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Renovations
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November 17, 2008
Uptown Theater received $5.5 million renovation
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – The Uptown Theater re-opened last weekend with live music, tours, a party, and a screening of “The Wizard of Oz” after a $5.5 million facelift paid for by the city.
The theater opened in 1950 and was family run until 1969 when it was leased as everything from a concert hall to a church.
The family sold it to the city in 2005 which began restoring it in 2007. With an expanded stage and a new orchestra pit, the theater will be used as a cultural center and home to the Grand Prairie Arts Council, which has been without a home for 30 years.
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November 14, 2008
Flooded Wisconsin theater still closed
REEDSBURG, WI — The city is concerned that the renovation of the flood-damaged Star Cinema is going much slower than expected.
The Kerasotes theater chain took over the theater from the Star Cinema chain last February 1st. On June 9th, the Baraboo River overflowed its banks after storms dumped more than seven inches of rain.
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Lufkin to begin renovation of Pines Theater
LUFKIN, TX — The city has set aside $500,000 for the initial renovation of the historic Pines Theater as part of a plan to bring the downtown area back to life.
Last July, the city bought the 1925 theater, which was being used as a church, for $112,860.
The $500,000 will be used to secure the structure by installing a new roof, upgrading the wiring and lighting, hanging new doors and windows, redoing the marque, and stripping off material from previous renovations. The entire project will cost $1.4 million and could take years to fund completely.
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November 12, 2008
$1 Million Approved For LaGrange Theater Restoration
LA GRANGE, IL — The Village of La Grange has approved $1 million for the restoration of the La Grange Theater. The 83 year-old movie house is owned by David Rizner and John Rot, who are also using $650,000 of their own money towards the restoration. The funds will cover new plumbing and electrical systems, as well as other much-needed repairs. The La Grange Business Association has pledged another $50,000 which will help with replacing the current theater marquee with a replica of the original.
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November 10, 2008
Construction finally begins at gutted Lebowsky Center
OWOSSO, MI — Construction has finally begun at the fire damaged and partially demolished Lebowsky Center beginning with repairs to the four story stage house.
Details can be found in the Argus-Press.
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October 13, 2008
World’s first IMAX-Dome theater being renovated
SAN DIEGO, CA — The world’s first IMAX-Dome theater is undergoing a complete renovation and will reopen completely remodelled in December.
The theater in Balboa Park at the Fleet Science Center will boast a new screen, sound system, seating and carpeting. The cost of the project is estimated at $20 million. This is the first renovation since it was built in 1973.
IMAX-Dome is a rebranding of the original OmniMax format developed by the IMAX Corporation. The system uses a “fisheye” lens to project images on the inside of a planetarium-like domed theater. The format was specifically developed for the Fleet Science Center which wanted a large-format film system to use in its planetarium.
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September 30, 2008
Controversy swirls around plans to reopen Jumbo Theatre
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Neigbhorhood residents are concerned about plans to restore and reopen Philadelphia’s Jumbo Theatre.
“The community hasn’t been given enough say in all of this,” the legislator said later. “They’ve got some serious concerns that need addressing.”
Among those concerns, residents say, are issues of parking, noise, capacity and late-night drunkenness.
“The venue could become a virtual nightclub, with people staying and drinking after the shows and then spilling out at 2 a.m. when they’re drunk and rowdy,” said Manny Citron, director of the neighborhood advisory committee of the New Kensington Community Development Corp.
Read the full article in the Philadelphia Daily News.
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September 18, 2008
Extensive remodeling and new amenities for Fredericksburg Theatre
KNOXVILLE, TN — Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), a leading motion picture exhibitor owning and operating the largest theatre circuit in the United States, today announced remodeling plans for Regal Cinemas in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter and is scheduled to be complete by the summer of 2009. The theatre will remain open continuously throughout the process.
“Regal will proudly offer moviegoers in Fredericksburg a complete state-of-the-art moviegoing experience in time for next year’s summer movie season. The box office, lobby, concession stand and every auditorium will be remodeled through our comprehensive construction plan,” stated Dick Westerling, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for Regal Entertainment Group. “Our Fredericksburg theatre is in a terrific location along the strong Plank Road retail corridor and with easy access off of I-95. We are confident that moviegoers will be impressed by this cinema once the extensive remodel is complete.”
Digital projection will provide picture-perfect presentations on every screen. The new and improved theatre will be called Regal Cinemas Fredericksburg Stadium 14 after combining two of the existing 15 auditoriums into a larger one. The cinema will offer a variety of films, 3D presentations and alternative digital programming with the convenience of 14 different showtimes. The free-standing building is surrounded by a convenient parking field which begins as close as the theatre’s front door.
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September 16, 2008
State Theatre unveils new marquee
BAY CITY, MI — The new digital marquee for the State Theatre was unveiled Thursday during the annual Taste & Theatrics event.
The $220,000 Mayan inspired marquee has painted panels on either side of the marquee that mirror the murals over the stage inside.
The marquee is the latest project in a multi-phase endeavor to renovate the State, according to Mike Bacigalupo, executive director of the theater. Renovations began in 2000 and more than $2 million has been spent on items such as a new roof, carpet, refinishing hardwood floors, stage curtains, sound and lighting, updated electric, and now the marquee. Much of the money has come from donations from the community.
Read more in the Bay City Times.
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September 12, 2008
Refurbished Warfield to open Saturday
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — After a brief stint out of commission for renovations, the Warfield Theatre is reopening tomorrow with George Lopez as the headliner.
San Francisco’s baroque Warfield Theatre, a 1922 vaudeville and movie house that became a prime venue for Louis Armstrong, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead and countless other performers, was looking a little shabby when it closed in May after the lease changed hands. But the Market Street rock palace has a fresh glow after a four-month renovation that spruced up the ornate interior and installed permanent new lighting and sound systems.
Run for 30 years by Bill Graham Presents, then Live Nation, the Warfield, which reopens Saturday night with a show by comedian George Lopez, is now managed by Goldenvoice, a wing of the giant Anschutz Entertainment Group (billionaire Chairman Philip Anschutz owns the San Francisco Examiner). Among the changes: The mixing console has been moved downstairs from the front of the balcony, making space for 30 more prime reserved seats, the lobby walls were painted a deep blue to match the new carpets and the brass chandeliers got a polish.
Read the full story in the San Francisco Chronicle.