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Openings
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September 18, 2009
Detroit to get new art house/revival venue
DETROIT, MI — Detroit, which has lost almost all of its movie theaters within the city limits, is about to get a new art house. To be called the Burton Theater, it will be housed in the restored auditorium of the former Burton Elementary School at Cass and Peterboro.
The Burton Theatre is set to open in the Burton Elementary building on Cass at Peterboro on Oct. 3.
The movie house will screen new, independent films, LBGT, foreign, and cult.
The four partners behind the project — David Allen, Jeff Else, Nate Faustyn and Matt Kelson — saw the scarcity of movie theaters in Detroit, plus they had a 35mm projector. When developer Joel Landy purchased Burton Elementary, they discovered that he wanted a movie theater in the building. It was a perfect match.
Read more at Model D.
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September 16, 2009
Bucking the trend, new Naples cinema targets older audience
NAPLES, FL — Perhaps it’s not surprising given its location, but the new Silverspot Cinema 11 is going after the mature audience, both in terms of its amenities and its programming. The first U.S. installation operated by the Venezuela-based Cines Unidos, the multiplex features deluxe seating, a beer and wine bar, and a restaurant. There is no box office; tickets are sold on-line or at kiosks.
“It’s really the plushest theater I’ve ever sat in,” says Eric Raddatz, executive director for Naples International Film Festival, which will be held there Nov. 5-8. “Every chair in there is like a leather La-Z-Boy sofa. It’s amazing.”
Read more in the Fort Myers News-Press.
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September 14, 2009
Young entrepreneur opening art house cinema
WINSTON SALEM, NC — A new twin-screen art house is under construction in Winston-Salem, NC thanks to the passion of Lawren Desai and her business partners. To be called the a/perture, the intent is to create a venue for non-mainstream films, film festivals, and films that played in downtown Winston-Salem in days gone by.
She adds that sharing office space with RiverRun also may enable her theater to play some of its bigger hits, as well as some of the films that didn’t quite make the cut for the annual film festival.
But most importantly, Desai wants a/perture to become a home for local filmmakers, including students and graduates of UNC School of the Arts.
“There are a lot of people from the community that are making films,” Desai says. “I think there’s just a lot of potential for different kinds of films that are not coming here now.”
Read more in the News & Record.
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WW II Museum in N.O. to get theater with 120 foot screen
The World War II Museum in the Warehouse District near the riverfront in New Orleans will soon boast a new theater with a curved screen to show a special documentary film to be entitled “Beyond All Boundaries” to be narrated by Tom Hanks and featuring the voices of other Hollywood stars. The $5.5 million dollar cinema will be called the Solomon Victory Theater in honor of Theodore “Teddy” Solomon and his family, and will be capable of showing other films as well. The Solomons built a number of theaters in the South, some later sold to AMC.
It was a fundraising match so perfect it could have been confected in Hollywood: Movie-theater magnate Theodore “Teddy” Solomon and his family wanted to give money to the National World War II Museum, and the museum needed cash for a high-tech theater.
The outcome: The family gave $5.5 million for a new 242-seat auditorium, which will be called the Solomon Victory Theater. It marks the biggest private gift for the Warehouse District museum’s $50 million expansion, spokeswoman Clem Goldberger said.
Read more in the Times-Picayune.
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September 11, 2009
Independent cinema opens in Duluth
DULUTH, MN — The twin screen Zinema 2 theater has opened on Superior Street in Duluth, MN, providing the city with its only independent venue for film.
The new business on Superior street has two theaters and spokespeople say they’re excited to provide another choice to movie-goers.
“I was brought up here almost a year ago today to put this together, so it’s nice to finally see it come to fruition,” said Timothy Massett, the owner of Zinema 2.
More information can be found in this article in theNorthland News Center.
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Unique seven screen multiplex opening
NAPERVILLE, IL — Featuring seven themed auditoriums, a two story waterfall in the lobby, a bar and a cafe, the Hollywood Palms theater is about to open.
Even in an unfinished state, the place transfixed me with its eclectic and exotic decor, from its imported elephant doors (giant, knobbed doors to keep elephants inside a tall stable) to its joyously jaw-dropping figurine collection of famous animated characters.
Naturally, they line the entrance to the Animation Auditorium.
When finished, the Underwater theater will throw waves of lights on the walls to suggest being under the water where scores of fish “swim” through the air.
Read the full story in the Daily Herald.
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September 4, 2009
City shutters Columbus Theatre for code violations
PROVIDENCE, RI — The Columbus Theatre was shut down suddenly by the City of Providence on Tuesday, August 25 due to code violations uncovered by a deputy fire marshal. The inspection was triggered by a complaint from a parent of a contestant in a beauty pageant held at the theater the preceding weekend. Other businesses in the building have been allowed to remain open.
Among the violations cited were a fire suppression system that does not meet the current code, electrical deficiencies, storage of paint cans and “other items” in the basement, at least one broken door, and missing exterior decorative tiles. The theater is still waiting for the full list of violations. The cost of the fire suppression system alone is estimated at more than $100,000. As a result of the closure, at least four events, including two film festivals, have been forced to find alternate venues.
For the complete story, read The Providence Journal, 8/28/09.
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August 28, 2009
The curtain (finally) rises
RICHMOND, VA — On September 12, 2009, the Carpenter Theatre will open its doors after years of extensive renovations and improvements. The $73.4 million dollar project brings modern amenities to John Eberson’s atmospheric Loews movie palace including a completely new stage house and an adjoining group of smaller performance venues and support space.
Read some more about how this came to be at Style Weekly.
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August 21, 2009
College Park 14 in Indianapolis has been shut down
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Loews College Park on the north side of Indianapolis has been shut down. The Loews signs have been removed from the exterior of the building, and the interior has been deserted.
In terms of seating capacity I’m sure that this is still one of the largest theaters in town, but the facility is painfully out of date. Newer facilities offering IMAX, digital projection, and stadium seating have been built in the area, but College Park is strictly old school. They have a couple of auditoriums that don’t even have stereo sound.
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August 10, 2009
New drive-in theater to open in Goochland County, Virginia
As mentioned earlier this year, a new drive-in is scheduled to open in Goochland County, Virginia (between Richmond and Charlottesville) later this month:
The drive-in theater in Goochland is under construction now and is scheduled to be opened this month.
The location in Goochland County is a perfect location for both Richmond and Charlottesville families.
The drive in theater will also host classic car shows, a kids' playground, retro movie nights and community oriented events.
Read the full story in the Examiner.