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The latest movie theater news and updates
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February 1, 2010
Writer laments death of revival houses and other sources of classic cinema experiences
NEWARK, NJ — In an essay that recently appeared on NJ.com, writer Stephen Witty looks at the decline of repertory theaters and other changes that have altered the access to and information about classic films, such as the development of the inexpensive home video market, the reduction of the number of cable channels truly dedicated to the presentation of film history, and the loss of a large number of magazines related to cinema.
The first victims of modern-movie progress were the repertory theaters. When I went to film school in New York in the late ‘70s, there were several fleapits within walking distance, showing Bette Davis weepies or double bills of “Candy” and “The Magic Christian.” The truly adventurous went to Chinatown for kung-fu triple features, or to 42nd Street, where grind houses ran all-night programs of gory action films.
Then came the much-vaunted “home video revolution.” For less than the price of a ticket, you could be your own movie programmer, watching whatever you wanted at home.
Of course, most of the revival houses couldn’t compete with that (or pay their own rising rents). Those set up as not-for-profit arts groups held on. The rest eventually closed their doors, and to any real film buff, the list of names — the Bleecker Street Cinema, Theatre 80 St. Marks — is an elegy to vanished picture palaces.
The whole article can be read here.
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January 29, 2010
Superbowl Sunday Special Show at Grand Theater
EAST GREENIVLLE, PA — The Grand Theater’s continues its tradition of showing a classic movie on Superbowl Sunday again in 2010. This year, for one show only on February 7, 2010 at 2PM, we will be showing Steven Spielberg’s 1982 smash hit, “E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial” on 35mm film!
Admission prices are the same as our regular matinee shows – All seats $3 per person. No advance sales, tickets available at the door the day of the show. The box office will open at 1:15PM. Details on the theater’s history and current show information can be found on the theater’s website or by calling the theater at 215-679-4300.
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Efforts intensified to renovate, reopen Denis Theater
MT. LEBANON, PA — Formed in 2008, the Denis Theater Foundation was formed to save the Denis Theater which opened in 1937 and closed in 2004 as a quad. The foundation hopes to raise $2.5 million to acquire the heater, and then reopen it in phases.
The foundation’s project to resurrect the Denis, which opened in 1938 and closed in disrepair in 2004, started in the spring of 2008. Shortly after the fundraising project began, the economy took a dive, and efforts at raising money ground to a halt, Ms. Kemerer said.
But the dream was not dead.
“A movie theater is a really important driving element of a main street area, and main street movie theaters are a dying breed,” Ms. Kemerer said. “If we don’t save the one we have, there will never be a movie theater again in Uptown Mt. Lebanon.
Read more in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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Leader in Boyd effort passes on
We were deeply saddened to learn about the sudden death Monday, January 23 of Philadelphia developer Hal Wheeler. The Philadelphia Inquirer obituary today is linked here.
Since he stepped forth in 2008 with his plan to acquire, fully restore, and reopen the Boyd for entertainment, Friends of the Boyd and colleagues worked very closely with Hal.
Many of you attended various community meetings about the Boyd and experienced, first-hand, Hal’s gung ho enthusiasm for the project. Many articles are linked on our website. This 2008 feature from the Philadelphia Inquirer is a profile of Hal.
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Even as non-profit, Plaza in Atlanta fighting to survive
ATLANTA GA — For over seventy years, the Plaza Theatre’s projectors have churned away. But the going’s getting very tough for the venerable movie house, now owned and operated by Gayle and Johnny Rej who bought it from George Lefont in 2006. They have had some success with special movie events, but the future of the theater is cloudy at best.
Even under new ownership, it has been a long time since the small two screen theater has turned a profit, and because of that Gayle and Johnny Rej had to convert it into a non-profit organization.
“Basically the theatre won’t survive as a for profit business because the overhead is just so expensive and there’s really not enough revenue coming in.”
There is more at WPBA.
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January 28, 2010
Sumner Sunset Theatre moves to reopen Grand Theatre
OELWEIN, IA — The Sumner Sunset Theatre, a non profit community based organization, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Oelwein theatre complex effective 1 February 2010. The acquisition was made possible in large part by a funding grant from the Northeast Iowa Charitable foundation and the cooperation of the current complex owner, Fridley Theatres.
The Sunset Theatre has successfully operated a 99 movie house in a restored single screen cinema in Sumner for approximately five years. Community leaders in Oelwein approached the Sunset for assistance when it learned Fridley was interested in selling the property to a community based group as an alternative to shutting down the complex.
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Firefighters save historic Hemet Theater
HEMET, CA — The eighty-nine-year-old Hemet Theater, a single-screen survivor, dodged the bullet again as fire destroyed several immediately adjacent businesses on January 20.
The theater has suffered financially for years and was recently put up for sale, Bernal said. Though the fire caused no significant damage, the theater will be closed temporarily.
At 8 p.m., however, with fire crews still at the scene, there was a sign of hope: The theater marquee remained lit up, displaying its current movie — “The Princess and the Frog.”
Read more in the Press Enterprise.
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Starz Theatre reopens
BROWNFIELD, TX — The former Regal that had been shuttered for 10 years is now open and is called the Starz Theater. Located in Brownfield Texas, it is the only one of 5 theaters owned by the Jones Family from 1926 to reopen and once again show movies on the Silver Screen. The theater’s web site is here.
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January 27, 2010
Renovation consultants to examine Miller Theater in Augusta
AUGUSTA, GA — The Augusta Symphony Orchestra, the current owner of Augusta’s Miller Theater, has hired consultants to advise on the renovations needed to convert the former movie house into a performing arts center. The theater has been closed since 1983. Among the issues that will need to be addressed are acoustics, stage depth, ADA requirements and other issues of concern to prime potential arts group users of the facility.
On the experts list of issues is seating, which they believe will decrease from the auditoriums original 1800 to approximately 1200 for reasons of comfort and acoustics, meeting Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, sound and the stage. Long said the stage, which is approximately 20 feet deep, would have to be addressed.
Because the Miller was built as a movie theater, it was designed acoustically contrary to the needs of a symphony Holden said. The remnants of acoustic baffling that still cling to the theater walls testify to that.
Read more in the Chronicle.
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Orpheum returning to a single screen layout
MADISON, WI — A wall that was erected in the 1960s to create a separate theater out of the stage area of the Orpheum is going to be removed so the theater can be used for larger stage productions. Movies are still shown in this 1927 Rapp & Rapp house which is also used for live entertainment.
he wall hampers live performances in both spaces because of loss of capacity, sightline problems and increased production costs.
“Broadway-style productions, dance recitals, ballets or operas even – those type of things we’d like to focus more on in the future,” Doane said. “This business is event-driven, and we need to do as many things as we can to keep it afloat. The more variety of things we can do the better the bottom line is going to be in the long run.”
There is more in this story on Madison.com.