OWOSSO, MI — The Owosso Community Players, which owns the fire-gutted Lebowsky Center is trying to raise $350,000 by May 1 in order to qualify for a matching grant from the city of Owosso which it received as part of the Vibrant Small Cities Initiative.

If the grant money is received, the $700,000 would be used to enclose the theater again and begin interior work. Completing the entire project is expected to cost $3.5 million.

Additional info from the Argus-Press.

If you are interested in donating to the OCP, contact Linda Keenan of the Owosso Community Players, P.O. Box 606, Owosso, MI 48867. Their phone number is (989) 723-1488.

My name is Kyle Thomson, I am in the process of purchasing a theater and need to upgrade the projectors, sound and seating.

If anyone can help me, I would appreciate it.

Thanks
Kyle

Friends of the Boyd are pleased to share with you our link to this
wonderful rendering of what Philadelphia’s historic Boyd Theatre’s
Chestnut Street frontage would look like restored to its original 1928 exterior (albeit without the vertical sign).

Friends of the Boyd link

Thanks to architects Martinez and Johnson of Washington D.C. for the incredible work they have done on this project over the years, originally for Clear Channel and currently for Philadelphia developer Hal Wheeler. As to the vertical sign, Gary Martinez has stated they will design so the vertical could later be installed. Because the 1928 photos are black and white, the proposed colors for the Boyd frontage were derived from original Art Deco colors discovered at the Boyd Theatre. 

Read more…

I’m looking for investors to bring this theater back in bussiness. I have all the vendors in place with cost of property and cost to retool. I’m asking for anyone that would like to help.

I can be reached at:

Chris Hammontree
650 Windsor
Kingman, AZ 86409

10 am-1pm M-F
928-565-1659
Email

Thanks,
Chris H.

On Sunday’s Golden Globes telecast, Steven Spielberg described how he was inspired to become a director after his father took him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth” at a Philadelphia movie theater. As many of you know from our historic photos, it was the Boyd Theatre that showcased that film.

The 1952 movie was not wide screen, but unusual for any movie, had a wide screen special effect showing a train crash. After seeing the movie, Spielberg crashed his model trains at home so many times that his father told him he would take away the trains if he kept it up. Spielberg borrowed his father’s 8 mm camera and filmed the train crash, so he could watch the trains crashing on film.

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WOODBURN, OR — We are trying to restore a theater that has been abandoned for 10 years. The theater has lots of qualities. If anyone has any leads for us to be able to get this theater up and going, our community would be grateful.

I have a client that needs approx. 400 seats (used or fairly new in good condition)for a very old theatre in Oklahoma.

Janine Bradford
Cinema Service
Dallas, TX
214-692-7555 #200

If anyone has a working Digibeta that they are willing to donate to a NFP theater, please post here and I will forward contact information.

Thanks

MIDDLETOWN, DE — Until further notice, The Historic Everett Theatre is closed. At approximately 11:30 pm Saturday March 15th, portions of the ceiling collapsed causing extensive damage. The theatre was vacant at the time.

The theatre will suffer significant financial harm due to the cost of repairs, as well as the loss of revenue for planned movies and performances. 

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H-B Woodlawn is an alternative school in Arlington, VA. H-B is consistently ranks one of the best public high schools in the country. In 2006 and 2007 H-B ranked 13th; in 2005, 5th; and in 2003, 10th. H-B has a prolific, student-run theatre program which produces 8 to 12 productions each year, almost all of which are directed and produced by students. The 2007-2008 show schedule includes: Sister Mary Ignatius, No Exit, Lost in Yonkers, One-Act Play Festival, Urinetown, Macbeth, As Bees in Honey Drown, Boys and Ghouls Together, Holes, and the 24-Hour Play Festival.

Unsafe rigging above the stage needs to be replaced. Most of the wiring is 50 years old. Students have been shocked. The lighting dimmer rack only holds 26 lights. The spotlights at the back of the auditorium are attached to balcony railings. The wooden seating in the school’s auditorium is fifty years old and is literally falling apart; seats have fallen out from under people and are visibly cracked; some seats are missing; several rows of seats have been removed because they were not salvageable; and, some rows of seats are being pieced together by students. WE NEED 475 SEATS, NEW OR USED! The estimated cost is at least $49,100 for new seats. Bake sales are presented at each theatrical event. T-shirts, sweatshirts, and mugs are being offered for sale. Raffles and other fundraising events are being sponsored by the Drama Boosters to raise additional money. We are trying everything. Please let us know if you can be of help, or have any ideas to get us any closer to our goals.