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Renovations
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November 19, 2010
Academy’s East Coast theater gets generous donation
NEW YORK, NY — Thanks to real estate developer Charles Cohen, the Academy of Arts and Sciences' east coast theater on East 59th Street is being renovated and reopened.
Over the years, however, the cinema fell into disrepair and since the charity didn’t have excess funds to upgrade the theater, the academy considered not renewing its contract with the Lighthouse. “I jumped in with both feet,” says Mr. Cohen, who often passed by the Lighthouse on his way to work.
He says he was able to utilize his own real-estate experience to help negotiate contracts and work with top designers and film specialists. “After four months of construction, it’s now the best-looking, best-sounding screening venue in the city,” he says.
Read more in the Wall Street Journal.
UPDATE: 11/21
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November 10, 2010
Work to renovate Westbury Theater begins
WESTBURY, NY — A long-delayed renovation project has begun to turn the closed Westbury Theater into a multi-use venue, including movie showings. The theater opened in 1927 and is designed in a Tudor-revival style.
“This is really the culmination of our downtown revitalization process,” said Village of Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro, as his voice rose above Post Avenue traffic and the sounds of construction work on the theater roof.
“This project is the keystone of what we have in mind for Post Avenue. We look at it as a magnet for new businesses, new consumers and new residents,” Cavallaro said. He also recognized the assistance of the county in providing essential community development funds before welcoming Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.
There is more in the Westbury Times.
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Plans made to reopen Royal T III Theatre in Le Mars
LE MARS, IA — Eric Hilsabeck, who owns the Riviera Theatre in Sioux City, has submitted plans to renovate and reopen the Royal T III Theater which closed in 2009. The theater originally opened at least eighty years ago as the Royal, and was later twinned, then triplexed.
According to a letter to the Le Mars City Council from Neal Adler, director of the LBIC, designs to renovate the theater are complete, cost estimates have been gathered, and a purchase agreement is in place.
The total cost to restore the historic downtown building and update the theater will be more than $700,000, Adler stated.
There is more in the Le Mars Sentinel.
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November 9, 2010
Historic Des Plaines Theater gets a new lease on life
DES PLAINES, IL — Work is being done to renovate the Des Plaines Theater in time for its 85 Anniversary December 19th.
Theater owner Dhitu Bhagwakar and local nonprofit Stage One Productions have teamed up to revive the landmark and turn it into more than just a large-screen movie house.
Bhagwakar, who purchased the large single-screen theater in 2003, tried to make it work as a destination for Bollywood films and had some success for a while.
With only occasional showings in the past year, the theater has been dark in recent months. Renovations began in earnest last week as workers started gutting the interior, which will be completely refurbished.
Read more in the Daily Herald.
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October 25, 2010
Former AMC Star Rochester gets $4.2 million makeover
ROCHESTER, MI — EMagine Theaters is in the midst of making major renovations to the former AMC Star Rochester which closed in 2007. Improved seating and wider aisles will reduce the seat count to 1,900 from the original 3,200. The renovated theater will have upgraded food service and VIP seating in some of the screening rooms.
New and bigger screens, more comfortable seats and wider aisles mean seating will drop from 3,200 seats to 1,900 seats in the 10-theater complex at Rochester and Auburn roads, said Emagine Entertainment founder and Chairman Paul Glantz.
To appeal to patrons who might have theater systems in their homes, Emagine Rochester Hills will offer about 20 luxury seating spots in each theater. For an extra $2.50 per ticket, guests will be able to watch flicks from high-backed leather rockers with a table between every two chairs.
The full story is in the Detroit Free Press.
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October 20, 2010
Theater Seats recovered in Connecticut
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October 1, 2010
Lebowsky Center Phase I is finished, Phase II is underway
OWOSSO, MI — Phase I of the rebuilding of the fire gutted Lebowsky Center has been finished with the completion of bricklaying so the exterior walls look the way it was before the February 2007 fire. From the outside, there is still work to be done which includes installation of new doors. Utilities have been restored to the theater as temporary lighting is in place. Phase II is underway to make the interior look like a theater again.
The Owosso Community Players is planning an October event to unveil the “interior of the exterior.” The OCP’s latest show, “Back to Broadway II: Out of the Dark” at their adjacent new Studio Theater, formerly known as the OCP’s West Annex, added a Sunday matinee. Proceeds from the OCP’s shows will help pay for completion of the Lebowsky Center project.
Details from the Argus-Press and the Flint Journal
The OCP’s Facebook Page will continue to chronicle the progress of the Lebowsky Center rebuilding.
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September 24, 2010
Burlington’s Capitol to be renovated; will become performing arts center
BURLINGTON, IA — A block party was held recently held to raise funds for the renovations that will begin soon to transform the 1937 Capitol Theater and an adjacent building into a performing arts center. The event gave people a chance to visit the theater and reminisce before the interior demolition begins. The new center is expected to open in 2012.
nside the Capitol Theater, Burlington natives gazed with wide-eyed nostalgia as they recounted favorite movies from their childhoods. The walls were damaged and corroded, the movie theater seats ripped out long ago, but the magic was still there.
The nonprofit Capitol Theater Foundation recently received a $1 million state I-Jobs grant, but the group still needs to raise another $1 million from the community. The money will be used to rip out the interior of the theater and adjoining annex building, then completely renovate both buildings.
The full story can be found in the California Chronicle.
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September 14, 2010
Paramount Theatre plans approved
HUNTINGTON, NY — The Paramount Theatre, is moving forward at the site of formerIMAC.
The ZBA on Aug. 27 accepted a proposal submitted by Paramount Theatre LLC to resurrect live entertainment in Huntington village so long as several of their conditions regarding traffic and safety are agreed upon.
Paramount requested a special use permit to renovate the New York Avenue theater and use municipal parking to account for increased occupancy from 700 to 1,665 seats. Parking plans include the use of valet service to and from the upper Elm Street lot and incentives to park in Town Hall and in a lot at the train station, from which shuttle service will be provided. They also asked for permission to erect a marquee on the front of the building, where a two-story glass wall will overlook the busy road.
The full article appears in the September 2nd issue of The Long-Islander.
Although parking remains a issue with some, it appears that a majority of merchants and residents of Huntington village [and neighboring communities] believe that it will benefit the Town.
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September 10, 2010
Admiral Twin Drive-In Screens May Be Rebuilt
TULSA, OK – The owners of the Admiral Twin Drive-In, whose twin screens were recently destroyed by fire, are examining the possibility of rebuilding and reopening the five decades-old theater. The drive-in plans a number of fundraising events and, according to Tulsa World, donations can be submitted through the Select Cinemas site or by sending payment to “Admiral Twin Drive-In” at Security Bank, P.O. BOX 471316, Tulsa, OK 74147. “Any inquiries regarding fundraising ideas and opportunities can be sent to .”