulder has been without a dedicated theater specializing in art, foreign, and independent cinema since Landmark closed the Crossroads Cinema there in 2007. Now, thanks to a benefactor’s gift, a new art cinema will be created in a former TV studio space at the Dairy Center for the Arts.

Officials with the Dairy Center on Wednesday announced their plans to build a state-of-the-art, single-screen movie theater dedicated to independent and art film in the space that used to house Boulder’s cable access studio.

They hope to break ground on the project this spring and open in time for the holidays in 2010.

Read more in the California Chronicle.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO — About 18 months ago, Carmike closed its triplex at the Glenwood Mall and ever since, the center’s management has been looking for a new operator. Although some interest was expressed, possible takers wanted to expand the theater’s number of screens which would take time; the mall’s managers wanted the theater open for the holiday shopping season. They have decided to run it themselves calling it now the Movies at the Mall.

Like Hollywood movie heroes, owners of the Glenwood Springs Mall are bucking the national chains this time and running the theater themselves. If they remodel it, owners figure, they will come.

“It was an effort, and it will be an effort that really pays off,” said mall general manager Sonia Davis, who headed up the effort to reopen the theater.

Read the whole story in the Aspen Daily.

EAST GRAND FORKS, MN — In “Citizen Kane,” the protagonist thinks it would be fun to run a newspaper; over 25 years ago, driving by a for sale theater in Blackduck, Bob and Jan Moore decided it would be fun to bring a cinema back to life and run it. Since then, they have rehabilitated theaters in Fosston and Crookston, and have converted a former crafts store East Grand Forks into a multiplex. But in spite of their successful growth, their approach to running their theaters is anything but corporate.

The movie theater has been so successful that owner Bob Moore plans to add an additional three to four screens within the mall and says he might eventually turn the entire mall into one giant theater after he purchases the mall from the city in the future.

“The theater is one of the better uses of that facility,” says Jim Richter, executive director of the East Grand Forks Economic Development and Housing Authority, which owns the mall. “These guys had a good background in theaters and entertainment. They did it right. It’s been a draw and it’s helped bring more focus to our redeveloped downtown."

Read more at Prairie Biz Mag.

WEST HAVEN, CT — Closed and virtually abandoned for several years, the Forest Theater will probably soon be demolished as the property has been sold to a developer. In a recent article, writer Randall Beach reminisces with the former operator.

I recall the warm presence of Irene and Tony Terrazano, Richard Mallette Jr.’s grandparents, who worked alongside him when he came aboard full-time in the Forest’s final decades. In 1990, Tony Terrazano told me he had begun working there in 1942, three years after it screened its first film, “Honeymoon in Bali.”

In 1945, Terrazano got a chance to buy the theater. He went for it and spent the rest of his working life there. He died in 1999; Irene died in 2002.

Mallette kept the marquee glowing for a time after their deaths. He was assisted by various relatives part-time but he worked seven days a week except for an occasional Wednesday: booking the films, overseeing the projector, selling candy and soda pop and taking the ticket money as well as handling maintenance and repairs. He even opened an ice cream shop next door.

Read more in the New Haven Register.

SALEM, OR — The former Regal Movieland 7 has been reborn as the Cinebarre. In addition to cocktail service and expanded menu offerings, the theater has a rentable VIP viewing space.

Nearly 400 people attended the theater’s grand opening event Thursday night, Karol said.

The theater is the former Regal Cinemas’ Movieland 7. Cinebarre offers first-run movies and caters to adults — minors younger than 18 will be seated in the theater only if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Children younger than 6 are only allowed into the theater on its designated “scream day,” which is the first showing every Tuesday.

Read more in the Statesman Journal.

PITTSFIELD, MA — The new Beacon Cinema opening on November 20 combines elements of the old and new. Housed within the 91-year-old Kinnell-Kresge building, designers have restored original ceilings and woodwork. The six-screen theater itself is technologically up-to-date with stadium seating and automated digital projection. The theater will serve beer and wine, in addition to typical movie concession fare.

The Eagle got a sneak peak of the state-of-the-art movie theater on Friday afternoon, however, and from the building’s original tin ceilings and woodwork to its state-of-the-art Dolby digital sound system, the public is in for an architectural and theatrical experience that’s sure to stimulate the senses.

The behind-the-scenes look included a tour of the six-screen, 850-seat cinema, which evokes memories of an old neighborhood picture house — albeit with modern upgrades such as stadium seating, which is designed give moviegoers a comfortable viewing experience, and a bar serving wine and beer.

Read more in the Berkshire Eagle.

CLARKSVILLE, IN — The GreenTree Mall in Clarksville Indiana has lost both of its movie theaters to newer stadium facilities in the area. My company FrightNight Productions currently leases the 4 as Psychomania http://www.TheaterofTerror.com, a large haunted house that loosely follows the history of the theater and grounds.

As a subsidiary of FNP, I am working on a lease agreement for the 25,000 square ft. GreenTree 10. I plan on using the theater as live performance, studio, independent cinema and audio recording space. I will be putting back in a full concession stand and redoing the lobby. Wish me luck and I will post as soon as I have word

Theater in Burlington Wisconsin for sale. Four screen profitable. Great location no competition in town. Town size 10,500. Great little investment. Asking $715K. Call (262)853-4338 for details.

NEW ORLEANS, LA — Advertising for bids to begin restoration work on the Saenger Theater in the Big Easy which was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina’s flood waters will begin in January. A recent article indicates that the plans will not simply restore the theater to its pre-Katrina appearance, but will result in the theater’s looking more like it did when it opened in 1927 by removing later additions such as the escalator, restoring the auditorium’s original color scheme, and using period hardware. The article includes diagrams and a picture of the damaged interior.

Out of the darkness that has prevailed since Hurricane Katrina, the bulbs of the Saenger’s giant marquee are expected to blink on to mark the coming return of the landmark playhouse that for years anchored the performing arts district along the city’s signature commercial boulevard.

The $38.8 million reconstruction of performance, patron and office space through an innovative alliance of the Canal Street Development Corp., an arm of City Hall, and the property’s longtime private owner-managers, Saenger Theatre Partnership of Houston, was announced to great fanfare in January. Until now, though, most progress has transpired on architects’ drawing boards and in negotiations with financiers.

More at NOLA.com .