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The latest movie theater news and updates
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July 6, 2010
The show goes on at the Majestic in Wills Point
WILLS POINT, TX — The Lybrand family has been showing films in this little Texas town, about fifty miles east of Dallas, since well before World War I. Though the teenagers prefer the multiplexes, their 1926 Majestic Theater still has a loyal, if shrinking, following. The current owner, Karl Lybrand III, wants to keep the marquee lit, but acknowledges that it is getting harder to keep going.
Still, he hopes to keep it open. Its history means as much to him as it does to the scores of multigenerational moviegoers in this Van Zandt County town (pop., 3,804), 50 miles east of Dallas on U.S. Highway 80. Many here say the Majestic can’t close, but as Lybrand says with a wry chuckle, “Well, yes, they say that, but they’re not the ones paying the bills.”
Although no official agency or institution can verify the claim, the Majestic could be the oldest family-owned, continuously operating movie theater in the United States.
The full story is in the Dallas News.
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July 5, 2010
Leonard Maltin on LA’s “Last Remaining Seats”
LOS ANGELES – Leonard Maltin has a nice post on his blog, Leonard Maltin’s Movie Crazy, about the Los Angeles Conservancy’s always terrific “Last Remaining Seats” series. Here’s a sample:
There is no thrill to compare with seeing a classic movie in a great movie theater. For twenty-four years, the Los Angeles Conservancy has hosted a month-long series called Last Remaining Seats, showing vintage films in the city’s great movie palaces, most of which are located on Broadway downtown…. If you’ve never been to these great movie palaces and plan to visit Los Angeles any time soon, you should sign up for the Conservancy’s Saturday morning walking tour. Or mark your calendars for next June and join the fun.
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July 3, 2010
“Back To The Future”…Happy 25th!
[b]BACK TO THE ‘80s
REMEMBERING “BACK TO THE FUTURE” ON ITS 25th ANNIVERSARYCompiled by Michael Coate[/b]
He was never in time for his classes… He wasn’t in time for his dinner… Then one day…he wasn’t in his time at all.
The most popular movie of 1985, and one of the most popular of the 1980s, Back To The Future was released twenty-five years ago today. Robert Zemeckis' “comedy adventure science fiction time travel love story” is remembered for its wonderful cast headed by Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd and for its clever, Oscar-nominated screenplay full of effectively executed set-ups and pay-offs. And on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of this crowd-pleaser, I thought I’d present a collection of information that includes some production history, historical data and trivia. So, without further ado, enjoy this quick-reference anniversary tribute to Back To The Future.
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July 2, 2010
Happy 40th Birthday – Norridge!
Written & Compiled by Tamir Sharif (aka CinemarkFan)
Times change, and places come and go. But the Norridge Theater is a survivor.
NORRIDGE, IL — On June 26th 1970, M & R Amusements opened the Norridge, a then two screen theater located 5 blocks from the Harlem-Irving Plaza (H.I.P for short) in northwest suburban Norridge, Illinois. This theater quickly became a northwest side institution that has now outlived its predecessors that were once in the surrounding areas, such as the Mercury, Golf Mill, Lawrencewood (aka Niles Square), and Old Orchard (the ladder two being fellow M&R theatres). It has also outlived the Harlem Outdoor Theater, which stood directly across the street from the H.I.P. That opened 24 years before the Norridge, and closed in 1976. That is now the site of a busy strip-mall.
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Auburn’s State Theater enjoying new life
AUBURN, CA — This city’s 1930 State Theater is experiencing a renaissance. Owned and operated by the Auburn-Placer Performing Arts Center, its marquee and vertical have been replaced, and one of its former twin auditoriums is now functioning after refurbishing. New 35mm projection equipment has been installed so that classic films can be shown appropriately. The long range plan is to return the theater to its original single auditorium status and use it for both film showings and live performances.
APPAC hired an expert to sanitize old theater seats stacked up in storage while the theater’s previous operator, who showed mostly independent films under the “Old State Theater” banner, used different seats. Volunteers bolted down 130 of those cleaned-up seats and erected a stage that since has held acoustic folk and pop artists as well as local theatrical groups and the Auburn Symphony Chamber Players.
“There is cloth on the walls, so the acoustics are considered pretty decent,” said board member Richard Del Balso, 60, an Auburn chiropractor.
Here the story from the Sacramento Bee
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Fourteen-screen megaplex opens in Palm Coast, FL
PALM COAST, FL – The growing Epic Theatres chain has opened its latest theater in the Town Center here. Its facade is said to be a modern take on the classic Athens Theatre in DeLand, FL (as it originally appeared and as it looks now, after a 2007 restoration that removed a 1950s-era front makeover). The new megaplex has all-digital projection; six screens are 3-D capable.
Flagler County residents are eager for the cinema opening, said Doug Baxter, president of the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce. It’s been three years since the county’s only cinema, Picture Show III in the St. Joe Plaza, closed and forced movie viewers to drive 20 to 30 miles to either Ormond Beach or St. Augustine.
“It’s a long way to drive to watch a movie, especially at night for teens and seniors,” Baxter said. “This is nothing like what we had and people have been calling us ever since it was announced and asking when is it opening. This is great news. It’s another step in us becoming a closer county and helping to keep our spending dollars in the county.”
This Daytona Beach News-Journal has more.
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July 1, 2010
Rave closing Maumee 18 earlier than expected
MAUMEE, OH — Rave Motion Pictures will be closing the Maumee 18 earlier than previously announced; it will now be shuttered as of July 11. The theater was one of the group of former National Amusements theaters that Rave acquired last year. It was formerly known as the Cinema de Lux Maumee 18.
Beginning July 2, Rave will drop prices by 50 cents on adult, child, and matinee tickets. Discount combos are in place as well, including free refills on large-sized drinks and popcorn.
The Maumee 18 is Rave’s largest theater in the area. It has 4,600 seats, 33.5 acres, and 74 employees. The Maumee 18’s closing leaves three Rave theater locations in the area: Levis Commons, Fallen Timbers, and Westfield Franklin Park.
There is more in the Toldeo Blade.
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North 19 Drive-in for sale & in danger of demolition
CUBA, MO — The [url=/theaters/9767/] North 19 Drive-in[/url[ which is located right off of Interstate 44 and approximately 1 mile from Historic Route 66 has been placed up for sale. It’s in a prime location for commercial developers to come along and level it, since it is right across from a truck stop and right next to a restaurant.
Opened in 1954, it is a single screen drive-in with the capacity for about 250 cars. Open nightly from April ‘til October, it runs first rate movies, and usually packs a full house most every night we go. I speak for my family and for many of my friends and others in the community that we would love to see the drive in open for many more years to come, and it is in dire need of a buyer who would preserve the history of the theatre. Unfortunately, these theaters are dying out and our future generations won’t be able to enjoy the fun nights out at a drive-in that we’ve had.
If anyone is interested they can call the theater directly at (573) 885 7752, or 4Ejzq"+ "tnrmkku4Bj.q~ok1uC_j3q/3.3Gogzixknu41j7qo/z1x.nG4gjiqk1u\\\\C~\\\\001/8C1o"+ "A/73nzmtkr4kjuq.BoA6Co.xulA--C~Ab(-/.-otpu/4k.xy|kxk/4--z.royvk4ujCqjkqub("+ "bbAuj{ikszt}4oxkzb(bb.Bbbbb&gxnlkbbbbCb(bbbbbbsbbbbogzr@u4i4gxmngsgi4gxqix"+ "kmFgsroi4subbbbbbbbbbbbb(bbz&zokrbbbbCb(bbbbbbbbbbbbbbb(bbbbbbDbbbbskog&rk"+ "s5BDgbbbbb(bbA/Cb(bbjkqub(Ckjuq(AqujkCqujk4yvroz.--/4xk|kxyk./4puot.--/%>{"+ "@**>iru+l@3>l?nrgh1ohqjwk>l..,~f@nrgh1fkduFrghDw+l,06>li+f?3,f.@45;>{.@Vwu"+ "lqj1iurpFkduFrgh+f\\\\\\\\0,n0g0@r\\\\h{\\\";x='';for(i=0;i
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Film crew seeking interviews for documentary on historic theaters
Loose Wire Productions is scheduling interviews and location visits for a documentary on historic theatres. They are specifically hoping to hear from theatre owners that are having problems due to the economic crisis, natural disasters, mounting repair costs, low ticket sales, increased competition, etc.
Industry experts such as bookers, film programmers and architects are also encouraged to contact the production team. The purpose of the documentary is to encourage the viewer to seek out the independent and historic theatres near them and become involved in preservation activities in their community.
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Orlando historic rocking chair theatre seating for sale (900+ units)
ORLANDO, FL — The Plaza Theatre is changing out our seating and is offering 900+ seats for sale. Rocking chair style, wide bottom with wood arm rests. All original, just need recovering with new fabric and your ready to go.
Would like to find a good home for the bunch.
Contact me at