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Theaters
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July 11, 2007
Garden Theatre signs theatre company
WINTER GARDEN, FL — The Garden Theatre proudly welcomes
Jester Theater as a programming partner for the 2008 season and into the future. The critically acclaimed professional theatre company will produce all of its shows to Garden Theatre audiences, and is set to perform two shows in the inaugural season and three to four shows each year in the following seasons.Founded in August 2004, by husband and wife team Jay and Diana Hopkins, Jester Theater Company is an all-comedy group that has been producing full-length family-friendly comedies to sold-out crowds in downtown Orlando and, most recently, Germany. Their top quality original works and world premieres make this an ideal match for the Garden Theatre to open its inaugural programming schedule. The Garden Theatre is proud to announce its first live theatrical run, “The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!" playing February 1-17, 2008.
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City aims to oust Capitol trustee
WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA — The city of Windsor, embroiled in a dispute with bankruptcy trustee Stephen Funtig, is seeking his removal as trustee of the closed Capitol Theatre. The city also wishes to remove former city clerk Tom Lynd as one of the creditors directing Funtig claiming conflict of interest.
The theatre closed last March and the city is accusing Funtig of failing to negotiate an agreement on the theatre’s fate in a timely fashion.
It is the latest salvo fired in the ongoing saga of the bankrupt theatre which has has remained closed since March, mired in a dispute over its debts and its fate.
City authorities maintain $1.8 million loaned to the theatre in the mid-1990s gives the city rights to the building following the recent bankruptcy.
More details are available from the Windsor Star.
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July 10, 2007
Changing face of L.A. moviegoing
The changing face of moviegoing in Los Angeles is profiled in this L.A. Times article including how difficult it is for single screen Crest in Westwood to continue to book movies and how appreciated the new Landmark is.
Some guys daydream about playing center field for the Dodgers. Others wish they had as much luck with women as Antonio Villaraigosa. But when I’m in my car, trapped in the Westside’s endless rush hour traffic, all I can fantasize about is how good life would be if there were more great movie theaters on my side of town.
There have been many nights when I could fly and see a movie in San Francisco faster than plowing through the Westside’s snarled traffic to where the ArcLight sits in the distant reaches of Hollywood.
Luckily, I now have two beloved neighborhood theaters: the sleek new 12-screen Landmark complex alongside the Westside Pavilion and the handsome old Westwood Crest Theater, a 1940-era movie house on Westwood Boulevard. As different as they may appear on the surface, they are fascinating examples of the brave new world of high-quality movie exhibition, a world full of movies aimed at — gasp — people who aren’t dying to see “Transformers.”
A slide show has wonderful photos including beautiful interior photos of the Crest, Los Angeles and Orpheum.
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July 9, 2007
Bethesda Theatre returns as playhouse
BETHESDA, MD — The Bethesda Theatre is opening again, this time as a showplace for small-scale plays.
In the ever-expanding constellation of new spaces for plays and musicals in and around Washington, a landmark art deco movie palace on Wisconsin Avenue will open this fall as a home for audience-friendly, small-scale plays and musicals.
Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, whose president is Robert Nederlander Jr., has a long-term contract to manage the Bethesda space, owned by the Bethesda Cultural Alliance, a new, nonprofit arts group. Nederlander’s idea is to make the Bethesda site the first of a circuit of smaller theaters across the country to which musical revues, comedies and jukebox shows could tour.
Read the full story at the Washington Post.
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Theaters of Bristol, England
There is a website with photos showing the theaters of Bristol, a port city, and its suburbs during the past century. It includes a brief history of venues covered.
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July 2, 2007
Waikiki Theater reopens as retail complex
HONOLULU, HI — This art deco beauty is gone forever as a movie house, but at least the new owners have paid tribute by incorporating many original details into the building and loading it with fascinating memorabilia.
You can see more photos of the Waikiki Theater at
this website.(Thanks to Bob for providing the photo.)
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June 27, 2007
Cinema Treasure @ Burleson Commons
BURLESON, TX — Ground has just been broken on this theater and I would like to get more info on what it will offer. The info boasts of including a Jazz Bar and an amphitheater but are they considering any screens equipped with REAR or OPEN CAPTION for the hearing impaired?
The AMC Parks has one and only one with rear caption. Grapevine Mills has one and that’s all that I know of and Grapevine is quite a drive. There are many people that enjoy the real theater experience, popcorn dripping w/butter and gum on your shoes, but they are left waiting for the DVD and watching at home with ORVILLE! I would like someone to look into this since the forms are not set, this would still be a chance to make a difference for the community! Thanks for listening!
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June 25, 2007
7th Street Theatre turns over new leaf
HOQUIAM, WA — This article chronicles the renovations of the atmospheric 7th Street Theatre as seen through the eyes of its legendary concession man.
If some criminal had called Lane Youmans “Butter Boy” during his days as a Grays Harbor Sheriff’s detective, it wouldn’t have gone down well.
But when he’s behind the snack bar counter at the 7th St. Theatre, it’s a nickname Youmans has come to not only expect but meet with a grin. He’s the guy who puts butter on the popcorn whenever a movie is showing — whether it’s “Casablanca” or “Willy Wonka.”
For the full story, go to the Daily World.
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June 18, 2007
Majestic Theatre to re-open under new ownership
MADISON, WI — The historic Majestic Theatre is under new ownership and will be bringing the very best in live music to downtown Madison beginning in September 2007. The century old theatre will undergo several renovations and aesthetic improvements this summer.
The new owners are looking for at least one “classic theatre style” chandelier to add to the historic vibe of the interior. Please if you know of anyone selling light fixtures.
Recent Article:
Daily Cardinal -
June 15, 2007
Winema theater dedicated
SCOTIA, CA — 90 years after opening, the Wi'ne'ma Theatre is being dedicated. Due to the special occasion, research has been conducted to discover the theatre name’s origins.
Native Sons statewide officers will be in attendance for a dedication today at 1 p.m. at the Wi'ne'ma Theatre. The organization will install a plaque commemorating the history of the nearly 90-year-old theater, considered by many as one of America’s cinema treasures.
A statement Jacobs made about the Wi'ne'ma Theatre is as follows: “It is more than a theater. It is a place of friendly assemblage. It is intimately connected with a great industry. Its natural surroundings are magnificent. Its design should be no more commercial than its purpose — that is, not at all. When we face nature, man doesn’t attempt to compete in splendor. It can’t be done. We only seek to harmonize our buildings with what we find.”
For more, go to the Eureka Reporter.