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Theaters
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April 29, 2011
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre sold
HOLLYWOOD, CA — The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (and its sister theatre the Chinese 6 located in the Hollywood & Highland Center) has been sold to 2 movie producers.
Neither Samaha nor Kushner were immediately available to discuss their plans for the theater, but one person familiar with the matter said the theater will continue to screen movies and host premieres and that the new owners plan to upgrade food and beverage services.
The sale involves the Grauman’s building only and not the land the theater sits on, which in 2007 was sold to the CIM Group, which owns the Hollywood and Highland complex and other commercial properties in Hollywood.
UPDATE 4/29 2:30PM: This story in Hollywood Elsewhere discusses some rumors regarding the future of the Chinese.
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April 22, 2011
Saint Louis will get a new downtown art theater in 2012
SAINT LOUIS, MO — There has not been a functioning movie theater really in or near downtown Saint Louis since the Union Station Cine 10 closed in 2003, but a new triplex to be located in a renovated downtown building dating back to 1919 hs been slated for an April 2012 opening. The new theater will operated by local operator STL Cinemas, which manages the Moolah, Chase Plaza, and Galleria theaters in Saint Louis as well as a theater across the river in Granite City, IL.
The full story is in STL Today.
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Closed Clearwater Crossing 12 in Indy to become entertainment complex
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The closed former AMC Clearwater Crossing 12 will be transformed into Latitude 39 (a reference to the location of Indianapolis) which is described by its developer as having a Las Vegas-like ambiance without the casino. The new facility will have arcade games, meeting and banquet facilities, restaurants, bowling, live entertainment, and a sports theater with large screens – but no movies.
Chief Executive Officer Brent Brown said, “We’ll start the renovation work in a week and follow an aggressive schedule to have Latitude 39 open by January next year. We’re shooting to be open by the Super Bowl.”
Latitude 39 in Indianapolis will be the second venue of Latitude Global and its parent investment company, Brownstone Group, based in Jacksonville, Fla., where the first location of Latitude 30 opened last year.
The story is in the Indianapolis Star.
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April 21, 2011
New Rheem owners to take over operations of Orinda Theater
ORINDA, CA —The owners of the New Rheem Theater who also run the California Independent Film Festival have taken over operations of Orinda Theater.
“It’s a great opportunity to expand the film programming and the different types of programs that we can offer the community,” said Zemrak, the film festival’s founder.
The Rheem Theatre has four screens, the Orinda three. Zemrak and Pirkle plan to run the theaters as a “seven-plex” that just happens to be in two locations, meaning if a movie is playing in Orinda, it might not be in Moraga.
This is a another testament to the importance of communities viewing together the ideas that bond/separate us, and the essential discussions that ensue.
Now, if some of the monied in Lafayette can get the Park out of its hole, and they can and know how, wherever it is hung up, some exciting things could continue to happen in a very exciting film producing area in the USA.
Read the full story in the Contra Costa Times.
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April 19, 2011
Readers Choice: 7 More Retro Drive-In Theaters
AOL Travel counted down the readers' choice of best retro drive-ins left off their previous list. Check it out.
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April 18, 2011
How one historic single screen theater in MN keeps chugging along
JACKSON, MN – Dating back to the 1920’s, the Historic State Theatre is truly a beloved local institution. But as with all classic single screen operations that survive in the megaplex era, the theater’s owners, Nikki and Mike Schwartz have to pay careful attention to many operational details. While building maintenance is a challenge, even more so of late is the conversion to digital projection which they are accomplishing through fund raising. To remain profitable, they have to select the movies they screen with great care, as some films typically do not do well in Jackson.
“The towns that have single screen theaters — and there are some that do rather well — it’s because their community really values the fact that they do have that as an option for their children,” Nikki said. “You hear people talk about how there’s nothing to do for their kids, so it would be really sad to lose something that they do have for their kids.”
There is more in the Beaumont Enterprise.
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Resident issues $25,000 challenge grant to encourage new Warwick Theater
MARBLEHEAD, MA — When the original effort to restore the original 1919 Warwick Theatre proved unfeasible, a new drive was launched by the Warwick Theater Foundation to get a new twin cinema built as a part of a new structure to be located on the block where the theatre is located. That drive recently got a boost when an anonymous local resident committed $25,000 if an additional equal amount could be raised.
The plan for the new Warwick will include a 1,500 square-foot lobby that would seat up to 50 people for three meals a day, plus cocktails in the evening until 11 p.m.
“We think we’ve developed some very innovative uses for the lobby. Most small local movie houses open around 5 or 6 (p.m.), sometimes for only four or five days a week. We believe that by serving three meals a day, having a varied menu of fresh healthy foods and beverages in addition to showing all kinds of free HD-quality digital programs on the many screens in the room, we can offer something you won’t find anywhere else,” McCloskey said.
The story is in the Marblehead Patch.
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April 14, 2011
Twelve-screen megaplex coming to McCain Mall
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR — After two decades, there will again be a movie theater at the McCain Mall. Regal will be operator of the new megaplex which will be conversion of former retail space and be part of a major renovation of the shopping center. The all-digital theater is expected to open in October of 2012.
There is additional detail at ArkansasBusiness.com.
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April 13, 2011
DeMarce Theater sold
BENSON, MN — The DeMarce Theater located in Benson Minnesota has been sold to a new owner. The theater is located in a rural farming town in western Minnesota, and will continue operating and providing a movie-going experience for the residents. Good news for this small single screen operation.
As does the local newspaper article which includes a photo of the prior owner in the projection room.
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April 7, 2011
Sundance Cinemas will take over former Angelika space in Houston
HOUSTON, TX — Robert Redford’s Sundance Cinemas will renovate and then occupy the former space at Houston’s Bayou Place that was home to the Houston branch of the Angelika Film Center which abruptly closed in August, 2010. Sundance will invest over $2 million in the project. The theater will have added dining options and reserved seating when it opens in November.
The story appeared at CultureMap.com.