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Theaters
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February 10, 2011
Cobb to open twelve-plex in Spring, 2012 in Clearwater
CLEARWATER, FL — Birmingham, Alabama-based Cobb Theatres plans to open a twelve-plex at the Westfield Countryside Mall. In addition to the rapidly-becoming standard amenities for newly-built theaters such as digital projection, 3D capability, surround sound, and stadium seating, the new theater will have Rear Window captioning for the hearing impaired and a Descriptive Video system for the sight impaired.
Theater amenities include the following:
» 12 auditoriums with more than 2,000 seats
» Unobstructed views in all auditoriums made possible by stadium seating with 18-inch risers and 48-inch row spacing
» Extra-wide rocking chair seating featuring high backs and tilt-up cupholder armrestsThere is more, with a sketch of the theater, at CreativeLoafing.com.
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February 7, 2011
Florida-based Paragon acquiring two cinemas in the Gopher State
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The recently closed Chateau 14 in Rochester and the Odyssey 15 (formerly the Atlantic 15) in Burnsville have been purchased by Paragon Theaters. Paragon, based on Coconut Grove, Florida was formed by former executives of Muvico. Paragon will be renovating and upgrading both theaters.
At The Odyssey, upgrades will include a unique VIP premier seating area for those 21 and over as well as a bar and lounge with small plate food offerings. The VIP Premier is scheduled to open in Spring 2011. The Odyssey will also see a state-of-the-art expanded arcade and interactive gaming for kids and families. The centerpiece of the venue will be its 70-foot large format screen with the best available picture and sound, including 3D capability. “We plan to create a premier movie going experience and family destination with great amenities and outstanding customer service at a price point that is competitive with the other theaters in the marketplace,” said Whalen.
The full story appeared is in the PR Newswire.
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Ashland Square Cinemas closed and for sale
ASHLAND, OH — Designed by the father and son team of John and Drew Eberson, the Ashland Square Cinemas closed at the end of December and the building has been put up for sale. The theater opened in the early 1940’s and was most recently operated as a triplex.
As of Monday, there was no word on the fate of the 1940s vintage theater.
Ashland resident Paula Watson recalled that, when she went there in the 1950s, there were kiddie shows and the theater would come alive with ghosts and goblins for Halloween.
There is more in the Times-Gazette.
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Lessons from Detroit
The following message was sent to members of Friends of the Boyd in Philadelphia and is certainly worth posting here:
“(1) Yesterday’s Super Bowl featured a commercial from Chrysler set in Detroit. The commercial states that Detroit "has been to Hell and back.” The Big Finish of this commercial, which became the favorite Super Bowl commercial on Facebook, is the fabulous marquee and interior of one of Detroit’s restored movie palaces, the FOX Theatre. (See video above.)
Detroit can indeed boast that the US auto industry is rebounding. And, like almost every city in the US, Detroit can take pride in its restored movie palaces. When will Philadelphia join Detroit and the rest of the nation and restore and reopen our surviving movie palaces, the historic Boyd and Uptown theaters?
(2) For those of you new to our cause, Fox TV News came out to a rally marking our inclusion by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places.
I’ve linked it on my own Facebook page with the below message, and hope you will too.
Please help Friends of the Boyd, www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org increase their support to ensure the restoration and reopening of Philadelphia’s last surviving downtown movie palace!!!!!!!
Howard B. Haas
www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org" -
February 4, 2011
Non-profit group acquires Corpus Christi’s Ritz Theatre
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The organization known as the Corpus Chisti Positive Action Toward Culture Heritage (CCPATCH) has been given the title to the Ritz Theatre which opened in 1929 and closed in 1989. CCPATCH jas been heavily involved in fund raising for several years to reopen and restore the theater which was a movie theater and then a venue for live music.
The timing of the donation is a culmination of the city’s renewed interest in revitalizing downtown and the nonprofit’s work to establish a business plan for the theater, said Monica Sawyer, president of the nonprofit Positive Action Toward Culture Heritage, known as Corpus Christi PATCH.
“We are incredibly grateful for the chance to move forward,” Sawyer said.
The story is at Caller.com.
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January 31, 2011
UltraStar upgrades its Garden Walk Theater in Anaheim
ANAHEIM, CA — Since taking over the financially-ailing former Cinema Fusion Theater at Anaheim’s Garden Walk center, UltraStar Cinemas has been spending heavily on what is now the Anaheim Garden Walk making significant upgrades. D-Box seats have been installed and the former IMAX auditorium now sports one of the chain’s proprietary UltraMax screens. The former 21+ seating will be restored later this year.
“We felt we could do it better,” said Damon Rubio, vice president of operations for UltraStar. “We think the visuals and sound we’ve introduced will really knock your socks off.”
Theater officials say the UltraMax technology allows for digital projection of 3D images at an extremely fast rate with greater pixel resolution.
There is more in the Orange County Register.
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January 25, 2011
Warner Grand Theatre turns 80
SAN PEDRO, CA — The venerable Warner Grand Theatre turned 80 years old last week, having opened on Jan. 20, 1931. A low-key celebration, remembering its roots, occurs tomorrow evening.
Friday also marked the 15th anniversary of the City of Los Angeles' purchase of the theatre, which began a long road back from possible destruction as a theatre. The city, now under the gun to spin off all of its theater and arts facilities, is anticipating the privatization of these facilities, including the Warner Grand. Hopefully, this theatre will continue as an entertainment palace for many years to come.
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Four screen theater proposed for Mansfield
MANSFIELD, PA — There has not been a movie theater in Mansfield since the Twain Theatre closed decades ago. The new theater would have four screens and seat about 730. Construction, expected to be completed in about two years, appears dependent upon state grant funding.
“Time and again that has been the No. 1 request of any survey that has been done,” he said.
The corporation had a feasibility study done in 2008 and it revealed that the theater’s gross income was conservatively estimated to be around $600,000 per year, or about $10,000 to $12,000 per week in ticket and concession sales, Strohecker said. That was based on $5 per ticket.
The story appeared in the Sun Gazette.
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January 24, 2011
Leeton’s Roxy Cinema charges into its 80’s
LEETON, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA — The Roxy was saved by the Leeton community in the 1970s when it was about to be put on the market. A new sound system was also installed last year.
The Theatre is one of a very small number of two level cinemas in the State. The Theatre is listed by the NSW State Heritage Office and has been classified by the National Trust and, in its present role, is a multi-function centre combining concert, live theatre, films and community events with a capacity of 750 seats. Currently screening days are Fridays and Saturdays, with special Matinees held during school holidays.
Read more at the Leeton Shire Council Page.
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January 21, 2011
Community rallying to help save fire-damaged Senate Theatre
ELSBERRY, MO — Since a fire that started in in a neighboring business seriously damaged the Senate Theatre earlier this month, the surrounding community has generously responded with a fund-raising effort and other shows of support. It’s not the first time that fire has struck the community landmark; a similar disaster occurred in 1937.
Reller is spearheading fund-raising efforts to get the theater running again, because insurance will cover only part of the damage. (For more information e-mail Reller at .)
The Senate is in a buff-bricked storefront on Broadway in the center of Elsberry’s business district, and it has more than sentimental value.
Sarah Hunt, who runs the town library, said records show the building has been around for 99 years and has been a theater for the majority of that time. The fire on Jan. 5 was the third time the building burned. After a blaze in 1937, which started in the film booth, owner C.W. Cannon entered the building, collapsed and died.
There is more in STLToday.com.