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Renovations
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September 6, 2005
Strand Theater to Reopen
WANYNESVILLE, NC — The Asheville Citizen Times has reported that the long closed Strand Theatre in Waynesville, NC has been purchased by Joey Massie who plans to renovate and reopen the old theater which closed in 1981.
Highland Forest, a land developer, has signed a lease to use the front space to promote its projects. The funds paid for the lease will allow Massie to refurbish the marquee, facade and lobby area. The citizens of Waynesville are thrilled to see this old theater be renovated because it has been an eye sore and has been deteriorating since it closed.
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August 19, 2005
The Neon At Night Is Big And Bright…
WELLINGTON, TX — Deep in the heart of West Texas, big and bright doesn’t describe just the stars anymore.
On Aug. 5, Historic Wellington, Inc. in the Panhandle town of Wellington, Texas had residents dancing in the streets under the neon glow of the newly restored facade of the Ritz Theatre.
Restoration of the 1928 mission-style theater began in 2003 with the removal of tons of debris from the ruined interior and the reconstruction of a new roof.
Local preservationists couldn’t wait until the project was finished before seeing the neon lights glow again. In 2004, Historic Wellington hired Wellborn Sign Co. of Amarillo, Texas to restore the blade sign and marquee. The sign was relit that same year, but it wasn’t until Aug. 5 of this year that the marquee and sign were lit together for the first time at an annual street dance in front of the theater.
Historic Wellington now has funding to complete the entire building restoration, thanks to support from a local family foundation, and final plans are being drawn now. The group credits the Southwest Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for jumpstarting the project with an intervention grant in 2002.
When the reconstruction is complete, Historic Wellington hopes to offer live performances as well as classic and first-run films at the Ritz.
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July 25, 2005
Reseda Theater Revival
RESEDA, CA — The Community Redevelopment Agency of Reseda has approved plans to negotiate for the restoration of the 57-year-old Reseda Theater. The CRA bought the theater in 2004 as part of a revitalization plan and hopes to turn it into a facility for live performances.
According to the LA Daily News, the group hopes to restore the neon lights, marquee and terrazzo entryway as part of bringing the theater back to life.
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June 27, 2005
Greenport Theater to Reopen After Renovations
GREENPORT, NY — Long Island’s Greenport Village Cinema will re-open the week of June 25th. Major renovations have been going on since February.
Renovations include a cafe, new concession stand and box office. The restrooms have also been upgraded. Work was done on the heating and air conditioning system. New carpet and tile were installed. Work was also done in the projection booths including new automations and lighting controls. The theaters themselves will be renovated after the summer.
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June 7, 2005
Park Theater Under Renovation
CRANSTON, RI — The Park Theater, a vintage movie and vaudeville house in downtown Cranston, RI, is in the first stages of a major renovation and expansion. The end result is expected to produce a 1200 seat theater on the footprint of the original theater. An adjoining two story restaurant, conference center and cyber cafe will replace several other now demolished businesses to complete the block long development.
It is expected that the theater will eventually present as many as 100 concerts and theatrical productions annually. The concerts will include a variety of entertainment offerings of a pop, soft rock, country, oldies, jazz, blues and comedy nature. Theatrical presentations will be primarily multi-day and multi-week musical, comedy and drama-based stage shows with scaled down casts but well known lead performers.
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May 20, 2005
GVI Signs Agreement to Save Zoe Theatre in Pittsfield, Illinois
PITTSFIELD, IL – Grande Venues, headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois, signed a unique consulting agreement with the City of Pittsfield, Illinois to perform a “Modified Arts Assessment and Feasibility Study” for the region. The contract begins immediately to determine if the public will support the Zoe Theatre located downtown Pittsfield.
The theatre has been shuttered for many years. Bill McCartney of the Economic Development Office said that “this is a a good way for us to determine whether the community will support a theatre. Before we spend funds, let’s see if the project will fly.” GVI begins their work immediately. Paul Warshauer, Mike Novelli and their staff will interview the public, members in the arts and education community, city officials, business leaders, and “angels.”
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May 6, 2005
Fire Curtain For Free?
Jim Rankin sent us details about a vintage fire curtain that’s available:
Date: Wed, 4 May 2005 20:57:57 EDT
From: (President, Theatre Historical Society, www.historictheatres.org)
Subject: Anyone need a vintage FIRE CURTAIN?
The ULTIMATE collectors item! Tisha Sheldon, one of our friends at the League of Historic American Theatres, has asked if we could send this information on to our NEWSFLASH members.
Please feel free to pass this on to your personal forward list as well. An opportunity like this does NOT come along every day!
Contact Mr. Artillo directly if you are interested.
We are currently converting the “Grand Theatre” in Bristol PA into residential condominiums and would like to see the original curtain preserved if possible rather that destroyed. If any of your members are interested feel free to have them contact me with any questions.
I have attached the best photos I could get due to the construction [Yahoo Groups hosts the Society’s NewsFlash, and Yahoo will not permit photos to be included. Apparently, the photos showed a curtain painted with a scenic of some kind, but you will have to call the man listed below for such details].
Sincerely,
Chuck ArtillioChuck Artillio Keystone Redevelopment Group
420 Mill St. Bristol PA 19007;
voice: 215-781-0799;
fax: 215-781-0959. -
April 25, 2005
Help!
I’m a masters student in urban planning and we are doing a project or rennovation in urban environments.
I would like to renovate an old theater into a either a jazz club type setting or another musical-type use.
Does anyone know of any projects or have any ideas for a transformation?
Thanks for your help.
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April 14, 2005
Emerson College to Redevelop the Paramount Theater
BOSTON, MA — Yesterday’s Boston Globe reports that Emerson College will redevelop the long-vacant Paramount Theater and two adjacent properties into a performing arts center.
The development will include “two theaters, rehearsal rooms, student residences, and restaurant space,” according to the Globe. “Plans are sketchy but will probably include a theater seating about 450 and a smaller, 75- to 125-seat black-box theater. [boston Redevelopment Authority] spokesman Susan Elsbree said yesterday that the final size will depend on the needs of the nonprofit arts groups that the city wants to include.”
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March 29, 2005
EverGreene Painting Studios, Inc. in WALLS & CEILINGS!
January 2005 – Cover Story on the Bob Hope (Fox) Theater in Stockton, California by Kim Lovejoy, VP of Restoration, EverGreene Painting Studios.
A NEW HOPE. After years of planning, design and construction, the newest “star” in Stockton’s downtown revitalization efforts is a monument to community spirit and a work of art in itself. Lights on.
If you would like a copy of the article, please don’t hesitate to contact EverGreene by phone (212-244-2800), email (), or fax (212-244-6204).