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The latest movie theater news and updates
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June 21, 2010
Bryn Mawr, Denis Theatre restoration efforts efforts boosted by grants
BRYN MAWR, PA — The effort to transform the Bryn Mawr Theater into the Bryn Mawr Fim Institute will be significantly advanced by the award of $2.5 million in the form of a grant from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The theater, born in 1926 as the Seville, will eventually house three modern screening rooms though its classic facade and marquee will remain intact. There is more detail and pictures here.
Meanwhile, in Mt. Lebanon, PA the Denis Theatre Foundation recently received two grants totaling in excess of a quarter of a million dollars which will bring the Foundation very near its goal of acquiring the Denis Theatre built in 1937. The two-phase grand plan is rehabilitate the building with modern systems and an elevator and then operate the theater as a triplex. The story is here at Pittsburgh Live.com.
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Large film-related auction in Ithaca
ITHACA, NY — National Book Auctions, located in Ithaca, NY, will hold a special film, photography and art-related auction on June 27th that features the first session of the auction gallery’s art, film and photography-themed collections along with many select book and ephemera lots. Antique cameras and projection equipment will be offered along with artwork such as original paintings by Thomas Moran and William Merritt Chase. Rare books include a 1649 copy of Mathew Merian’s “Todten-Tanz” or “Dance of Death”, “Espiritual Que Trata De Los Malos” printed in 1574 (a book of Spanish mysticism banned during the Inquisition), and a 1677 printing of Hobbes' translation of “The Illiads and Odysses of Homer” and antique Arabic texts and manuscript leaves.
The antique cameras include brands such as Seneca, Zeninger, Graflex, Seroco and Tektronix, several antique folding bed models and many assorted lenses, film holders, plate holders and more. From the same collection, there will be offered an extensive library of photographic history and reference books. In addition, a selection of Kliegl studio lights and several antique original commercial Simplex film projectors that came to us from a New York theatre will be featured.
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June 18, 2010
“Jaws”… Happy 35th!
[b]HAPPY 35TH, “JAWS"
REMEMBERING THE ORIGINAL SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER ON ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARYCompiled by Michael Coate[/b]
Dedicated to:
Robert Shaw (“Quint”), 1927-1978
Charlsie Bryant (Script Supervisor), 1917-1978
John R. Carter (Sound), 1907-1982
Verna Fields (Film Editor), 1918-1982
Howard Sackler (Screenwriter), 1929-1982
Murray Hamilton (“Vaughn”), 1923-1986
Roger Heman, Jr. (Sound), 1932-1989
Manfred Zendar (Technical Advisor), 1907-1990
Chris Rebello (“Michael Brody”), 1963-2000
Lew Wasserman (Universal Chairman), 1913-2002
Peter Benchley (Screenwriter), 1940-2006
Roy Scheider (“Brody”), 1932-2008
Shari Rhodes (Location Casting), 1938-2009
Ned Tanen (Universal Executive), 1931-2009
David Brown (Producer), 1916-2010June 20, 1975…the day the modern summer blockbuster was born. (Or so goes the legend.)
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Lebowsky Center rebuilding is underway
OWOSSO, MI — While in Owosso, I stopped at the Lebowsky Center and took a few pictures. Before construction began, the utility companies removed the lines which were in the way of construction. As you can see from the corner shot, Park Street was closed alongside the theater to allow for construction equipment.
Installation of new steel was already underway and repairs to the stage house were already underway. Work on the storefronts on either side of the marquee was also underway as the doors and windows were removed. A sample wall was built alongside the existing wall along Park Street to show how similar the bricks will look.
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Storage cente opens at drive-in site
SPOKANE, WA — A new storage facility has spelled the end for the East Sprague Drive-In.
The new Valley complex has seven buildings on six acres protected by fencing; some inside units are wired and protected by sprinklers for optional use as offices.
The property is the former site of the East Sprague Drive-In Theater. For part of the 1960s it was the area’s largest outdoor drive-in.
Read more in the Spokesman Review.
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June 17, 2010
More voices weighing in on issue of theater ownership by studios
HOLLYWOOD, CA — It is probably too early to call it a movement, but more is appearing in print on the issue of studios once again operating their own theater circuits, as reported here on CT previously. Key points in the growing discussion include who gets to control the length of the theatrical distribution window, the effects of the explosion of technology that is seriously eroding the DVD market, and whether current market conditions warrant revisitation of the issues raised in 1948 Supreme Court decision that limited the ability of studios to operate movie theaters.
There is more in Variety.(reg rqr’d)
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Child-size 3D glasses for Toy Story 3 release
According to MSNBC, RealD Cinema will ship smaller sized 3D glasses for children 8 and younger in time for the release of Toy Story 3 in 3D on June 18th.
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Projection equipment for sale
I have a Century projector fitted with a Dolby pickup, Kni-tron 2k watt xenon lamphouse, and several lenses. Also there is an Alpha platter system, a prep table, and a Dolby CP50 sound processor.
Pick up in WPB, FL
for more infoRick
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June 16, 2010
Photos needed for forthcoming book on Neighborhood Theaters in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, LA — Announcing a book about New Orleans Movie Theaters
“There’s One in Your Neighborhood"
The History of the Neighborhood Theaters in New Orleans
is being written by 89-year-old Rene Brunet, the dean of the motion picture industry in Louisiana, and New Orleans historian and preservationist Jack Stewart. The 160-page, coffee table book will be released in November and is being published by Arthur Hardy Enterprises, Inc. Attention will be focused on 50 major neighborhood and downtown theaters, culled from a list of nearly 250 that have dotted the city’s landscape since the first "nickelodeon” opened in 1896 at 626 Canal Street. The book will be divided by neighborhoods and will open with a map and a narrative about each area. Each major theater will feature “then and now” photographs, historic information, and a short series of quotes from famous New Orleanians and from regular citizens who will share their recollections.YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
We are trying to acquire memorabilia and additional photos of New Orleans theater for this publication(deadline July 1). You will be credited in the book and receive a free autographed copy if we publish the picture that you supply. Please contact Arthur Hardy at or call 504-913-1563 if you can help.
Thank You
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Drive-In Super Monster-Rama, Sept 10-11, 2010
VANDERGRIFT, PA — For the fourth year in a row, we’ve brought back the fun in going to the drive-in, with another weekend of retro thrills! DRIVE-IN SUPER MONSTER-RAMA is two nights of classic horror and science fiction 35mm prints presented at an authentic drive-in movie theater. There will be two big shows on two consecutive nights which will start at dusk and go on until really late into the night! This is the fourth year in a row that we are hosting such an event, so we encourage all drive-in movie fanatics to travel from near and far, as you’re not going to find anything else like it, anywhere!
What could be better than a weekend getaway topped off with two nights of classic monster movies on the big outdoor screen? We realize that everything is so expensive these days, but admission is still only $10 a person each night! Plus, children 12 and under are free with parent or adult guardian. How can you beat that? The Riverside’s concession stand is loaded with reasonably priced goodies, including hot foods, hot and cold drinks, candy, popcorn and much more!
What is being shown and when?