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Theaters
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November 10, 2006
Cerrito Theater returns with new agenda
EL CERRITO, CA — Restored to deco glory, the Cerrito Theater prepares for first screenings in a half century.
The Cerrito Theater is so close to completion you can almost smell the popcorn from San Pablo Avenue. The $5 million restoration project has been underway for more than five years, but soon, very soon, the popcorn will pop, the lights will dim and the Cerrito will open for business again.
On November 1, Casablanca and Pulp Fiction will become the first movies screened in the Cerrito since the mid 1960s, breathing new life into the deco theater that was originally built in 1937.
Unlike most movie theaters, the two theaters at the Cerrito will have couches and cocktail tables as well as the traditional theater seats. Beer is served in the theater, and food, like homemade pizza, can be ordered and delivered to customers during the flick. Two cafes, the It Club and the It Club Too, flank the theaters entrance, so moviegoers can hang out before and after movies.
To read more on this, go to The North Gate News.
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November 8, 2006
Victoria Theatre Documentary
AUCKLAND, NZ — Just a quick note to let you know that I have just completed my documentary about Californian John Leon Benwell and the Victoria Cinema which he built in 1912.The cinema has had a troubled few years and whether it survives or dies, its history and the people and stories surrounding it are now captured on one DVD.
Visit Mosaic Media for details and the promo video.
Many thanks
(Thanks to Steve at Mosaic Media for providing the photo.)
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November 7, 2006
Rheem Theater’s new face
MORAGA, CA — A new corporation has taken over the Rheem Theatre and has brought an enormous change.
The staff is always properly dressed and professional. They have put a great amount of money to enhance consumer experience from walking into the lobby to sound and picture. They have introduced foreign movies, so now you can enjoy a nice cup of Espresso while watching an Italian classic.
They have done miracles with the place and I would urge you to visit it again.
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November 1, 2006
Theatre owner blames employee thefts for closing
RIVERSIDE, OH — According to this report from WHIO-TV, Joe Kinney, the owner of the Page Manor Cinema in Riverside, due to stealing by his employess that was “off the hook”, has shuttered the theater, which first opened in 1967.
Kinney said that over the last two years, he has had to fire over 30 employees due to theft of money and a pinball machine. Kinney has operated the Page Manor for the past two years.
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October 27, 2006
Westwood / Hilliard Square Theatre in Lakewood, Ohio
A story in this week’s Cleveland Free Times describes how a city’s interest in the grand old Westwood Theatre and a performing arts center’s desire to build a new campus in Lakewood Ohio could return the theater to glory — if only everyone were on the same page.
Bob Dobush lives at the theater, and not in any metaphorical sense. The collector and restorer of antique radios keeps an apartment above the long-vacant Hilliard Square theater in Lakewood. He bought the landmark in 1998 to save it from the wrecking ball.
Behind the theater’s Hilliard Avenue door stands the decaying glory of a bygone era, an ornate lobby and staircase.
For more, visit the Cleveland Free Times.
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Malibu Theater reopens
MALIBU, CA — Filling a void created by the theater’s fire last year, the Cross Creek Plaza Theater will reopen next month.
Hollywood Theaters, owner of the Cross Creek Plaza movie theater, announced this week that the facility will reopen on Nov. 17. The theater has been closed since April 2005, when a fire destroyed it and several other businesses in the mall.
An official from the Portland, Ore.-based Hollywood Theaters said she could not disclose anything beyond that the theater would be opening. She said she might have more information next week.
To read more on this story, go to Malibu Times.
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October 26, 2006
Pearl River Theater purchased by town
PEARL RIVER, NY — With plans to hopefully revitalize the Pearl River Theater, the city is saving it from the wrecking ball. At the moment, they are entertaining proposals for its future.
Orangetown may soon purchase a vacant theater for less than the cost of a matinee movie ticket.
Town Supervisor Thom Kleiner said the town reached a tentative agreement this week to buy the Pearl River Movie Theater building on Central Avenue for $1 from Skyview Plaza Development Corp. All the board has to do is grant a zone change for another project the developer has in town.
To read more, visit the Journal News.
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October 24, 2006
Santa Clarita theater shortage
SANTA CLARITA, CA — As evidenced by the number of articles you see on this website, new megaplexes are popping up all around the country to fulfill the growing suburbia. However, with a constantly rising population, the Santa Clarita Valley is not seeing a rising number of screens.
Every year, throngs of movie crews flock to the Santa Clarita Valley to capitalize on the area’s photogenic suburban streets and mountainous topography.
But these days the rapidly growing city is missing a key component in the film business: movie screens.
Santa Clarita has just two movie theaters and 22 screens for an area of nearly 168,000 residents.
To read more about this, visit the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.
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Ground broken for Texas theater
BURLESON, TX — The growing Burleson Commons area will soon have a modern movie theater with flashy additions such as a jazz bar and amphitheater.
Burleson Partners LLC and a company called Screenworks broke ground last week on a 12-screen movie theater that is regarded as one of the main anchor businesses in the commercial development here known as the Burleson Commons.
“This is a great day for the city of Burleson,” Mayor Ken Shetter said at Thursday morning’s groundbreaking ceremony at the site. “We believe it’s a good deal for the city. This is going to be an asset for Burleson families and the city of Burleson.”
Burleson Commons, a 38-acre property on the southeast corner of Texas 174 and Farm-to-Market Road 714, is under development by Burleson Partners through its parent company Cullinan Properties in Peoria, Ill.
For more, read the Burleson Crowley Connection.
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October 23, 2006
Vintage theater shopping to purchase
How’s everyone in the theater industry today? I’m in the market to acquire historic or vintage theaters for sale in the United States. There have been some opportunities where you may purchase them for a dollar, but you have to fully restore them. Cities have been known to give them away, but they have to generate tax revenue. Please keep me posted on such underlying opportunities. I would highly appreciate it very much. You may e-mail on viable prospects to or ..