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Theaters
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October 26, 2010
Huffington Post lists 10 most beautiful US theaters
Check out this slideshow in the Huffington Post that highlights ten restored theaters around the U.S.
(Thanks to camardella for providing the photo.)
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October 21, 2010
Colfax’s second-floor history
COLFAX, WA — A tour was recently held of the long shutterred Rose Theater. Other businesses have since opened in parts of it but some original elements remain.
“I’d love to see this place opened up,” Brabb said. “But the practicality of it just isn’t there.”
Though the Rose Theater building is sound, according to inspectors, Brabb would have to install all new wiring upstairs to meet code, not to mention the other renovations he would would have to pay for in order to reconstruct the old theater.
Read more in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
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October 11, 2010
Regal to build megaplex at Albemarle Place
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — The Regal Entertainment Group has announced plans to build a fourteen-screen megaplex at Albemarle Place at the junction of Seminole Trail and Hydraulic Road. The new complex will include a digital IMAX screen.
The new Regal Cinemas will be part of the first phase of a new town center by Edens & Avant that will feature a pedestrian-friendly environment with a mix of national and local retailers, an eclectic collection of restaurants, a leading grocer, and a hotel. The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved zoning and proffer changes on August 4, 2010, allowing Edens & Avant to begin work on the first phase of the development.
“We believe our loyal patrons in Charlottesville will be impressed with this first-class cinema including the immersive IMAX premium experience,” said Dick Westerling, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for Regal Entertainment Group. “Regal is confident that the Seminole Trail intersection with Hydraulic Road is the very best location for an entertainment destination that will attract patrons from across the region. We couldn’t be more pleased to be part of Albemarle Place. Regal has invested in the Charlottesville community for years, first with construction of the Downtown Mall 6 and continuing through our partnership with the prestigious Virginia Film Festival also located in the heart of the city.”
The full press release is here and an article showing the proposed floorplan is here.
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October 6, 2010
Renovations slated for Coronado’s Village Theatre; will reopen in 2011
CORONADO, CA — If all goes as planned, the Village Theatre will reopen as as a triplex in the spring of 2011. Closed since 2000, the renovated theater will have an art deco-inspired interior design that is the work of Joseph Musil, who recently passed away. The theater will be operated by Five Star Theatres of Los Angeles.
The restoration is expected to take about six months.
The city has worked to restore the theater since before it closed. In return for a redevelopment grant of nearly $2.7 million, Five Star will renovate the 8,500-square-foot movie house and show first-run films until at least 2026.
There is more at Signon San Diego.
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October 5, 2010
Cinemark expands, upgrades, and renames theater in Redding
REDDING, CA — The Cinemark Movies 10 has been rechristened the Cinemark Redding 14. One of the new screens is an XD screen, the name the company uses for its wider digital screens; in addition the company has upgraded the theater’s sound system and seating. Having made these upgrades to this theater, the company is now operating its other Redding theater, the Cinemark Movies 8, as a discount house.
Cinemark launched its XD concept in 2009 in 15 theaters. The company plans to open 25 more XD theaters this year.
“It’s the ‘wow’ effect when you walk into the building,” Meredith said. “It truly is an enhanced experienced.”
The full story is at Redding.com.
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October 4, 2010
Baghdad Cinemas and the Remnants of Iraqi Moviegoing
BAGHDAD, IRAQ — BBC News reports on the sad state of moviegoing in Iraq and how piracy and cultural change has destroyed a once vibrant cultural practice.
I met a man the other day who runs a film institute, teaching young film-makers in Baghdad the art of making movies. He told me something shocking – most of his students had never been to the cinema.
Why not?
“There are no cinemas in Baghdad anymore,” he said.
That is the answer you always get, but it is not actually true. There are cinemas, but they are not the kinds of places you would want to bring a date, if you know what I mean.
(Thanks to Lena Suk for the story.)
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September 30, 2010
Construction starts on new Ozark-Nixa theater
NIXA, MO — Municipal officials and B&B Theatres owner Bob Bagby jointly broke ground on September 24 for the construction of what will be the Ozark-Nixa Theater. This article, which also contains a short video, indicates that there will be no projection booths as the projection will be handled in a lobby area control room that patrons can observe.
The theater will also be attached to a 12,000 foot retail center.
Ozark has been trying to get a movie theater for several years and the project developer says he’s looked at four different sites before settling on this spot.
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September 29, 2010
Fourteen-screen megaplex coming to Centerville
CENTERVILLE, UT — Ground has been broken here for the construction of what will be the sixth Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatre. The Larry H. Miller Group, which also includes auto dealerships, currently operates eighty-four screens in Utah. In addition, another nine screens will be added to the company’s Megaplex Theatre in Lehi.
There is more in the Deseret News.
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September 28, 2010
Nashville has lost nearly half its screens since May
NASHVILLE, TN — Floods in May and a recent August theater closing have nearly cut in half the number of operating theater screens in the Nashville area. The flood victims were the Regal Opry Mills 20 & IMAX and Regal Bellevue Cinema 12. The Carmike Bell Forge 10 closed in August and is slated to become an Islamic Center. Regal had planned major renovations for the Bellevue Cinema 12 prior to the flood, but now appears to be non-committal about the theater’s future.
That has left a city that once had more than 100 movie screens down to just over 50 at about a half-dozen major movie theaters. A total of 43 screens are out of commission.
Meanwhile, Regal’s move to buy the Bellevue property comes as it announced it was adding giant screens with an all-digital format called the Regal Premium Experience in three new locations. The concept already exists in New York City and Miami.
There is more in the Tennessean.
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September 27, 2010
City offers $200,000 as incentive to lure new theater
PRINCETON, IN — Fearful that AMC will be closing the Princeton Theater, the city is offering $25,000 each year for eight years to Showplace Cinemas of Evansville to build a new theater on a former Kmart site. While acknowledging that the use of economic development tax funds for this purpose is controversial, the mayor feels that the investment is in the best interests of the community. If and when the Princeton does close, the mayor hopes to possibly convert it into an arts center. Currently a quad, the theater opened as a single screener in 1948.
Stilwell said if the theater isn’t successful in Princeton, the city won’t get any money back, but won’t be obligated to make future payments.
Councilman Jim Coomer asked about the prices of admission. It was estimated that they would be similar to Evansville for first run movies.
Hurst said he previously contacted Kerasotes Theaters, former owner of the existing Princeton Theater, about the need for improvements, but got no where. The downtown theater building is now owned by AMC, which Hurst said has been closing theaters in small communities like Princeton.
There is more in the Princeton Daily Clarion.