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Theaters
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October 4, 2006
Fox Riverside renovation
RIVERSIDE, CA — In a proposal city officials say will produce long-planned projects and make up for previously deferred upgrades, the Riverside ( Calif. ) City Council is set to vote this week on the initial plans for a $780 million citywide proposal for municipal facilities and infrastructure.
The plan contains essential cultural upgrades, including a retrofitted Metropolitan Museum , expanded Convention Center, rehabilitated Municipal Auditorium and a completely refurbished Fox Theater —– which is probably the most forward-looking aspect of the plan. Not only will it restore one of the city’s historical gems, it will finally give Riverside a first-class performance arts facility.
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October 2, 2006
Cinema owner protests new films by shutting down theater
HOOPESTON, IL — The Lorraine Theatre was recently shut down in protest over the new films from Hollywood.
A small-town theater owner says he wasn’t trying to send Hollywood a message when he shut down for two weeks rather than show box-office leader “Jackass 2” or other new releases that he calls, “drivel.”
“The movies are so bad and I don’t need the money … I just didn’t think I should use my high-quality facilities to show people vomiting on screen,” said Boardman, whose theaters boast a high-tech, eight- channel digital sound system.
For more on this, read theAssociated Press Article or visit the Lorraine Theatre’s Website.
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Madison South Towne Cinemas closed
Marcus Theatres seems to be on a closing spree, they recently closed the 5 screen South Towne Cinemas in Madison, WI. They are going to build a new 12 screen complex about a half-mile east of this closed cinema. This theater never really did that well and in recent years was a “discount” first-run house. It was in very tough shape.
No info on the inclusion of either digital screens or one of the Marcus “Ultra-Screens” in the new complex. It will not open until sometime next year.
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September 22, 2006
Art Theatre Update
LONG BEACH, CA — My recent news that the Long Beach Art Theatre was to close and resurface as a night club was, as the manager said to me: “the deal fell
through.”The marquee lights and neon sign are still shining in the night. I’m so glad. Long live the Art.
But now the “Rocky Horror” crowd will have to cross the bay to the liner Queen Mary for their
toast and rice throwing escapades!See you at the movies… Simon Overton
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September 21, 2006
Chalet Theaters Rescues Pioneer Theater
FALFURRIAS, TX — After a long time of being silent, Chalet Theaters is rescuing the once-grand Pioneer Theater in Falfurrias, TX. The theater has seen better days and the former owner ran it for 30 years before leasing it out to others. These people did not know how to run a theater and the folks had to go sit down only to get back up again to get their hot dogs and popcorn.
Chalet Theaters will redo the balcony and other aspects of the theater. It has many numerous designs inside. The first order of business is to equip the theater with state of the art projection and sound. The neon will be on soon again. With plans to show both English and Spanish movies, it will be a hit again to a town that needs it badly.
A picture of the theater can be found here:
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September 20, 2006
UA Travis on the market again
STATEN ISLAND, NY — The former UA Theater is being turned around again, mostly due to the booming commercial real estate market.
The building that used to house the UA Theater in Travis is back on the market for $21 million — three times more than what it sold for last year.
The largest and busiest multiplex on Staten Island when it opened in 1987, the UA Theater was overshadowed by its newer sister cinema in Mariners Harbor, the UA Stadium 16 Theater, which opened in 2001.
For more, read the Staten Island Advance.
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September 19, 2006
Fenway 13 goes to Regal
BOSTON, MA — As expected, with AMC selling off some of its most-desired properties to prevent monopoly, the Fenway 13 is going to Regal.
The deal makes Boston a battleground between the nation’s two largest theater chains, with Regal moving into the Fenway location and AMC hanging on to its 19-screen Boston Common theater it took over earlier this year when it acquired Loews Cineplex Entertainment to become the nation’s No. 2 theater chain.
To obtain regulatory approval for the Loews purchase, AMC was required to sell the 13-screen Fenway complex.
For more, go to Boston.com.
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September 18, 2006
Rave Theatres to open 14-plex in Kalamazoo
DALLAS, TX — Rave Motion Pictures' state of the art 14-screen stadium theater with a new digital projection system opens in Kalamazoo on Friday, November 17. Rave Motion Pictures' Cityplace 14 is located Downtown at the intersection of South and Portage streets.
Rave Motion Pictures' exacting standards create unobstructed viewing utilizing 18-inch risers. There is a remarkable 48 inches between rows for maximum legroom and ease of motion. Every auditorium has the finest in digital surround sound equipment, as well as a new digital projection system, as well as 3D capability on selected features.
For more, read the full press release.
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September 13, 2006
Watch a drive-in movie, from bed
FAIRLEE, VT — The Fairlee Motel & Drive-In as well as a theater in Colorado make their business over the summer by providing lodging adjacent to an outdoor theater.
The Fairlee Motel & Drive-In Theater combines the best of roadside America. Drive in, and you have your classic outdoor experience. Check in, and a picture window and NuTone speaker give you the same show from your king-size bed — with air conditioning and no mosquitoes. Please don’t wipe popcorn butter on the sheets.
Someone taller than about 5-foot-8 can even watch the movie from the shower, through the tiny bathroom window.
The Fairlee is one of at least two drive-in motels in the United States. Another is the Best Western Movie Manor in Monte Vista, Colorado. The Movie Manor claims to be unique, but according to the motels' histories, the Fairlee’s combination came first, in 1960.
To read more, visit CNN Travel.
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September 8, 2006
Boyd Theatre renovation
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Renovations are underway for the Boyd Theatre to reopen in 2007. Cinematical has just published an interview with Howard Haas of Friends of the Boyd.
It’s been a small-but-persistent little news story in Philadelphia over the past several years: The last remaining old-school, ultra-cool, Art Deco movie palace in the city was in serious danger of being destroyed, thus removing any reminder of Golden Age cinematic history from The City of Brotherly Love.
How could this happen? How could one of the oldest, largest and most unquestionably awesome cities in the nation be stripped of its last remaining movie palace?
Well, it came pretty darn close to Wrecking Ball Central, but thanks in large part to the efforts of one local attorney, the beautiful Boyd Theater is now enjoying a long-overdue facelift.
For the rest of this story as well as the interview, please visit Cinematical.