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Theaters
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November 4, 2009
Financing issues abort Muvico’s multiplex in Chicago’s Block 37
CHICAGO, IL — It looks like the cinema that was to be operated by Muvico in the Block 37 complex (now referred to as 108 North State – opposite Marshall Field’s, oops, Macy’s) is not going to be constructed. Muvico sought to renegotiate lease terms in June, but the bank involved would not agree to them and is foreclosing on the developer of the retail and transit portion of the project.
After undergoing a corporate reorganization that included shedding several of its movie houses, Muvico “informed Freed that it could not honor its lease but offered to enter into alternative arrangements,” Freed said in the filing.
Muvico renegotiated the lease, but the banks refused to approve the new terms, the filing said.
Read more in the Chicago Tribune.
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November 2, 2009
Chillicothe Optimist Club buys Town Theater; will operate as non-profit
CHILLICOTHE, IL — The local Optimist Club has purchased the twin-screen Town Theater which opened in 1920 as the Sunset. Consistent with its mission as a service club dedicated to the youth of the community, the organization will show films that appeal to children and teens.
If all goes according to plan, the Optimists will close on the property at 1029 Second St. in Chillicothe’s downtown before the end of November. The service agency has agreed with the current owner of the Town Theater, Vern Reynolds, to purchase the building and the business for $200,000. It will buy the property with a $20,000 down payment from the club’s account. Latta, who is a Realtor, and Jim Maloof Realty waived their fees for helping with the sale of the property.
The theater will be run as a not-for-profit, with all proceeds going to area youth groups, such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Little League sports programs.
Read more in the Journal Star.
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October 29, 2009
Little Art Theater in Yellow Springs goes non-profit
YELLOW SPRINGS, OH — For eight decades, the Little Art Theater, which was once a bank, has been an important part of this community serving as a cinema, a venue for live theater, and as a church over the years. The theater has been featuring indie films, which will continue, and plans to add themed film events and showings of classic movies.
The theater received notice of its 501©(3) status this month, as a milestone in its 80-year history as a single-screen movie theater. While Jenny Cowperthwaite-Ruka, who has managed and then owned the theater for 23 years, resisted the change at first, she has found a group of people who care deeply enough about the theater to put their energy into insuring its perpetual survival. McGhee is the first president of the theater’s board of directors, and Maureen Lynch, a local movie goer and Friend of the Little Art, is the board’s vice-president, in addition to board members Laura Carlson, Roger Reynolds, Mark French, Mary Kay Smith and Alice Earl Jenkins. Cowperthwaite-Ruka, who is now the theater’s executive director, thinks of the nonprofit status as a link between the theater and the community that loves and supports it.
“I think of it as a gift to the community — it’s an opportunity for people to really feel like it is their theater,” she said in a recent interview.
Additional details in the Yellow Springs News.
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October 28, 2009
Bal Theater in San Leandro to open a new chapter in its history
SAN LEANDRO, CA — He has wanted to own a theater since he was a teenager, and now he does. Entrepreneur Dan Dillman has acquired the 800-seat Bal Theater, originally opened in 1946. At first, he plans to show locally made documentaries and eventually feature concert performances.
Two years later Dillman got married, moved to an apartment on 150th Street in San Leandro, and discovered a new venue to fetishize — the Bal Theatre on East 14th Street, “I was sitting across the street at McDonald’s, going ‘Wow, look at that theater right there,’” Dillman remembered. “And then I kinda had the itch for this one, too.”
The opportunity finally came a couple years ago, in the form of another for-sale sign. “I began praying over the building,” said Dillman. “We called the Realtor. They wanted a ridiculous amount of money. … A few times I called, the building was in escrow.” Dillman’s luck turned when the city recouped the Bal from a developer who wanted to use it for other purposes than as a theater. “They wanted to either tear it down or do some kind of retail stuff, and I guess that wasn’t in the plan of the city,” said Dillman. “The time came, I made the offer, and they accepted the offer.”
More about the theater’s history and Dillman in the East Bay Express.
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October 27, 2009
Historic Estes Park theatre saved from fire which destroys adjacent mall
ESTES PARK, CO — On October 18 fire completely destroyed the Park Theatre Mall, but fortunately, the Park Theatre itself survived with only some possible smoke damage. The theater is a local landmark, noted for its neon-lit tower. Constructed in 1913, it is said to be the oldest continuously operating purpose-built movie theater west of the Mississippi.
The mall was completely destroyed, but the adjacent Park Theatre was saved.
The fire was called in at 6:19 a.m. Witnesses described flames that were 20 feet high.
The fire remained contained within the mall structure and never spread to neighboring buildings.
Read more in the Reporter Herald.
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October 26, 2009
New Yonkers retail project includes movie theater
YONKERS, NY — The Yonkers, NY City Council recently approved a major downtown retail and waterfront project which includes a 15 screen Regal movie theater to be located at Nepperhan Avenue and New School Street.
Read more at the Westchester County Business Journal.
This second new theater for Yonkers comes while National Amusements Cinema Delux 12 is under construction at the Ridge Hill project. See Ridgehill.com for an aerial view of the theater. It is not clear if Redstone will sell their lease for these locations.
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Wilmette Theater thriving as performing arts center
WILMETTE, IL — In 2006, David and Carol Dido bought the twin-screen Wilmette Theater, which originally opened in 1913. At first they tried operating it strictly as a cinema, but they soon discovered that their bank accounts were far healthier by changing to a mixed-use business model that includes a variety of live performances as well as film.
But a funny thing happened on the way to solvency: To their surprise, the Wilmette owners discovered that performing arts events immediately did big business.
From their very first stage offering, “Schoolhouse Rock,” kids and their parents flocked to the Wilmette. Cabaret attractions on one Monday each month drew throngs. Comedy acts, improv theater and concerts by the likes of Leon Redbone packed the place.
Not that it’s exactly huge. But with the two, shoe-box shaped auditoriums — each seating about 190 people — the Wilmette could offer movies and performing arts at the same time, a rarity in the Chicago area.
Read more in the Chicago Tribune.
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October 23, 2009
New theater planned for the Kingsbridge Armory
BRONX, NY — The local NYC is reporting that a new theater is planned as part of the just approved retail mall to be located in the former Kingsbridge Armory on Jerome Avenue @ Kingsbridge Road. The developer, The Related Companies, has not yet identified the theater operator, however, in documents filed with NYC, the word “multiplex” is used. This may indicate that National Amusements is the theater operator or maybe the word multiplex is just being used in a generic sense as people say “Xerox” instead of the word photocopy.
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October 21, 2009
Liberty Theater acquired for church expansion
KALISPELL, MT — The Fresh Life Church has bought the Liberty Theater which it will use to expand the availability of its services. The church already occupies the former Strand Theater which it purchased in 2007. Some citizens had hoped that the theater would become a venue for live music. Although the church is removing the concession stand, it is installing an espresso bar.
Expanding the church’s facilities became a necessity, with Lusko fearing that some people might be dissuaded from attending because of the crowds. Fresh Life closed on the deal, purchasing the Liberty from local developer and Signature Theatre owner Phil Harris, on Sept. 11. Lusko declined to reveal the deal’s details.
As of last week, a crew was hard at work on the Liberty, removing the old concession stand to install a new espresso bar, repairing the roof and deep-cleaning the 500 theater seats. Just one block from the Strand, Lusko said he likes the architecture of the old buildings, and finds the nontraditional facilities are a good fit for his nontraditional church, offering a more inviting venue than standard sanctuaries.
Read more in the Flathead Beacon.
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October 20, 2009
Former San Francisco theatre, now Church meeting the wrecking ball
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — After a lengthy battle, the former theater, Blue Church, in Noe Valley has recently been torn down.
On June 19, an appeals panel of three judges in San Francisco Superior Court tossed out a jury verdict that had favored the church and its homeless tenants. In August, the church lost two more appeals related to its effort to stay in the building, located at 1596 Church Street at the corner of 28th Street.
James Branch, head of Oakland-based J. Branch Developments, Inc., said he expected a Superior Court judge in September to authorize an eviction and that he planned to soon start demolition of the one-time movie theater.
Read more in the Noe Valley Voice and see demolition photos here.