The latest movie theater news and updates

  • August 25, 2010
    For Sale

    Oriental Theater for sale

    DENVER, CO — The current owners/tenants of the Oriental Theater are putting the historic Northwest Denver landmark up for sale. The current ownership group, who took over the theater in July of 2009, have ownership stakes in two other Denver music venues and have decided to concentrate their efforts on those places. The historic theater has a capacity of over 700 and is one of the few theaters left in the Denver Metro area that can host anything from a small intimate wedding reception to a sold out crowd at a live music show.

    The Oriental has a long and rooted history in the Northwest Denver community dating back to the early 1920’s.  Many grandparents tell their children and grandchildren stories of their first date at the Oriental Theater and how it has been a cornerstone of the community for many generations. 
    The Oriental Theater was built as a movie theater in 1927, but even as early as 1928 it hosted vaudeville and music performances. Through the 1930s and 1940s the theater flourished with daily features that included the Depression Era concept of “bank night” where groceries and small household goods were given to lucky patrons.

    The age of the automobile and the rise of the suburbs in the 1950s marked the beginning of rough, dark days for the Oriental Theater. In the 1960s to boast withering attendance, plush seating, new carpet, fresh paint, fluorescent lighting and a bigger projection screen were added.

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  • Restorations

    Capitol Theater lands $1 million restoration grant

    BURLINGTON, IA — The non-profit Capitol Theater Foundation was awarded a $1 million I-JOBS grant for the renovation of the historic building in downtown Burlington, Iowa. Under the terms of the grant, this striking Art Deco gem will be reopened in 2012!

    Read about the other awards at the Governor’s Page.

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  • August 24, 2010
    Theaters

    Lebowsky Center is enclosed again

    OWOSSO, MI — Following a tip from the Owosso Community Players' Facebook page, I stopped at the Lebowsky Center over the weekend to confirm for myself the happy news that the theater is enclosed again. As you can see from the photos, the construction crew was almost finished laying the concrete blocks on the new east wall along Park Street. The next step is the laying of the face brick. Looking at the stage house roof, there is still an obvious hole in the middle waiting for the new smoke doors to be installed.

    3 comments
  • Industry

    Cecil Whitmire - Led restoration of the Alabama Theatre passes on

    BIRMINGHAM, AL — It’s with sadness that I’m noting the passing of Cecil Whitmire.

    Cecil was a central figure in the successful restoration of The Alabama Theatre (“The Showplace of the South”) and was organizing the efforts to restore The Lyric Theatre nearby. He was one of the founders of Birmingham Landmarks Inc. which holds ownership of both theatres.

    Cecil’s memorial service will be held at The Alabama Theatre.

    “He was clearly the true believer in the potential of downtown,” said Michael Calvert, president of Operation New Birmingham. “He proved that if you give people a reason to come downtown, they will.”

    Mr. Whitmire began a three-decade love affair with the Alabama in 1976, when he moved to Birmingham from Knoxville to manage a hardware company. The Alabama was still a movie theater, and Mr. Whitmire would play the Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ before shows, entertaining audiences with classic tunes, nearly always including “Stars Fell on Alabama.”

    Read the full story in the Birmingham News.

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  • Events

    Classic film series at the Prytania Theatre

    NEW ORLEANS, LA — An eclectic series of classic films is coming to the Prytania Theatre New Orleans. Showings will occur over the next six weeks and include “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” “Panic in the Streets,” and “Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang” among others.

    There’s more in the Times-Picayune and informatiom from the theater’s website is here.

    0 comments
  • August 23, 2010
    Events

    All About The Hollywood Pantages Theatre

    HOLLYWOOD, CA — Contact: Hillsman Wright 310 403-0865,

    The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (www.lahtf.org)
    in association with Hollywood Heritage and the Nederlander Organization present

    ALL ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD PANTAGES THEATRE (1930)
    a free comprehensive insider’s tour of a beautifully restored Broadway road house, operated by The Nederlander Organization.. One of L.A.’s finest theatres.

    Saturday, August 28, 10:30 am; doors open at 10:00am
    Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028-5310- (213) 468-1770
    http://www.broadwayla.org/index.asp
    The Public is Invited. Admission: $7 —– free for LAHTF and HH Members

    7 comments
  • Jobs

    Looking for interior photos of Streamline Moderne theaters

    ROCK ISLAND, IL — I have recently taken on the Rocket Theater and would love to return as much of the original look as I can. However, there are hardly any interior photos of any streamline moderne theaters on the internet. Nevertheless, I will pursue libraries and historical institutes for any photos. If anyone has photos of the Rocket Theater before 1960, that would be greatly appreciated.

    1 comment
  • For Sale

    Movie Posters / Lobby Cards /Stills Wanted by Collector

    Hi there,

    I need help finding old Movie Posters, Lobby Cards, Movie Stills from 1900 up to 1970. Interested in all sizes and condition.

    Like to hear from proprietors of theaters and employees. Please email me.

    Thanks,
    Noel

    4 comments
  • August 20, 2010
    Jobs

    Nickelodeon locations?

    Hello,

    I am trying to locate a Nickelodeon in Manhattan (or any of the five boroughs) for a BBC documentary series about the start of the motion picture industry. It doesn’t matter if it’s totally derelict, or even if it has been demolished because we just want to film the location of where the Nickelodeon once stood. Maybe several Nickelodeons stood on one street? It would be fantastic if there was still a Nickelodeon standing, although I’ve searched and it seems to me that they have all long since been demolished in the region I’m looking at – I’m hoping you might be able to tell me not!

    We will also be filming in Los Angeles and I believe there is still a Nickelodeon there, but we’d ideally like to film outside one in New York for this programme.

    13 comments
  • Theaters

    Dutch architects propose building revolving outdoor theater

    AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS — For some reason, a Dutch architectural firm has proposed building a revolving outdoor cinema/live performance venue that would presumptively be built at the Amsterdam harbor.

    This article in Dvice includes a sketch of the proposed facility.

    2 comments