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The latest movie theater news and updates
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April 19, 2010
IMAX expanding installations in France
PARIS, FRANCE — IMAX has signed an agreement with Gaumont-Pathé, operator of the EuroPalace theather chain, to install IMAX-branded screens in Paris, Lyon, Rouen, and Toulose.
“It is clear to us that there is a strong demand for The IMAX Experience in France, particularly with the new catalog of movies like ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Avatar’ and Alice in Wonderland,‘” EuroPalaces’ managing director Franck Lebouchard said.
EuroPalaces boasts 74 movie theaters and 747 screens in France in addition to locations in the Netherlands and in Switzerland.
The full story is in the Hollywood Reporter.
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April 16, 2010
Two theaters in Rexburg to become one
REXBURG, ID — Rexburg’s Holiday Triplex and the neighboring Paramount Twin will be merged to create the Paramount Five.
Andrews says he hopes the remodel will save the theater money and improve the movie viewing experience for its customers.
“What it does is allow us to have everything out of one central area so they can come to one place to eliminate a lot of the confusion people have had what movie is in which building,” said Andrews.
The renovated cinema will undergo a remodel and expansion of its lobby as well as a reseating of three of its auditoriums.
The story is here in the Local 8 News.
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Changes coming to Austin’s art house scene: new theater planned; Landmark exiting
AUSTIN, TX — This fall, two major changes will occur that may significantly impact the exhibition of independent and foreign films in Austin. A new four-screen theater with upscale amenities will be opening in the downtown area in December. To be called the Violet Crown Cinema, it is being co-developed by Bill Banowsky, former CEO of Landmark Theatres, and owner of the Magnolia Theater in Dallas. Landmark, which currently operates the Dobie Theatre will not be renewing its lease on that theater when it expires. New operators are being sought for the Dobie.
Serving bar food and craft cocktails, offering free validated parking and showing the latest art, foreign and independent films, the Violet Crown Cinema is being billed as a boutique “cafe cinema” that will “bring the art house movie experience to a level it’s never achieved,” said Bill Banowsky, Violet Crown’s owner and operator.
The Violet Crown will be on the second floor of the AMLI on 2nd apartment building in Austin’s Second Street district, a growing nexus of upscale shopping, dining and downtown living. The planned 8,000- to 10,000-square-foot space will have a full-service bar, concession stands, a lounge that can seat about 100 people and a balcony overlooking Second Street that can accommodate about 50 people.
There is more detail at Austin360.com.
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Saved from fire, Hemet Theatre in need of restoration funds
HEMET, CA — The 1921 single-screen Hemet Theatre, which was saved in January from a fire that destroyed three next door businesses, is closed and its re-opening likely to be delayed for quite some time. Fund-raising events are in progress, and the owner is selling his vintage film poster collection.
The single-screen movie house on Florida Avenue in downtown Hemet suffered smoke and water damage in the Jan. 20 fire that destroyed three adjacent businesses. The concrete used in its construction in 1921 prevented the flames from consuming the theater, but the screen and many of the seats were damaged.
A second fundraiser to benefit the theater is planned for May 16 at Sweet Baby Janes, a barbecue restaurant at 124 S. Harvard St. in Hemet. The restaurant donated 30 percent of its proceeds from a fundraiser in March to the effort to restore the theater.
The full story is in the Press-Enterprise.
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Christie 35mm equipment for sale
We have a Christie Autowind 3 platter system for sale along with its rewind table. I have photos upon request. Equipment is working and in great shape. for more information.
Thanks
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April 15, 2010
Westport struggles to bring back local theater
WESTPORT, CT — Trying to recapture the downtown’s excitement from the past and build a foundation for the future, Westport citizens are rallying to bring a cinema to town.
Forty years ago, Westport had five movie theaters in town. Four of these movie theaters were in the downtown area- one was owned by the local Joselloff family- and another was dedicated to foreign films.
Today, none of these movie theaters exist. There are theaters located in Norwalk, Fairfield, Wilton, and even Bridgeport; Westport’s five no longer stand. The disappearance of these theaters has had an almost irreversible effect on Westport.
Steinberg’s group, which is currently trying out names such as The Westport Film Community Without a Home, is trying to bring a theater back to Westport, and therefore bring back downtown nightlife.
Read more in Inklings News.
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Phase I bids finalized for Lebowsky Center rebuilding
OWOSSO, MI — The Owosso Community Players have finalized bids for Phase I of the rebuilding of the Lebowsky Center which is the rebuilding of the walls and roof of the fire-gutted theater. Construction is expected to begin in a couple of weeks with the planned completion date of September 1. Phase II which involves interior work is not expected to begin until next year.
The first phase of construction is slated to be finished by Sept. 1, a deadline imposed by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, which provided a $350,000 Vibrant Small Cities Initiative grant for the rebuild effort.
The total cost for the first phase of construction is expected to end up about $700,000, with a loan obtained by the OCP covering the remaining costs not paid by the MSHDA grant.
More details are in the Argus Press.
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April 14, 2010
Classic film series at Nickelodeon Aptos Cinema
APTOS, CA — Nickelodeon Theatres, based out of Santa Cruz, CA., is presenting classic movies on the big screen at our Aptos location about 10 minutes south of Santa Cruz.
The calendared series got its start in mid-March with “Rebel Without a Cause” and attendance has grown week by week with “Citizen Kane” and last week’s “Lawrence of Arabia”.
The current calendar has three remaining titles – “Casablanca”, “The Searchers” and “Roman Holiday”. With the success of the first set of films a second set is on the way featuring “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”, “A Shot In The Dark”, “On The Waterfront”, “You Only Live Twice” and several others.
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Plans for movie theater in Chicago’s Block 37 still stymied
CHICAGO, IL — Although negotiations to open a cinema in Chicago’s Block 37 are still ongoing, the chances for success appear dim. The major issues involve construction costs and rent and the complications wrought by the ongoing property foreclosure proceedings.
“I really would love to do a theater,” said Whalen in an interview with the Tribune. “But given the uncertainty of whether Bank of America and the other lenders would fund the required tenant allowance to construct a theater, at some point, we have to move on.”
Muvico Entertainment LLC, one of the first tenants to agree to lease space at the long-troubled retail development in 2007, initially pulled out of the project last June, setting off a string of events that led Bank of America to move to foreclose on Block 37 developer Joseph Freed and Associates in late October.Read more in Chicago Breaking Business.
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Spokane’s independent theaters struggle to get current films
SPOKANE, WA — Independent theaters in Spokane (and other cities) are facing increasing challenges in securing both current releases and independent films due to a number of factors. The large chains dominate the distribution of major films, and there are fewer prints available of art and independent films.
The Garland Theater’s only crime is selling movie tickets for $3.50. For that, they suffer.
“They categorize us,” owner Kathy Fritchie says. Labeled a “third-run” movie theater, most distributors refuse to give the Garland movies until after Regal and AMC have finished.
Studios make their money by taking a percent of movie profits. It makes sense that they’d rather get a chunk of $8 instead of $3.50. To receive films the day of release, all Garland would have to do is raise its prices — but then it wouldn’t be the Garland, would it?The whole story is can be read here in the Inlander.