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Theaters
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July 6, 2010
The show goes on at the Majestic in Wills Point
WILLS POINT, TX — The Lybrand family has been showing films in this little Texas town, about fifty miles east of Dallas, since well before World War I. Though the teenagers prefer the multiplexes, their 1926 Majestic Theater still has a loyal, if shrinking, following. The current owner, Karl Lybrand III, wants to keep the marquee lit, but acknowledges that it is getting harder to keep going.
Still, he hopes to keep it open. Its history means as much to him as it does to the scores of multigenerational moviegoers in this Van Zandt County town (pop., 3,804), 50 miles east of Dallas on U.S. Highway 80. Many here say the Majestic can’t close, but as Lybrand says with a wry chuckle, “Well, yes, they say that, but they’re not the ones paying the bills.”
Although no official agency or institution can verify the claim, the Majestic could be the oldest family-owned, continuously operating movie theater in the United States.
The full story is in the Dallas News.
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July 2, 2010
Auburn’s State Theater enjoying new life
AUBURN, CA — This city’s 1930 State Theater is experiencing a renaissance. Owned and operated by the Auburn-Placer Performing Arts Center, its marquee and vertical have been replaced, and one of its former twin auditoriums is now functioning after refurbishing. New 35mm projection equipment has been installed so that classic films can be shown appropriately. The long range plan is to return the theater to its original single auditorium status and use it for both film showings and live performances.
APPAC hired an expert to sanitize old theater seats stacked up in storage while the theater’s previous operator, who showed mostly independent films under the “Old State Theater” banner, used different seats. Volunteers bolted down 130 of those cleaned-up seats and erected a stage that since has held acoustic folk and pop artists as well as local theatrical groups and the Auburn Symphony Chamber Players.
“There is cloth on the walls, so the acoustics are considered pretty decent,” said board member Richard Del Balso, 60, an Auburn chiropractor.
Here the story from the Sacramento Bee
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June 30, 2010
Ground broken for eight-screener in Henderson, KY
HENDERSON, KY — Soon, residents of this northern Kentucky city will no longer have to cross the Ohio River over to Evansville, Indiana to enjoy a film, as construction has begun on an eight-screen multiplex here. The theater will be operated by the family-owned North Park Cinemas, based in Evansville, and will be their fifth facility in the region.
“People will never have to cross the river again to do it. We will have our own movie theater,” Schneider said to a round of applause at the ceremonial groundbreaking for Showplace.
“It will be a first-class facility,” promised Mick Stieler, the corporate secretary for Evansville-based North Park Cinemas Inc., the family-owned parent company of Showplace.
There is more at Gleaner.com.
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June 29, 2010
AMC acquires Mann Criterion 6
SANTA MONICA, CA — The Mann Criterion 6 will now be under AMC management, giving the company control of all three theaters on the Third Street Promenade. AMC has been working to close the AMC Loew’s Broadway 4 on the Promenade to comply with city-imposed conditions relating to its desire to build a new theater; AMC says this acquisition gives them additional options.
AMC’s acquisition, though, could have implications for the company’s plan to develop a state-of-the-art 12-screen theater on Fourth Street at the present site of Parking Structure No. 3.
AMC and its partner, Metropolitan Pacific Capital, are in the early stages of getting their project entitled and hope to open in 2013. A Planning Commission hearing on the proposed theater concept is scheduled for July 7.
City Hall officials have said AMC will be required to reduce the number of seats at its older theaters so that the opening of the new multi-plex will result in only a “modest” net increase of about 570 theater seats Downtown.
There is more in the Santa Monica Daily Press.
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June 28, 2010
Drive-in experience may return to Tucson
TUCSON, AZ — If Charlie Spillar and Demion Clinco have their way, folks in Tucson may soon have the chance to experience the pleasures of a drive-in cinema once again. The two have been salvaging screen parts from site of the former De Anza Drive-in which was closed in 2009 and demolished in 2010. They are looking for an appropriate land parcel and intend to operate the theater on a not-for-profit basis, hosting other events on the site as well. They plan to name the drive-in the Cactus, which was the De Anza’s original name.
The drive-in would also likely host some outdoor concerts, farmers markets, car shows and other events. Spillar said it is a strictly privately funded plan, but he hopes the city helps them with a site.
The group already has a projector and sound gear that will transmit to FM car radios, and speakers that will be placed in an outdoor seating area for those who walk in and bike to the drive-in.
There’s more in the Arizona Daily Star and a related website is here.
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Onarga Theater update
ONARGA, IL — The Onarga Theater was sold in July 2008 to Randy and Cheryl Lizzio, the current owners. Many new updates followed all the while keeping what was left original still intact. Come check out the new Onarga Theater, with the small town theater charm. We play current movies and coming here wont break the bank. Our ticket prices and concessions are priced low. And there is a lot to choose from including soft pretzels, cotton candy, lots of candy bars and fresh caramel corn and popcorn and much more.
Come and support our small town treasure and keep the love of single screen theaters alive for generations to come..
Hope to see you at the movies..
Randy C. Lizzio -
June 18, 2010
Storage cente opens at drive-in site
SPOKANE, WA — A new storage facility has spelled the end for the East Sprague Drive-In.
The new Valley complex has seven buildings on six acres protected by fencing; some inside units are wired and protected by sprinklers for optional use as offices.
The property is the former site of the East Sprague Drive-In Theater. For part of the 1960s it was the area’s largest outdoor drive-in.
Read more in the Spokesman Review.
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June 14, 2010
Preservationists skeptical of developer’s claim to restore RKO Keith’s lobby
FLUSHING, NY — Activists who have long fought to preserve what remains of the RKO Keith’s Theater are skeptical of developer Patrick Thompson’s assurances that the once grand lobby of the theater will be fully restored as part of his plan to redevelop the building into condos due to controversies that surround some of his previous projects.
“They’re all intact. They’ll have to be brought back to life,” said Thompson, who snagged the theater for $20 million. “That’s absolutely part of the buildout – saving the lobby.”
Thompson cautioned his time frame depends on financing, but the pledge marked his most specific yet on returning the lobby of the 1928 theater to its former glory.
The full story is in the NY Daily News.
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June 11, 2010
Carmike Galleria 6 in Mt. Lebanon to remain open
MT. LEBANON, PA — The previously announced closing perhaps provided some incentive, because Carmike has announced that it has reached a new agreement with the management of the Galleria Mall, and the Carmike 6 shall remain open.
The location welcomed its first paying customers on June 16, 1989, and was scheduled to close after June 17. Its departure would have removed an anchor from the Mt. Lebanon mix of restaurants and shops.
Retrofitting the theater for other tenants would have presented a challenge had Carmike removed its equipment. New occupants would have faced a large space but one that featured sloped floors, high ceilings and no windows to accommodate the theaters.
The full story is in the Post Gazette.
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June 10, 2010
Major renovations, alterations planned for Cleveland’s Allen Theatre
CLEVELAND, OH — Saved (barely) from the wrecking ball in 1993, and renovated for Broadway touring shows in 1998, the 1921 Allen Theatre, designed by C. Howard Crane, may soon be converted into a new home for Cleveland’s Playhouse and Cleveland State University’s theater programs. The proposal would significantly reduce the seating in the main auditorium to barely a fifth of its current 2,500, alter the rake of the floor, extend the lobby into the seating area currently under the balcony, and make significant changes to balcony level seating. Most architectural details would be preserved, though some would be partially obscured by new acoustical panels. Two additional black box theaters would be constructed adjacent to the Allen. There is a comprehensive article, including pictures and sketches of the additions and alterations, here and a timeline of the Allen’s history here.