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Theaters
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April 23, 2010
Protestors rally to save historic Istanbul theater
ISTANBUL, TURKEY — Film fans and actors alike hit the streets on Sunday, April 18 outside Istanbul’s Emek Sinemasi which is being threatened with demolition for a shopping center. Developers say that a cinema will be a part of the project on its second floor.
The demonstration was organized by the Platform against the Demolition of the Emek Movie Theater and supported by İsyanbul Kültür ve Sanat Varyetesi (Isyanbul Culture and Art Variety – where Isyanbul stems from a combination of Istanbul and “isyan,” or rebellion).
Also present were well-known actors, directors and film critics, who made their way to the movie theater in a carnival-like parade led by a brass band and a sad-faced clown bearing a badge, saying, “Let It Come down with Applause.” Movie-lovers and the general public also showed a keen interest in the parade.
There is more in the Hurriyet Daily News.
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April 21, 2010
Movies to return to Chalmette, LA
CHALMETTE, LA — Seventeen feet of water, as a result of Hurricane Katrina, destroyed the only movie house in St. Bernard Parish five years ago – the Chalmette Cinema 9. A new theater is being constructed at the site, a six-screener to be opened in June and operated by the South Louisiana Entertainment Group.
The new theater will feature stadium seating in all six of its auditoriums, with one of them boasting a 3-D-compatable digital projector, according to company spokesman Wendeslaus Schulz.
Seats, screens and projection equipment still must be installed in the building, which was stripped down to the structural steel and which has been under construction for several weeks in The Mall shopping center. If everything goes according to plan, however, the new Chalmette Cinema is expected to open by June 18, in time for the release of Disney’s 3-D “Toy Story 3.”
The full story is in the Times-Picayune.
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April 20, 2010
The Terrace Theater switches hands
CHARLESTON, SC — An article in the Charleston City Paper discusses the recent sale of the Terrace Theater to the Tranter family from longtime Cinema Treasures Michael Furlinger. Although he sold this theatre, Furlinger will continue to operate the Hippodrome Theater.
If you’re worried about any drastic changes to the Terrace, don’t bother. Brown and Tranter have no immediate plans to make revisions or additions, wanting to live with it for a little while and see how it goes. They’re going to start on a learning curve; they’ll figure out how the theater functions and stick with what works. They like the atmosphere that Furlinger created at the Terrace, Tranter says. They’re also looking to continue the Charleston Film Festival, which had its first run last month.
The concessions (including all the types of beer and wine) will stay. They’ll continue to counter program the multiplexes (with the exception of the occasional high-quality studio film), choosing pictures that will appeal to their core audience, but also challenge them. The couple and their bookers travel to festivals, attend conferences and conventions, and read industry publications, all in the search for the best movies. They have direct access to the organizers of the Toronto International Film Festival (where Slumdog Millionare and Ray premiered).
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April 19, 2010
Pasadena grants landmark status to Washington Theatre
PASADENA, CA — The City Council has accorded the 1925 Washington Theatre landmark status.The designation protects the building from demolition but not from non-theatrical use nor from changes to its interior. The owners would like to see some theatrical reuse, but lack of parking nearby is seen as a deterrent.
The current developer, Jacqueline Buickians, who owns the property with her husband, has said that the building will be used for a mixed retail and residential project that could also involve a new theater in the building.
The lack of parking in the neighborhood may make the plan to open a theater or other cultural use infeasible though, she added.
The historical landmark status will not affect the renovation project, she said, since it will still allow the inside of the building to be renovated.
There is more in the Pasadena Star-News.
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April 16, 2010
Changes coming to Austin’s art house scene: new theater planned; Landmark exiting
AUSTIN, TX — This fall, two major changes will occur that may significantly impact the exhibition of independent and foreign films in Austin. A new four-screen theater with upscale amenities will be opening in the downtown area in December. To be called the Violet Crown Cinema, it is being co-developed by Bill Banowsky, former CEO of Landmark Theatres, and owner of the Magnolia Theater in Dallas. Landmark, which currently operates the Dobie Theatre will not be renewing its lease on that theater when it expires. New operators are being sought for the Dobie.
Serving bar food and craft cocktails, offering free validated parking and showing the latest art, foreign and independent films, the Violet Crown Cinema is being billed as a boutique “cafe cinema” that will “bring the art house movie experience to a level it’s never achieved,” said Bill Banowsky, Violet Crown’s owner and operator.
The Violet Crown will be on the second floor of the AMLI on 2nd apartment building in Austin’s Second Street district, a growing nexus of upscale shopping, dining and downtown living. The planned 8,000- to 10,000-square-foot space will have a full-service bar, concession stands, a lounge that can seat about 100 people and a balcony overlooking Second Street that can accommodate about 50 people.
There is more detail at Austin360.com.
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Two theaters in Rexburg to become one
REXBURG, ID — Rexburg’s Holiday Triplex and the neighboring Paramount Twin will be merged to create the Paramount Five.
Andrews says he hopes the remodel will save the theater money and improve the movie viewing experience for its customers.
“What it does is allow us to have everything out of one central area so they can come to one place to eliminate a lot of the confusion people have had what movie is in which building,” said Andrews.
The renovated cinema will undergo a remodel and expansion of its lobby as well as a reseating of three of its auditoriums.
The story is here in the Local 8 News.
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April 15, 2010
Westport struggles to bring back local theater
WESTPORT, CT — Trying to recapture the downtown’s excitement from the past and build a foundation for the future, Westport citizens are rallying to bring a cinema to town.
Forty years ago, Westport had five movie theaters in town. Four of these movie theaters were in the downtown area- one was owned by the local Joselloff family- and another was dedicated to foreign films.
Today, none of these movie theaters exist. There are theaters located in Norwalk, Fairfield, Wilton, and even Bridgeport; Westport’s five no longer stand. The disappearance of these theaters has had an almost irreversible effect on Westport.
Steinberg’s group, which is currently trying out names such as The Westport Film Community Without a Home, is trying to bring a theater back to Westport, and therefore bring back downtown nightlife.
Read more in Inklings News.
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April 13, 2010
City Council approves financing for IMAX screen at Wichita area theater
WICHITA, KS — The approval of the issuance of millions of dollars in industrial revenue bonds by the Wichita City Council clears the way for construction of what is claimed to be the world’s largest digital IMAX screen at the 21st Street Warren Theatre.
The project would add a 600-seat IMAX theater to Warren’s movie complex near 21st Street North and Tyler Road. Warren is describing the theater as the largest commercial digital IMAX in the world.
The proposal would provide a 100 percent property tax abatement on the property. Warren instead would make payments in lieu of taxes equal to the property’s 2009 taxes, plus a 2.3 percent annual escalator.
The full story is in the Wichita Business Journal.
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April 9, 2010
Earthquake in SoCal shakes up moviegoers during showings of “Titans”
According to The Wrap a few moviegoers who went to see “Clash of the Titans” in both 3D and 2D in southern California on Easter Sunday felt a 7.2 earthquake at the moment in the movie that the Kraken appears. Most moviegoers thought it was a part of the movie, but they learned it was the quake. Thankfully no one was injured in the theaters that were affected during the quake, and no damage was reported.
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April 6, 2010
Fabian 8 Cinema - Spanish Language Films
PATERSON, NJ — The Fabian 8 Cinema will begin dedicating one screen in the downtown 8-plex to new releases from Latin America, the Middle East and other centers of world cinema. The first film in the series will open April 9 and run for a two week engagement. Los Paranoicos [The Paranoids] is a wry comedy from Argentina that has garnered numerous awards…
the Fabian will open Date Night, starring Steve Carrol and Tina Fey, in English with Spanish and also on April 16 Death at a Funeral. “Passaic County and our neighboring counties include a large Latino community that is underserved by most of larger theater circuits.” said John Halecky, General Manager of Community Theaters, LLC which operates the Fabian 8 Cinema. “We’re aiming to better reflect the area’s rich ethnic diversity by offering Hollywood mainstream movies with Spanish subtitles as well as films produced outside the United States. The area’s sizable Asian and Middle Eastern populations will also find movies from those regions included as the schedule moves forward,” said Halecky.
Ticket prices: $10 for adults, $7.50 for children and seniors. Matinees before 6 PM are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children and seniors. Advance ticket sales for all films are available at the theater’s box office on the upper level of Center City Mall, 301 Main Street, Paterson as well as www.movietickets.com