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The latest movie theater news and updates
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June 24, 2010
Ritz Theatre in Gautier, MS becomes Gulf Coast Cinema 5
GAUTIER, MS — After a brief closure for a thorough refurbishment, the former Ritz Theatre in the Singing River Mall has re-opened under new management as the Gulf Coast Cinema 5.
Carpet in the lobby was removed and replaced with tile. New carpeting was installed throughout the 1,000-seat theater.
“We shampooed all the seats until we get some new seats,” he said.
The full story is here.
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Restoration of marquee to be first step in reopening Zoe Theater
PITTSFIELD, IL — As an initial move in the effort to eventually restore and reopen the 1951 Zoe Theater, closed since 1987, the Zoe Preservation Society has begun a membership drive and other fund-raising efforts to restore the theater’s distinctive marquee and have it in use by Christmas of this year. The long range plan is to restore the theater completely and return it to use as a cinema and as a venue for other community events.
While the theater isn’t ready for movies yet, the organization is hoping to get its marquee up and running, possibly “as a Christmas present to the community,” said Dan Long, the preservation society’s secretary.
“The Zoe marquee is the diamond on the square,” Long said. “We’re wanting to buy letters for the sign and do other work on the marquee.” Letters for the marquee could be used to send birthday, anniversary and other special greetings, Long said.
Here is the story from the Journal-Courier.
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Orpheum’s summer series offers range of audience favorites
MEMPHIS, TN — A series of classic and other films dubbed “new classics” will be shown this summer at the 1928 Rapp & Rapp Memphis Orpheum. Selections include “Mary Poppins,” “The Godfather,” “Caddy Shack,” “The Sound of Music,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “E.T.,” and others.
“All of our films are classic films, some are certainly from the Golden Age of film, but even some like ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ or ‘Top Gun’ are on their way to being classic films,” said Kanette Rodgers, vice president of marketing and public relations for The Orpheum.
For more than 12 years, the theater has offered its film series, mostly of crowd-pleasing family favorites, though some have more of an edge to them. Rodgers said audiences who return year after year for the films typically determine the next year’s lineup.
The full story is in the Memphis Daily News and the full schedule is here.
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June 23, 2010
Cricket Theatre restoration
COLLINSVILLE, AL — The Historic Cricket Theatre was recently purchased by The Collinsville Historic Association. A major restoration process is now underway.The Annual Collinsville Quilt Walk Sept 24 & 25, 2010 will feature progress tours of the restoration. The Annual Collinsville Turkey Trot Nov 13, 2010 will be a major event this year with proceeds going to fund the restoration of The Cricket Theatre.
The New Collinsville Library was the first restoration project for the town beginning in 2002, with completion and opening in 2009. Updates can be viewed on Collinsville Alabama Net. All donations can be accepted through The Collinsville Historic Association, PO Box 849, Collinsville, AL 35961.
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Crandell Theater in Chatham to reopen in July
CHATHAM, NY — Closed since its owner, Anthony Quirino, died in January, the 1926 Crandell Theater will reopen and be operated by the Chatham Film Club, a not-for-profit group. The group was mentored by Mr. Quirino. Two local restauranteurs acquired the theater and then gave the the theater to the film club.
See, the Chatham Film Club was supposed to take over the Crandell. Quirino had planned for years to sell the theater to the group, which last year launched a fundraising campaign for the purchase and a subsequent renovation. Ready to retire, Quirino was even teaching the club’s members about the theater business — and about all those Crandell quirks and crannies.
“When he died suddenly, we were not yet at the point where we had negotiated a purchase agreement with him,” said Sandi Knakal, president of the club, which runs an annual film festival at the Crandell. “We were in limbo at that point.”
Say goodbye to the limbo: The film club is hoping to open the 530-seat theater on July 9.
Read the full story in the Times Union.
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Former Regal theater to reopen as The Edge cinemas
BIRMINGHAM, AL — Closed since 2006, the former Regal Festival Stadium 18 (the article says it was the Regal Festival 12), located in Birmingham’s Crestwood area, will reopen in early August after remodeling. It will be the second theater operated by Greenville-based Naos Entertainment and will now be known as The Edge cinemas.
Property owners, city officials and neighborhood leaders say the new theater can reinvigorate a commercial district that has seen more going out of business sales than grand opening parties in recent years. The shopping center is off Crestwood Boulevard and includes Home Depot and Burlington Coat Factory.
The only movie theater currently in the city is off U.S. 280. The other closest theaters are in Vestavia Hills, Hoover and Trussville.
There is more in AL.com.
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June 22, 2010
Bethesda Theatre to be auctioned
BETHESDA, MD — The 1938 art deco Bethesda Theatre will be auctioned off on June 29 as a result of its current owners defaulting on a mortgage. It was converted in the 1980s to a brew-and-view and still later to a live performance venue.
More recently, it underwent a $12 million renovation in 2007 by The Bozzuto Group, which received roughly $3.5 million in state and county funding and tax credits to build apartments above the theater.
Earlier this spring, the theater’s owners said that they were seeking assistance to help revitalize the struggling property.
Tom Baum, president of the Bethesda Cultural Alliance, which owns the theater, said their efforts to build up a subscription base fell short as the recession hit and entertainment spending slowed.
There is more in the Washington Post.
(Thanks to rex libris for providing the photo.)
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Tin Theater brings movies back to Burien
BURIEN, WA — It has been four decades since there was an operating cinema in this town, south of Seattle, but on June 19, Dan House will open the Tin Theater in a former tin shop next to his restaurant. The forty-two seat theater will screen an eclectic selection of films and cocktail service will be available.
Other residents of Burien have the same problem. “I didn’t start with a business plan in mind; I just thought people wanted it.”
House said that the idea of building a movie theater next to his restaurant has been in the back of his mind ever since he moved into the building, formerly home to the Hi-Line Tin Shop, in 2004.
The longest running business in Burien at the time, the tin shop featured a metal storage area that House thought would be “a great space for a theater.”
There is more in the Highline Times.
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June 21, 2010
35mm “Son of Godzilla” Screening at the Fourth Colonial Theatre SPOOKTACULAR - 7/31/10
KEENE, NH — Giant monsters once again return to the historic Colonial Theatre on Saturday, July 31st for a special 2PM matinee SPOOKTACULAR, featuring a rare 35mm screening of the 1967 Toho monster melee, “Son of Godzilla”.
In addition to the main feature, cast members of the NH-based horror host TV show SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL will appear on stage to introduce the film and conduct prize giveaways, featuring signed comics and original sketches by horror comics icon S.R. Bissette (who’ll be debuting a new comic at the event), as well as additional original sketches from students and alumni from the Center for Cartoon Studies in VT. Preceding the feature will be vintage monster movie previews, snack bar ads, and a cartoon.