SIOUX CITY, SD — Two original murals dating from the Orpheum’s opening in 1917 have been restored and now grace again the walls of this theater that was home to vaudeville and movies. Three others are undergoing restoration and will be installed later, although the location of two others is unknown.

The dancing Grecian ladies in the murals at the Orpheum Theater recently became more vivid, even as their history remains a cloudy mystery.

After a yearlong, $40,000 restoration project, two murals original to the 1913 building were reinstalled this week, without the almost 100 years of grime.

“We are very excited to have these murals back in the building safe, sound and restored,” said Russ DeCurtins, the general manager for SMG, the company that has managed the theater for the city since 2003.

The full story is in the Argus Leader. 

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Daily News has printed a story on the closure of two Houses, the Eagle and the Jackson Triplex. Warren G. Harris has kindly provided this link.

What’s left of the Eagle Theater’s once majestic marquee is rusting. Signs on the Jackson Triplex advertise films the movie house will never show.

Both of the small Jackson Heights movie theaters have closed within the last six months due to financial problems. And though many locals mourn the loss of cinemas in the neighborhood, others see it as a golden opportunity.

Read more in the New York Daily News.

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.

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.

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

OVERTON, TX — Closed for over four decades, the Overton Theater is being restored by Loretta and John Posey. The work is expected to take nearly two years. Original materials are being used and fixtures and details recreated.

The restoration of the theater came about after the building was bought by Loretta and John Posey as one of several building restoration projects in downtown Overton.

“We bought it because we have a heart for this community, and we’ve had a business here for well over ten years,” she said. “We wanted to do dinner and a movie and have live performances with bands, plays and if the stage is big enough, ballet."

Read more in this article with pictures from the Tyler Paper.

DOVER, NH — The Strand triplex will be on the auction block on November 19. Built in 1919, the theater was operated by the Spinelli circuit which recently shut down all of its theaters.

Assessed at $705,300, the theater is one of two properties on a 2005 mortgage held by Rose Realty LLC in Madbury. The other property is located off Route 11 in Rochester — where Spinelli had plans for a theater in 2006 — and was the subject of a $150,000 foreclosure deed this past summer. The mortgage was in the amount of $429,500.

Spinelli has encountered other financial challenges, including lawsuits for back rent at his Barrington theater and unpaid rent at the defunct Somersworth location.

More information at Fosters.com.

CHAPEL HILL, SC — Although previously reported to be closed permanently, the Varsity Theater will be re-opening under new ownership as a $3 discount house.

Chapel Hill residents Susan and Paul Shareshian have begun working to restore the theater to its former elegance. “We want to bring back the feeling of a classic old-time movie theater and also provide a clean and fun space — with excellent service and a customer-focused staff — where local residents can enjoy a movie at a reasonable price,” says Paul Shareshian in a news release.

Read more in the News Observer.

CHICAGO, IL — It looks like the cinema that was to be operated by Muvico in the Block 37 complex (now referred to as 108 North State - opposite Marshall Field’s, oops, Macy’s) is not going to be constructed. Muvico sought to renegotiate lease terms in June, but the bank involved would not agree to them and is foreclosing on the developer of the retail and transit portion of the project.

After undergoing a corporate reorganization that included shedding several of its movie houses, Muvico “informed Freed that it could not honor its lease but offered to enter into alternative arrangements,” Freed said in the filing.

Muvico renegotiated the lease, but the banks refused to approve the new terms, the filing said.

Read more in the Chicago Tribune.

CHILLICOTHE, IL — The local Optimist Club has purchased the twin-screen Town Theater which opened in 1920 as the Sunset. Consistent with its mission as a service club dedicated to the youth of the community, the organization will show films that appeal to children and teens.

If all goes according to plan, the Optimists will close on the property at 1029 Second St. in Chillicothe’s downtown before the end of November. The service agency has agreed with the current owner of the Town Theater, Vern Reynolds, to purchase the building and the business for $200,000. It will buy the property with a $20,000 down payment from the club’s account. Latta, who is a Realtor, and Jim Maloof Realty waived their fees for helping with the sale of the property.

The theater will be run as a not-for-profit, with all proceeds going to area youth groups, such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Little League sports programs.

Read more in the Journal Star.