Comments from muviebuf

Showing 1 - 25 of 203 comments

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Colonial Park Cinemas 4 on Mar 6, 2024 at 10:17 am

BTW …. the correct address for the Colonial Park Mall is 4600 Jonestown Road at the corner of Colonial Road.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Colonial Park Cinemas 4 on Mar 6, 2024 at 10:07 am

The Colonial Park 4 Cinemas opened in 1986 as a result of a trade off with Sameric Corporation with Sameric giving up its lease on the free standing former Trans-Lux Theatre out in the rear parking lot of the Colonial Park Mall in exchange for the 4 auditoriums jammed into one corner inside the mall. The former Trans Lux was then torn down for what was then a newly constructed Boscov’s store which still exists today.

Sameric - which never believed in maintenance - sold out to United Artists which continued Sameric’s former non-maintence policies. The four auditoriums - which were drab to begin with- were not helped by years of neglect.

When UA gave up the lease in the early 2000s it was taken over as second run by Fun Time Cinemas run by Bruce Fitzsimmons widow.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about FunTime Cinemas Mahoning Valley 8 on Sep 6, 2023 at 7:12 pm

Fun Time Cinemas is throwing in the towel. They are closing as of September 14, 2023.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Strand Theatre on May 13, 2023 at 11:09 am

The Strand Theatre was sold on 02/21/2023 to the Northeastern Berks Main Street Foundation.

In April of 2023 the Foundation received a grant of 450,000 towards renovations/reimburse the purchase price.

No word as to what is going to happen.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Apollo Theatre AC on Apr 2, 2023 at 12:56 pm

That the Belvidere area was in the path of severe storms, high winds and possible tornadoes was forecasted days in advance. The concert could have and should have been postponed. And its not just the concert promoters who bear responsibility. Where were the municipal officials?

The personal injury lawyers will have a field day with this one.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Timonium Drive-In on Feb 5, 2023 at 12:35 pm

HenryBL: There was a double feature making the rounds of the Drive Ins in 1962 of “Jack The Giant Killer” with Kerwin Matthews as the first feature and Connery’s “Dr. No” as the second feature. I was about 12 years old at the time when it played near me and it was my introduction to James Bond. I then immediately went and purchased all the Bond books which were available at that time.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Halifax Drive-In on Nov 5, 2022 at 1:52 pm

The Halifax Drive In was opened in 1950 and closed at the end of the 1992 season with “Honeymoon In Vegas” and “Single White Female”. Demolished in 1993 for a Giant Food Store.

Operated by 1960 by Marv Troutman under his Martro Theatres banner (later Cinema Centres) which included the Colonade Theatre in Millersburg.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Showplace ICON at The Boro on Oct 31, 2022 at 9:30 pm

$18.75 for a ticket plus the now obligatory “booking fees”.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about North Versailles Stadium 18 on Sep 6, 2022 at 7:55 pm

By 2001 this theatre had taken down down the much nicer Lowes 20 North Versailles (which like this theatre was built in 1999 and opened about the same). Too many screens for one area. And the real sad part was that the Lowes 20 was built on the site of the former 5 screen Pittsburgh Drive In.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Strand Theatre on Aug 6, 2022 at 7:55 pm

The following history is courtesy of the Kutztown Historical Society and Dr. Brendan D. Strasser:

The Strand Theatre had its beginnings in 1908 as the Kintescope Arcade in what is now the Kutztown Tavern building at 272 W. Main Street. In 1912 a dedicated theatre building called Herman’s Playhouse was constructed around the corner from the former main street operation at 32 Whiteoak Street - which is the theatre’s present location and where it was operated ever since its construction.

During the 110 years there have only been 3 owners of the Strand Theatre Building in Kutztown:

Paul A. Herman (1908-1946) Lawrence W. Fenstermacher (1946-1969) Paul J. Angstadt (1969-2022)

Paul A. Herman leased the theatre building to Furman B. Willis from about 1927 to 1932. It was Willis who renamed the theatre “The Strand” starting in 1927. At that time Willis was also operating what was called the “Park Theatre” in the former Kutztown Auditorium at 134 E. Main Street.

In 1932 Theodore Nyquist and his Superior Amusement Co took over the Strand for a number of years. At some time Lawrence Fenstermacher began operating The Strand and later purchased the building.

Paul J. Angstadt died suddenly on June 20, 2022. The theatre is currently closed (hopefully only temporarily) pending the settlement of Paul J. Angstadt’s estate.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about "The Dirty Dozen" on Jul 31, 2022 at 5:13 pm

The Dirty Dozen was first released on June 15, 1967.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Regal Dania Pointe 4DX, RPX ScreenX & VIP on Apr 23, 2022 at 8:06 pm

It used to be that movies were cheap entertainment for the masses.

Now every new theatre only wants to offer a ‘premium experience’

Tickets for the VIP at Regal Dania Pointe are $26.74 for Adults and $24.60 for Children …. PLUS … additional charges for booking fees.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Grail Moviehouse on Apr 21, 2022 at 6:38 pm

Every US fire and panic code that I have ever seen requires movie theatre seating be afixed (bolted or screwed in) to the floor so that overturned seats don’t become an obstacle in the event of an emergency requiring quick exit in the dark.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Roxy Theatre on Dec 16, 2021 at 7:51 am

Good News. The Roxy did receive funds from the federal Covid grant program thus assuring its continued survival at least for awhile. A portion of those funds were just used to redo the surface of its stage flooring - just in time for the local Nutcracker ballet performance last weekend.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 14, 2021 at 3:15 pm

I do not believe that Schine ever operated either the Strand or the Palace theatres.

There was a product split evident among the chains in downtown Syracuse in the 50’s and 60’s. Schine (the Paramount and the Eckel) had most of the Universal, most of the Disney, and nearly all of the 20th Fox and about ½ of the UA. RKO (Keiths) had all of the Paramount and all Warner Brothers exclusively. Lowes (the State now Landmark and the Strand) had all of the MGM and ½ of the UA. The product from Columbia got divided up between all three (Schine, RKO and Lowes) but primarily played Schine and Lowes.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Harrisburg Mall Stadium 14 on Nov 11, 2021 at 3:29 pm

According to published reports the Harrisburg Mall has received a demolition permit to take down the 14 screen theatre along with two former anchor stores.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Landmark Theatre on Nov 5, 2021 at 1:58 pm

You can’t make this stuff up.

https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/11/firefighters-rescue-naked-man-stuck-in-ny-theater-bathroom-wall-for-days.html

BTW … there is a picture of the new marquee in this article

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Bath Drive-In on May 26, 2021 at 4:47 pm

There was only ever one drive-in in Bath Pennsylvania. It was located along Route 512 on the right side about ¼ mile north. The remanants of both the boxoffice and screen tower are still visible there. I do not know the name but believe it may have been identified as http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/23079 but that listing is not the correct location.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Roxy Theatre on Apr 8, 2021 at 12:31 pm

I believe the owner of the Roxy is applying for the federal Covid grant program for performance venues, museums and independent theatres.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Roxy Theatre on Apr 8, 2021 at 12:23 pm

The prior organ and its chambers were removed to make room for the installation of the Allen organ from the State in Eastson. That Allen organ has been installed and is now in use at the Roxy.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Haar's Drive-In on Apr 5, 2021 at 6:59 pm

New Owner has granted the Haars family a 10 year lease so the Drive In is safe for now. https://www.pennlive.com/life/2021/04/businessmans-emotional-purchase-will-allow-haars-drive-in-to-keep-making-memories-for-area-residents.html

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Harrisburg Mall Stadium 14 on Nov 10, 2020 at 4:07 pm

The Harrisburg Mall as landlord has once again filed a lawsuit for back rent…. this time seeking 557k in unpaid rent which has not been paid since the pandemic hit.

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/11/harrisburg-mall-owner-sues-great-escapes-theater-for-557k-claims-rent-is-6-months-overdue.html

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Roxy Theatre on Oct 31, 2020 at 3:45 pm

The entire Allen organ (including all 36 of its speakers)removed from the State Theatre in Easton Pennsylvania has now been installed at the Roxy in Northampton Pennsylvania. The sound is incredible! The prior organ and all of its piping was removed. The stage has also been widened to allow more live performances.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Warehouse Cinemas Leitersburg on Oct 27, 2020 at 9:48 pm

The Leitersburg Cinemas were sold to New Vision Cinemas in January 2019. The theatres closed in March 2020 due to Covid-19. New Vision Cinemas filed bankruptcy on July 06, 2020. The buildings and 18 acres of real estate was sold in bankruptcy foreclosure auction on October 23, 2020. https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/leitersburg-cinemas-property-sold-at-auction/article_62f2ed4b-06cf-5081-80f5-0223dece9065.html

Auction of theatre fixtures was held on Monday October 26, 2020.

Mark this one closed for good.

muviebuf
muviebuf commented about Newville Theater on Aug 2, 2020 at 9:57 am

According to the website for the Cumberland Drive In in Newville PA (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9463) Donn Mowery took the insurance proceeds from the Newville Theatre fire and used them to build the Cumberland Drive In … which is still operating to this day.