Have a news tip for us?
Just email . Ideas for stories, links to interesting articles, and press releases are welcome.
Theaters
-
October 12, 2007
Orpheum resurgence in full swing
LOS ANGELES, CA — Broadway may still be years away from regaining its status as a leading entertainment destination in Los Angeles, but the Orpheum is doing quite well. More concerts and events in years will soon be gracing its stage.
About a dozen concerts, awards shows and events are scheduled for the Orpheum in October, including a recent performance by the Black Crowes and a sold-out PJ Harvey gig Oct. 15. More than 10 additional events are lined up through the end of the year, with others to come.
Part of the success was landing Bill Silva Presents as the theater’s in-house promoter. The company books venues large and small, including the Hollywood Bowl. Needleman also scored a coup when mega-promoter Goldenvoice, which is owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group, agreed to bring additional business to the venue.
You can read more in the L.A. Downtown News.
0 comments -
October 10, 2007
Hamilton Movie Theater opens eyes with new digital films
HAMILTON, NY — Now the classic Hamilton Theater will be able to show films digitally. It’ll give the the theater access to a whole new slate of pictures using this technology.
The Hamilton Movie Theater has gone digital, which for lovers of indie films and documentaries, is very good news.
The downtown theater, a short walk from Colgate’s campus, has installed computer equipment and a digital projector that allow it to show new films that historically have been available only in major markets such as Los Angeles and New York City.
“It’s brand new for us and a bit experimental,” said theater manager Chuck Fox ‘70. “It gives us immediate access to art and independent films that we never had before.”
For more, go to the news site for Colgate University.
-
October 9, 2007
Lebowsky Center in the running for a state grant
OWOSSO, MI — Owosso is one of eight finalists for a Michigan Vibrant Small Cities Initiative grant of $1 million. Owosso would use the grant to upgrade the city’s entertainment district and rebuild two buildings in the district damaged by arson fires this year including the Lebowsky Center.
More details from the Lansing State Journal.
-
October 5, 2007
Academy offers enticing discounts
PASADENA, CA — Regency Theatres is pleased to announce the new policy at the Academy Cinemas in Pasadena, this Friday, October 5th. The theater will feature the best bargain for movies in the San Gabriel Valley with matinee admission of $2 for all showings before 6 o'clock and only $3 for evening performances after. The theater will also offer $1 Hot Dogs (Eisenberg) all the time.
The Regency Academy Cinemas features six auditoriums with plenty of legroom and Digital Sound. Programming will feature a mix of Independent, Foreign and Commercial films with daily matinees.
Guests will also get more munch for their buck with the lowest price theater concessions in the San Gabriel Valley featuring; Kim & Scotts Pretzels, Van Holten Pickles, $1 Eisenberg Hot Dogs and Fresh Hot Popcorn & Ice Cold Pepsi Products with Free Refills on Large Sizes.
-
October 4, 2007
Historic Roxy Theatre sold
VICTORIA, BC, CANADA — Its Manhattan namesake may be long gone, but this Quonset hut gem is still running. The Roxy Cinegog has just been sold.
The Roxy Theatre, the little movie house on Quadra Street that was built from an army-surplus Quonset hut in 1949 and has survived the storms of video and big-chain competition with budget ticket pricing, has a new owner today.
But movie-goers who like Roxy’s comfy confines and cheap admission won’t have to worry. The Roxy isn’t changing its $5 double bills or $2.50 Tuesdays – and it’s staying exactly where it is.
Michael Sharpe, a real estate developer who bought the Roxy from well-known Victoria entrepreneur Howie Siegel, said his goal is to preserve and improve the 324-seat theatre. He said the Roxy will undergo a name change, a facelift on the marquee and other improvements to concessions, lobby and washrooms.
Read more at the Times Colonist.
-
NCG Trillium Cinemas' IMAX Theater to open November 16
GRAND BLANC, MI — A billboard along I-75 near the NCG Trillium Cinema announces that this megaplex’s IMAX Theater addition will open on November 16. The IMAX theater is the second one built in Genesee County. The first was the since demolished AutoWorld IMAX Theater which was part of the ill-fated AutoWorld theme park in Flint, MI. It briefly operated on its own in the mid-1980’s before it was imploded in 1997.
Nearly a year of planning and construction went into the development of this addition to the two-year-old retro style theater.
Additional details from The Flint Journal.
-
October 3, 2007
New deal on Capitol Music Hall sale
WHEELING, WV — The currently closed Capitol Music Hall might find a new owner soon. Live Nation, who currently owns it, had to close it earlier this year due to fire code violations.
Real estate agent Carl Nix is looking to draw up a new deal for the Capitol Music Hall, as a previous agreement to buy the venue has fizzled.
Also, city officials who previously expressed interest in acquiring the venue on behalf of Wheeling said they may now take another look at the theater.
Mayor Nick Sparachane said the city had expressed interest in acquiring the property, but backed off when they learned of serious private interest in the venue earlier this summer.
The full story is available from the Intelligencer.
-
Historic theater’s restoration plan faces final hurdles
MENLO PARK, CA — The owner of the Park Theatre is trying to keep the building open, but it might require some help that the city is unsure they want to give.
An ambitious plan to restore the Park Theater hinges on a last-ditch effort by Andy Duncan, the main proponent, to coax Menlo Park city officials into giving him a loan or joining him in a public-private partnership.
Duncan submitted a formal proposal to City Manager Glen Rojas on Thursday. Because of escalating restoration costs and the fact that a market-based solution to revamping the theater isn’t workable, Duncan has offered the city two options: Lend him $500,000 at 5 percent for 25 years or buy the land and lease it to him for 55 years.
“At $2.2 million, the second option is far more expensive for the taxpayer, but it would give the city ownership of an important historical resource,” Duncan said.
You can read the full article at the San Mateo County Times.
-
Price of historic theater climbs
MESILLA, NM — The 1905 Fountain Theatre is caught in the middle of some interesting sales negotiations. Just when it was about to be bought by a band of local residents, another buyer came in with another bid. Either will maintain its film heritage
A plan by some local officials to arrange the purchase of a historic Mesilla theater has run into a hurdle, after the theater owner raised her asking price for the structure.
The snag has led the Mesilla Valley Film Society, the nonprofit group that leases the 102-year-old Fountain Theatre, to decide to refund some $60,000 in donations it raised this summer during an attempt to buy the building. The group said it plans to begin mailing letters about the refunds around the start of October.
Read more at the Las Cruces Sun-News.
-
September 28, 2007
Town Theater gets concert business
HUNTSVILLE, TX — The Town Theater is generating new income and notoriety through its new role as a venue for local bands.
The Downtown Music Project took two steps forward this weekend as local bands met in the Old Town Theater to examine the sound equipment and discuss promotion for the first concert on Friday, October 5th.
Gene Myrick, director of the Friends of the Old Town Theater, said that the Theater has been in production for approximately five and a half years and has welcomed at least 65,000 people through its doors.
Read the full story at the Houstonian Online.