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Openings
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August 24, 2005
Theaters Closing in Olympia
OLYMPIA, WA — Regal Entertainment is closing two movie theaters in Olympia, Wash., as it opens a new 16-screen megaplex in nearby Lacey, Wash.
Closing are the Lacey Cinemas (eight screens) and the Capital Mall 4. Both will close Thursday, Aug. 25. A local church will acquire the Lacey Cinemas space this year. The fate of the Capital Mall space (which is actually inside the mall) is not decided. Century Theaters, however, has announced plans to build a 14-screen theater on the mall campus.
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August 2, 2005
Classic Grand Theater Reopens
EAST GREENVILLE, PA — After nearly one year of remodeling and restoration work, and close to $750,000 in expense, the Grand Theater at 252 Main Street in East Greenville, PA celebrated its grand re-opening over the July 30 weekend.
The theater, built as a vaudeville and movie house in 1924, has been known by the names Valley Theater and Grand Theater over the years.
The new owners acquired the building almost one year ago and have taken great care to both remodel and restore the theater to its earlier glory days. The theater was in complete shambles. There were holes in the floor and roof and carpet needed replacing, but the new owners had a vision and worked hard to see it materialized.
Now, gold-colored, ornate, tin-stamped panels line the interior walls. Multi-hued, plush carpet covers the floor that the town’s mayor said once streamed water due to the leaky roof.
East Greenville is located south of Allentown and north of Philadelphia.
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July 29, 2005
Dome Cinema Closes for £2.2 Million Renovation
WORTHING, UK — The Dome Cinema had its final show on Saturday, 23rd July. The last film was “Pollyanna” starring Mary Pickford. As this was an archive print from UCLA, the show had to be run on two projectors. The normal FP20 xenon with tower and one of the original Simplex E7 projectors with carbon arc and 2000 ft spoolboxes that is still installed. This was the opening film in 1921.
The evening finished with “The Smallest Show On Earth” (UK 1957). The cinema should re-open in August 2006. The work is being financed by a Lottery grant and English Heritage.
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July 26, 2005
New Luxury 20-Screen Theater For Moore, OK
MOORE, OK — A new, $30 Million, 20-screen movie theater is set to open in Moore. The theater is being built by Warren Theaters of Wichita, Kansas. The multiplex will be 150,000 sqaure feet and will occupy 25 acres of land. Auditorium capacities will range from 175 to 700 seats, with a total capacity of 7000.
The theater will allow only adults into a balcony area with love seats and cocktails and also feature a sit-down family restaurant in the lobby.
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July 19, 2005
Lawford Theatre Reopens Friday July 22
HAVANA, IL — After almost three months in the dark, the historic Lawford Theatre will reopen July 22 at 7:00 pm with a showing of “War of the Worlds,” according to its new owners.
The 1914 theater was shuttered in April after a former manager was jailed for failure to pay child support in Missouri. In June Mike Novelli, President of Grande Venues, signed a one year lease with an option to purchase the entire theatre building which includes an apartment and storefront.
The theatre manager, Todd Porter, installed sound and projection equipment removed by the former manager over the weekend.
Novelli indicated that concerts and live plays would be featured in the 400 seat theatre. “Concerts, plays, magicians, story tellers, or anyone who would like to produce a show or rent the theatre should contact us,” Novelli said.
Movies will be every night at 7:00 pm with a bargain matinee on Saturday and Sunday. Adults ate $5.00, children are $3.00.
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July 18, 2005
Elmwood Theater To Reopen Soon
BERKELEY, CA — On July 28, the Elmwood Theater is scheduled to reopen, according to a statement by operator Greg King on July 11.
The theater, owned by the Elmwood Theater Foundation, which consists of local merchants and residents, was closed last fall due to sewer damage. Repairs were originaly scheduled to be complete by Thanksgiving, but a series of delays stalled the project. In addition, it was also learned that seismic upgrading was neeeded.
Though not all of the work will be complete by July 28, word is optimistic concerning what patrons wil find in the newly-renovated theater.
“There wiill be new seats, new floors, new carpets,” Elmwood Foundation member John Moriarty said. “When it opens it will be wonderful.”
For more details, checkout this story from the Berkeley Daily Planet.
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July 5, 2005
York Square Cinemas To Close
NEW HAVEN, CT — According to this article in the New Haven Register, York Square Cinemas will close some time in July, citing its inability to play first run films with Showcase Cinemas.
“It’s not fun anymore,” said Peter Spodick. “It should be fun: you make people happy, charge a small price, make a week’s pay. But we’re not able to do it.”
The article also states that the Criterion Cinemas is “struggling to draw audiences”, which is not the case.
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July 1, 2005
Dunsmuir’s California Theater Reopened June 26
DUNSMUIR, CA — The California Theater reopened on June 26th with live stage productions and silent films accompanied by the theater’s pipe organ (next year), banquets, weddings, etc. all are welcome at our newly reopened theater.
Silent movies and a Charlie Chaplin impersonator on Fri, July 8th. Silent movies (railroad oriented including the General) on Sat July 9 & Sun 10th. A theater organist is bringing in an electronic theater organ and playing it for those events.
The Pacific-West-Coast Battle of the bands (rock) semi-finals and finals will be held in the theater Dec 9th. & 10th. For entry info, contact Don Kirk .
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June 28, 2005
Burnham Plaza Theatre To Close
CHICAGO, IL — Time has run out on the Burnham Plaza Theatre , located in Chicago’s South Loop area at 826 S Wabash. According to an article by Haydn Bush in the 6/15/2005 edition of the CHICAGO JOURNAL, the theater will close in August 2005 and be converted to medical offices. The article states that the landlords of the Burnham Plaza blame an inneficient design and a changing real estate market.
The theater was built in 1987 by Cineplex Odeon in the burgeoning South Loop Area. Yet for some reason, it has never been a success, despite being the only theater in the area since 2000. In the eighteen years it’s been open, it has been operated by Cineplex Odeon, Loews Cineplex, Meridien, and finally Village Theatres.
Although Village did try to make the place viable, and cleaned it up somewhat, they did not advertise the theater in the paper.
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June 9, 2005
NY Times Looks At Beekman Closing
There is an article about the impending Beekman closing in the June 6th edition of the NY Times.
“It’s very sad,” said Beth Simpson Crimmins, a spokeswoman for Clearview Cinemas, which operates the Beekman, on Second Avenue near 66th Street. “It’s a very strong theater for us, but unfortunately the landlord has exercised a lease option to take back the property.”
Definitely worth a read!