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Theaters
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September 24, 2007
Hawaii Theaters profiled in SF Gate article
The SFGate, the online version of the San Francisco Chronicle, posted an article on the surviving movie palaces of Hawaii, including a terrific photo of the 1922 Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu with its magificent marquee.
The occasional rainy day in Hawaii may be one reason to choose a movie over the beach, but even in sunny weather, the major islands all have cinemas worthy of supporting roles in your vacation script. Maui, the Big Island and Oahu also offer annual film festivals, with indoor and outdoor screening venues (often large resort lawns). For those who really want to keep the sand under their toes, there’s Sunset on the Beach, Waikiki’s free monthly event at Queen’s Beach (across from the zoo); details at sunsetonthebeach.net.
Festival or no, movie-theater buffs can take in one of these distinctive cinemas year-round.
You can read more at the SFGate.
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September 19, 2007
Beach Theatre in Miami Beach Becoming a TAO Restaurant & Lounge
MIAMI BEACH. FL — The Beach Theatre on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road is being converted into an upscale restaurant and lounge known as “Tao.” It is still in the construction phase, but should be completed soon.
If you stand on the corner of Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road and Drexel Avenue and look to the southeast, you can still see the structure that housed the screen of one of the finest movie theaters in the country, the Beach Theatre. It’s been decades since this movie palace ran its last feature, but now a new vibe is coming to 420 Lincoln Road in the form of the ritzy TAO Restaurant & Lounge.
Miami Beach will the third in a series of upscale TAO eateries that include East 58th Street in New York and another at the Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, all of which operate under the watchful eye of TAO’s signature 20-foot tall golden Buddha statues.
More here ar Miami Beach USA.
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September 10, 2007
New marquee for the born-again Rivoli
CEDARBURG, WI — Longtime theatre marquee-builder Poblocki Sign Company of West Allis, WI, has been contracted for a $60,000 marquee at the 1936 Rivoli Theatre in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. (Among many others, Poblocki built the 1993 marquee for Kenosha’s 1922 Orpheum Theatre.)
In a twist of fate, company owner Jerry Poblocki told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he attended the Rivoli’s January 1936 opening program.
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September 5, 2007
Hollywood’s Famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater sold
CIM Group of Los Angeles, reportedly one of Hollywood’s largest commercial landlords has purchased Grauman’s Chinese Theater for an undisclosed sum of money. There are no plans to stop showing films there as Mann Theaters has a long term lease and plans to continue its operation.
For more details, read the AP News.
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September 3, 2007
Future maybe in doubt for Towne Square
WINCHESTER, IN — With the owner claiming they are just doing renovations, other troubles indicate financial issues might be the reason for its present closure.
The movie screens are dark inside the Towne Square Cinema and Cafe.
The downtown theater is nearly $10,000 behind on its taxes and is facing a lawsuit from an Ohio publishing company for not paying an advertising bill.
But the marquee at the theater, 117 W. Franklin St., indicates it is closed for repairs, and general manager Steve Smelser repeated the same when contacted Friday. No movies have been shown for several weeks.
For the full story, go to the Star Press
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August 31, 2007
Fox Fullerton receives grant
FULLERTON, CA — I am writing to share some good news in our efforts to reopen the Fox Fullerton Theatre. The Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation has been selected to receive a nearly $2 million grant from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE). The Foundation’s grant to restore the Fox Fullerton Theatre was the second highest in a highly competitive process where 194 projects totaling $213 million were submitted statewide, for just under $43 million in available funds.
This was the third and final round to distribute funds made available by Proposition 40, which was passed by California voters in 2004 and included $250 million in funding for cultural and historic preservation. We have applied each year and this is the first time our application has been successful.
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The Academy Theater Book
We have extended the pre-sale offering of the book “The Incredible History of The Academy Theater” for $40. Please go to www.academybook.org and place your order today. If you would like to order 10 or more books, there is a 10% discount.
Also available a beautiful framed recent color photo of the Academy Tower illuminated at night. This beautiful photo is available here for only $20. Order this limited edition print online today.
Any questions please call 310-357-5462
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August 28, 2007
Lebowsky Center update
OWOSSO, MI — While the fire-damaged Lebowsky Center is undergoing asbestos abatement in preparation for the partially demolished theater’s rebuilding, its owner is receiving a generous donation.
The Owosso Community Players will receive a donation of the adjacent portion of the Chemical Bank Building from Chemical Bank. The adjacent building had housed the bank’s loan department and two law offices before the fire. The loan department has been relocated elsewhere in the bank building and the former loan department space is considered surplus according to the bank.
The OCP has an immediate need for rehearsal space and has ideas of other uses for this space. Additional information from the Argus-Press and from ].WLNS.
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August 24, 2007
Odeon future in doubt
DARLINGTON, UK — The future of the 1938 Odeon Cinema in Darlington, County Durham, UK, could be uncertain following an announcement that Vue cinemas have secured a 20 year lease to operate a new multiplex, due to open in autumn 2010, less than half a mile away from the Northgate building. The Odeon contains 3 screens, one in the former circle and two smaller screens in the rear stalls.
An article from the Northern Echo has more information.
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August 23, 2007
Grand reopening of State Theater Nov. 17, 2007
TRAVERSE CITY, MI — I’ve been a part of Phase One of the renovation of the State Theater to get it ready for the Traverse City Film Festival July 31, through Aug. 5, 2007. A permanent 42 ft. long by 22 ft. high Screen was installed on the 45 by 24 ft wall that was built in the middle of the stage that, hasn’t had a permanent screen for quite a few years. A sound system where Boston Light and Sound came in and soundproofed the walls and installed one of the best sound systems in the business.
To top it off, we had 2 state of the art film projectors installed and the roof was replaced after years of neglect. This was all done in less then a month leading up to the film festival. Phase 2 is soon to get started where all the seats will be replaced with seats that will enhance your movie watching experience. The ceiling will be fixed and painted and the marquee will have new glass pains and a coat of paint, keeping with the decor of the 1949 area.
I’m so grateful I got to be a part of this, going down and opening up so the const. Guys would get an early start and stayed till late at night, as the Asst. Project coordinator. We here in Traverse City are looking forward to having it open year round starting in Nov.
Marc Ryan