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Theaters
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January 7, 2011
Australian cinema roof collapse briefly traps dozens
BATHHURST, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA — Heavy rains caused the collapse of the roof over the screening rooms of the Metro Cinema 5 on January 3. Thirty-six people were briefly trapped in the debris and a few were taken to hospital with apparently relatively mnor injuries.
There is more in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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Detroit In Ruins: Photograph Slideshow from The Guardian
Some heartbreaking photos of the abandoned buildings in Detroit, MI. Libraries,Ballrooms and Theaters. Its just a sampling. If anyone can find more from this series, let me know.
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January 5, 2011
UltraStar Highland 8 in San Diego to close for seven-month renovation
SAN DIEGO, CA – The UltraStar Del Mar Highlands 8 will close in January for a major makeover that is expected take over half of a year to complete. The theater originally opened as an Edwards Cinema.
“The movie theater renovation is an important part of the overall re]imagining of the Del Mar Highlands Town Center,” said Elizabeth Schreiber, Vice President and General Manager for Donahue Schriber, owner and operator of the Del Mar Highlands Town Center. “We believe the new luxury theater will enhance the guest experience at Del Mar Highlands Town Center while providing the community additional entertainment options in the heart of Carmel Valley.”
The full story appeared in the online Union Tribune.
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January 4, 2011
Rivertowne 12 in Oxon Hill to be renovated, reopened
OXON HILL, MD — The former AMC Rivertowne 12, located in the Rivertowne Commons Market Place will be renovated by Spotlight Amusements of Chicago and reopened in 2011. Several Market Place merchants were glad to hear of this development as their sales have suffered since the theater closed in 2006.
“As the landlord, we’re really excited about the theater,” Weinschenk said. “[AMC] helped bring people into the shopping center. When they went out, we didn’t have as many people visiting the center and I think some of the retailers missed having some additional traffic.”
The full story is in the Washington Post.
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Proposed Regal takeover of closed San Bernardino theater prompts challenge
SAN BERNARDINO, CA — Some controversy has arisen over the proposed agreement by the city council in San Bernardino that would enable Regal to take over the operation of the former CinemaStar Empire 30 that has been closed for quite some time. Eight companies bid on the project and there is some local concern that the Regal bid may not be the best deal.
The letter says the deal would cost taxpayers $12.5 million in subsidies, while the city is snubbing private investors' offer to invest $10 million in the downtown multiplex, which has been closed for two years.
Economic Development Agency chief Emil Marzullo fired back, blasting the letter as inaccurate and saying a major company is better positioned to attract restaurants and shops downtown than a small operator.
The full story is in the Press-Enterprise.
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December 30, 2010
Laguna Beach theater threatened by flood
LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A dramatic photograph of water and mud creeping up to the entrance of the Regency Laguna South Coast Twin on December 22 can be seen on the Los Angeles Times website. A call to the theater confirmed that they are now open after being closed for three days. They worked 24 hours a day in order to be open Christmas day. The manager said that they pumped a lot of water out of the building but damage was minimal.
Floods have inundated downtown Laguna Beach many times over the years. According to 1930 archives of the Los Angeles Times, one such flood occurred on January 11, 1930. It was said that over four feet of water inundated the Lynn Theater, which then occupied the location. Owner Fred Aufdenkamp said the organ was ruined along with hundreds of rolls of music. Physical damage to the theater itself included the woodwork and floors. It took three days to pump the water out of the building. Aufdenkamp filed suit against the city in the amount of $3,703.25 citing inadequate storm drains. In December of 1930 Aufdenkamp was awarded $1,300 in damages.
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December 29, 2010
Casa Linda Theatre to be transformed into a grocery store
EAST DALLAS, TX – Although many have hoped for over a decade that the Casa Linda Theatre would return as a movie house, its destiny now appears to be a conversion to a natural foods market. The transition is expected to happen by the middle of April.
“Everybody I talk to is disappointed it could not be turned back into a theater,” Morgan said Thursday afternoon. “But a natural grocery store will be a boon to the neighborhood.”
The last serious effort to resurrect the theater came in 2006 when the Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse, which employs the restaurant-combined-with-movie concept, tried to put a deal together for the property.
The full story is in the Dallas News.
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December 23, 2010
Riverside Fox book released
RIVERSIDE, CA — The restored Fox Performing Arts Center is the subject of a new book by Michael Elderman.
Marilyn Jacobsen writing in the Riverside Press-Enterprise on November 26, 2010 reviewed the publication. She noted that the photographs document the renovation and restoration of the Fox. Michael’s website has photographs of the Fox and the Mission Inn. The book is available at Riverside Art Museum, Metropolitan Museum, the Mission Inn Museum, Delites and Invites, and at Michael’s studio at Division 9 Gallery, 3850 Lemon Street. Barnes & Noble and Borders Books in Riverside also sell the book. Michael has a few postings on Cinema Treasures comments.
Read more in thePress-Enterprise.
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December 21, 2010
3-1 vote suspends proposal selection for State Theatre
WOODLAND, CA — It looks like funding will have to go the private route for the renovation of the State Theatre.
Council members said a State multiplex would be redundant as another, privately funded multiplex is planned down the street. Councilman Bill Marble was the sole dissenting vote.
With city funding unlikely, Caceres said he will follow the other multiplexes strategy and pursue private funding.
Read more in the Daily Democrat.
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December 20, 2010
Shore Theatre landmarked
BROOKLYN, NY — The Shore Theatre, which had many eras as a burlesque house, movie theater and bingo hall, was landmarked last week.
Read more at WCAX.
(Thanks to lumierefl for providing the photo.)