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Theaters
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September 8, 2006
Pickford Cinema to expand
BELLINGHAM, WA — The Pickford Cinema is about undergo an expansion to add seats and amenities in order to draw more moviegoers.
The Whatcom Film Association, which opened the cinema in November 1998 on Cornwall Avenue, has hired Moceri Construction to begin work on its Dream Space building at 1318 Bay St. The nonprofit bought that building in January 2005.
The new movie theater will have two screens and seating for 238 patrons, a significant upgrade from the current one-screen facility on 1416 Cornwall Ave., which seats 88.
For the full story, read the Bellingham Herald.
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September 7, 2006
Collinsville theater on hold
COLLINSVILLE, IL — The eager residents of Collinsville will have to wait longer for the opening of the long-promised multiplex from Kerasotes.
Plans for a new Kerasotes Theatres complex have been delayed by budgetary constraints. The Chicago-based movie theater company purchased more than seven acres of land at Eastport Plaza behind Wild Country in Collinsville after announcing it would build a 10- to 12-screen theater there.
That was three years ago. Theater real estate director Bon Gallivan said the initial $6.7 million 33,000-square-foot design came way over budget and has forced the project back to square one. Gallivan said a redesign has yet to he completed, and it will be another year before construction could begin at the metro-east site.
You can read more about this story in the Belleville News-Democrat.
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September 6, 2006
Updates on Manistee’s closed movie theaters
MANISTEE, MI — Many people have shown an interest in the history of Manistee’s “other” movie theaters. Today I went and spent a day at the museum compiling information that has been virtually unknown until now.
From the Manistee News Advocate, 8-25-15..article mentions new theater, (Lyric), to be built on the site of the old Royal Theatre on River Street.
Nov 25 1915
News Advocate announces “Lyric Theatre at 415 Rivert St opens.” -
September 4, 2006
Marana cinema to come eventually
MARANA, AZ — Despite holdups, the new 12-16 screen Pavillions Theatres from the Linda Vista chain should open by next summer.
The number of screens has been reduced and the opening delayed a few months, but Northwest Side residents should be able to catch a flick at Marana’s first movie theater by next May.
There had been some talk about opening the theater by the end of this year, but administrative holdups and paperwork pushed back the date, said Kent Edwards, a managing partner with Linda Vista Cinemas LLC.
For more on this story, go to the Arizona Daily Star.
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August 31, 2006
Customer service keeps small-town theater open
LIVINGSTON, AL — The Sumter Theatre in the this small Alabama town stays alive by going the extra mile for each of its few customers.
Livingston, outside the University of West Alabama, is a town of 3,048 in Sumter County, some 172 miles north of Mobile. It’s a sleepy town that got sleepier when Wal-Mart moved out in January.
Smitty said he’s not a natural businessman. He ran a store in town that failed. The movie theater isn’t doing much better financially, but he doesn’t have the debt this time. “We tread water,” he said. Some days he only has one person watch a movie. Fifteen is a good day, he said.
For more, read the full story in the Press-Register.
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Pickerington movie theater getting ‘UltraScreen’
PICKERINGTON, OH — Following in the footsteps of their property in North Columbus, Marcus Theatres is building a separate new 400 seat theater adjacent to their Pickerington Cinemas. The theater will house a significantly larger screen than normal along with luxury seating.
For an extra 50 cents a ticket, moviegoers will be able to enjoy an extra-wide screen at Marcus Cinema Pickerington beginning next spring.
Marcus Theatres Corp. said Wednesday it will house a 70-foot wide UltraScreen — nearly three times wider than regular screens — in a building adjacent to its 16-screen Marcus Cinema Pickerington.
For all the details, read the article in the Columbus Bizjournals.
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August 30, 2006
Small theater chain owners find niches
DURHAM, NC — The Phoenix Theatres chain is succeeding by avoiding competition and offering audiences new amenities. By putting extra thought into the markets they open theaters in and their specific clientele, the chain is becoming extremely popular in its respective areas.
“There is no theater in the north of Durham. You don’t get another theater [heading north] until you get to Roxboro,” said Zacheretti, flashing a smile as he contemplates the competitive landscape. Phoenix Theatres operates 84 screens from Kansas to Florida.
In an industry where the giant chains keep consolidating, small operators such as Phoenix and even smaller independents still find ways to entice moviegoers and make a buck.
For more, read the full story in the News & Observer.
(Thanks to Phoenix Theatres for allowing us to use a photo of their Legends 14 in Kansas City, KS)
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August 29, 2006
Now showing: Too much
REDWOOD CITY, CA — Downtown Redwood City was expected to be booming with the opening of a new complex. Instead, it looks like people might have overestimated the need for another multiplex.
The fate of the old movie house off Highway 101 remains a cloudy script, although city officials and business leaders still hope Century Theatres will close it to enhance the draw at the new cinema-retail complex downtown.
As it stands, keeping Century Park 12 along the highway in business has partly been blamed on the sluggish start of the On Broadway complex a mile away. The centerpiece of the complex, a 20-screen cinema, opened July 28.
For more, read the full story in Inside Bay Area.
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August 25, 2006
New Harkins to go digital
PHOENIX, AZ — Harkins is building a new state-of-the-art multiplex at the center of the Shops of Norterra complex that aims to be all-digital.
Moviegoers will be able to watch movies from new high-back rocker seats when Harkins opens a new 14-screen movie theater at the upcoming “Shops at Norterra.”
The theater scheduled to open in spring 2007 will be just off Interstate 17 at Happy Valley Road and Norterra Parkway.
For more, read the full story at newszap.
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August 24, 2006
Keith-Albee surges ahead
HUNTINGTON, WV — Even though, it is no longer an operating movie theater, plans are moving ahead for the Keith-Albee’s next generation.
The Keith-Albee Theatre in downtown Huntington is too important to let die. Too important for the downtown, too important to the Marshall Artists Series and too important to the region as a whole.
The theater closed as a movie house in January. Efforts began immediately to save and restore the Keith-Albee as a performing arts center. Last week came word that those plans are progressing.
For more, read the full story in the Herald-Dispatch.
