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Theaters
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February 29, 2008
Norwalk Theatre success
NORWALK, OH — There was lots of old fashioned laughter on Saturday, the 23rd of February as old cartoons and Three Stooges were shown on the large screen at the Norwalk Theatre. Two showings entertained fun lovers of all ages.
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February 26, 2008
“Semi-Pro” holds gala premiere at the film’s setting.
FLINT, MI – Hollywood came back to Flint Thursday night at the National Amusements Showcase Cinemas Flint West when the director of the new film “Semi-Pro“ Kent Alterman returned to town to speak and to take in the gala premiere of the film which played on two screens of the megaplex. While the film’s star Will Ferrell couldn’t make it, he did appear in a recorded greeting. The film opens nationally on Friday, February 29.
Most of the film was shot on location in Michigan including scenes filmed at the Capitol Theatre.
News coverage of the premiere can be found from the Flint Journal, FJ #2, FJ #3 as well as from WJRT including videos.
Additional news with video from WNEM.
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February 22, 2008
Landmark celebrates 80 years
SYRACUSE, NY — The historic Landmark Theatre is having its 80th anniversary this month, as strong as ever.
Gladly, much has changed for the glitzy, golden-plastered showplace at 362 S. Salina St., but not without a lot of struggle, negotiations, volunteer hours and last-gasp efforts to save the movie palace that was built in 1928. Once surrounded by at least seven similarly ornate moviehouses, the former Loew’s State Theatre is the remaining Syracuse vestige of a bygone era. Few today would argue for its demolition. But three decades ago, a wrecking ball sat on the stage, its operator anticipating the order to get smashing.
Now the Landmark’s future looks bright with the recent purchase of vacant Clinton Street buildings that surround the venue. Once the stage is expanded outward, the theater can stake its claim as the premier traveling Broadway venue in Central New York. Think of seeing Spamalot, The Lion King and Wicked without the passport hassles of traveling to Toronto.
Read more at the Syracuse News Times.
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February 21, 2008
Future in doubt for Star-Vu
COSTA MESA, CA — After an exciting first year, plans are still up in the air for the return of the Star-Vu Drive-In.
Orange County’s drive-in renaissance is going through a bit of a dark age.
It’s been two months since the Star-Vu Drive-In at the county fairgrounds closed down, and it’ll be at least a couple more months until the outdoor movie theater reopens.
Find out more at the OC Register.
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Visit the Varsity
DAVIS, CA — The historic Varsity Theatre is recognized as the city’s best.
During Davis' chilly winter, what could be better than leaving your worries at the ticket booth and cozying up in a dark auditorium with a bag of popcorn? Varsity Theater has been named the best movie theater by this year’s Best of Davis voters.
“We are the only place [in Davis] to see independent films,” said Rhiannon Healy, a 24-year-old Davis resident and Varsity Theater employee. “The subjects of our movies are enriching.”
Varsity Theater features one movie per week in their single auditorium, which is currently There Will Be Blood, and opening this evening will be Persepolis. The Varsity’s show times Monday through Thursday take place at 4:10 and 7:20 p.m., with three showings Friday and Saturday at 1, 4:10 and 7:20 p.m. Sunday showings are 2:20 and 5:30 p.m.
Read more at the California Aggie.
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February 19, 2008
Small town theatre has indy success
PORT ORCHARD, WA — After years of struggling, the Orchard Theater has been the buzz of town lately by showing more independently-minded first-run flicks.
It isn’t the kind of place you’d expect to find a specialty movie theater.
It’s a small town with a population of around 8,000. Its a bit off the beaten track on the eastern shore of central Kitsap County. And it’s decidedly blue-collar. Median income is listed at $38,500 according to the city-data.com Web site.
Yet right there on Port Orchard’s busy main drag, Bay Street, the newly renamed twin-screen theater, The Orchard, has since mid-December been showing such films as “Into the Wild,” “The Savages,” “Lars and the Real Girl,” “The Kite Runner” and “There Will Be Blood.”
Read more in the News Tribune.
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February 18, 2008
Photos online of downtown Los Angeles theaters
In conjunction with the project to restore downtown Los Angeles theaters on Broadway, the Los Angeles Conservancy has put together an online photo gallery.
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February 15, 2008
“Flashlight” vigil held to note anniversary of Lebowsky fire
OWOSSO, MI — The Owosso Community Players, owners of the Joseph H. Lebowsky Center, held a “flashlight” vigil Wednesday night to note the 1st anniversary of the fire which destroyed their home. Because of that, the members decided that a candlelight vigil would be inappropriate. So members of the OCP and the general public brought flashlights to shine beams of light on the surviving walls of the scarred theater.
Construction to enclose the theater again is expected to begin in April or May and it’s believed that the OCP can stage shows again at the old Capitol Theatre in five years.
News stories about the anniversary and vigil can be found in the:
Argus Press at Article #1 and Article #2
as well as the Flint Journal and Flint Journal #2.
There are also news stories which include video from WJRT and WLNS. -
February 14, 2008
Carthay Circle statue stolen
LOS ANGELES, CA — The bronze statue of a miner located across the street from the former Carthay Circle Theatre has been stolen, possibly for scrap. This was one of the last remnants of the once glorious square where the movie palace stood.
When neighbors in the Carthay Circle community heard the news, they feared it had been stolen for scrap, like so much copper wire and plumbing around the region, as prices for metal have soared.
“I think someone stole him to have him melted down,” said Judy Moore, president of the Carthay Circle Neighborhood Assn. “I don’t want to see him as rain gutters. It just breaks my heart. He was part of neighborhood history.”
Los Angeles police are investigating the theft and others, and they suspect the miner was indeed taken for scrap. Nationwide, bronze, brass and copper artworks are vanishing into scrap yards, destined for the foundry furnace.
Read more in the L.A. Times.
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February 8, 2008
Local residents save Oaks Theater
OAKMONT, PA — This story in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review highlights some Pennsylvania theater success stories along with some history of moviegoing in the area.
When an opportunity to buy the movie theater she used to frequent as a child came up six years ago, Meg Burkardt and two friends jumped at the chance.
Burkardt, Cyndi Yount and Marc Serrao, all of Penn Hills, bought the Oaks Theater in Oakmont with one goal in mind: preserving a dying breed.
“This is definitely a labor of love,” Burkardt said.