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The latest movie theater news and updates
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January 13, 2010
Squatters may have caused fire in vacant Yonkers theater
YONKERS, NY — The shuttered Kimball Theatre was the victim of another fire, possibly due to squatters living in the abadoned building.
Fitzpatrick said the cause of the fire was unknown and under investigation, but he noted that the building’s gas and electricity have been cut off for years since a devastating, three-alarm fire on Nov. 16, 2004, that started in an adjacent laundromat.
That fire gutted the movie house — at the time a furniture store — and it caused other adjacent businesses to close.
In 2008 the Cottage International Development Group and Glenman Construction, both of Yonkers, reached out to city officials about developing a 200-unit housing complex at the site of the theater and adjoining plots of land.
Read more in the Journal News.
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Last True Neighborhood Theater in Los Angeles!
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Majestic Crest Theatre is for sale and is currently on the market.
The last true neighborhood theater in Los Angles! The Majestic Crest Theatre is featured in the opening montage of “The Tonight Show” with Conan O Brien! The Majestic Crest Theater has a flashing marquee that can cause seizures at night, the interior of this Westwood theatre makes you feel like you slipped on a banana peel and ended up smack dab in Golden Age Hollywood. With an enormous screen and great sound (that’s right – one screen), Majestic Crest Theatre hosts new release independent films with vim and vigor. When you’re sitting in your comfortable seats, don’t forget to look up and watch the stars, just don’t let them distract you. One of the countries longest running and last single screen movie theatres. Westwood' s Crest Theatre was originally built as a live theatre in 1939 by Frances Seymour Fonda, wife of Henry Fonda and mother of Peter and Jane Fonda. This unique venue is known for its landmark, hand painted murals depicting establishments from Westwood and Hollywood during the 1940s. The theater is currently operated by the existing owner, who would consider leasing back and continuing to operate the theater after a sale.
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New book on Portland theaters joins illustrated series
On January 1st, there was an article about a new book on Portland, Oregon theaters. The book is part of the “Images of America” series from Arcadia Publishing. This familiar, sepia-toned, soft cover series celebrates the history of America’s neighborhoods, cities and towns —– both large and small.
Portland’s history was marked by vigorous growth. This was due in part, according to the authors, to the Pacific Northwest’s often rainy weather. Individuals, seeking refuge, turned indoors and found entertainment. Portland eventually grew to have more theater seats per capita than other similar-sized cities in the United States.
As shown in this new book, Portland movie theaters came into their own in the early decades of the last century when short filmed segments were included in vaudeville programs at various downtown venues. By 1915, there were over 70 theaters showing films both downtown and in the neighborhood theaters found throughout the city.
The full article can be found in the Examiner.
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January 12, 2010
National Amusements sells Russian operations to Shari Redstone and equity firm
LOS ANGELES, CA — National Amusements, which recently sold off several dozen theaters to Rave Cinemas, is selling the five theaters it operated in Moscow and one in St. Petersburg to Shari Redstone and UFG Private Equity.
The Russian circuit, which Shari Redstone co-founded with Paul Heth in 2002 and has been her passion project, is made up of six theaters in Moscow and St. Petersburg, five of which are the top-grossing cinemas in Russia.
Redstone said she planned to aggressively expand the theater chain under its established Russian brand name Kinostar. Redstone, who bought the chain with Charles Ryan of UFG Private Equity of Russia, will be chairman of the new entity, and Heth will serve as president.
There is more in the LA Times.
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Memories and appreciation for having worked in a theater inspire woman to donate $125,000 to Auburn’s State Theater
AUBURN, CA — She did not do it for notoriety, but as a personal memorial to having worked in a movie theater during the Great Depression. Viola Wrigley recently gave $125,000 to the effort to restore Auburn’s State Theater as a performing arts center.
Wrigley, 93, worked at the Tulare County city of Exeter’s movie house as a girl during the Depression era.
Jobs were hard to come by and Wrigley started out as a flashlight-wielding usherette before graduating to trusted cashier at the family owned enterprise.
The money she earned helped put her through college in Visalia and sent her on her way into a successful design and business career that continues to this day.
There’s more in the Auburn Journal.
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Regal closing multiplex near Myrtle Beach, SC
MURRELLS INLET, SC — Regal Entertainment announced the closing of its twelve-screen theater in the Inlet Square Mall, south of Myrtle Beach. The theater chain claims that announced improvements to the mall were not made; the mall’s previous owner claims that Regal owes back rent.
The final day of operation for Regal Inlet Square 12 will be this Sunday, said Russ Nunley, vice president of marketing & communications for Regal Entertainment Group.
“We regret that our landlord’s announced improvements to the mall have not come to fruition,” he said. “Regal has terminated the lease due to the negative impact on our business from the stalled renovation project for the mall.”
Inlet Square has been in mid construction since late 2007, when a $4.5 million renovation stopped abruptly.
There’s more in the Sun News.
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January 11, 2010
Historic Ridgewood Theatre may earn Landmark Status on Jan 12, 2010 at LPC Public Meeting
RIDGEWOOD, NY — Queens' historic Ridgewood Theatre (55-27 Myrtle Ave) closed its doors in March 2008 without warning, but patrons & preservationists are now elated that the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission will hold a Public Meeting, where Commissioners will vote whether to designate the theater as Queens' newest Individual Landmark (façade). The Public Meeting for the Ridgewood Theatre (Agenda Item #3, LP-2325) is set for Tues, January 12, 2010 from 10:15 AM —– 10:25 AM at the Municipal Building, 1 Centre St, 9th Floor North, NY, NY 10007: http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/calendar/01_12_10.pdf
A hearing was held on March 24, 2009 as a result of a Request For Evaluation form and research, a letter campaign, a petition drive, and a MySpace Group coordinated by Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre, which was founded by Preservationist Michael Perlman after the theater’s closure in 2008. Testimony in support of Individual Landmark status was diverse and abundantly positive, and also included written testimony from Thomas A. Lamb, the great-grandson of Architect Thomas W. Lamb, who was tracked down by Chair Perlman. Co-owner Mario Saggese expressed his support for landmarking the façade, and also said the owners envision a historically-sensitive plan for the downstairs auditorium space consisting of retail to make it economically viable, with modern screens upstairs.
Opening its doors on December 23, 1916 and closing in March 2008, the Ridgewood Theatre was deemed “the longest continuously operating first-run neighborhood theater citywide, and potentially throughout the U.S.” It staged Vaudeville, silent films, saw the advent of photoplays, the first ‘100% All-Talking’ feature, Lights of New York (1928), & Technicolor. Its original seating capacity was 2,500, but currently contains 5 screens and seats 1,950.
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Century poised to fall
HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA — The Century Theatre is scheduled to be torn down today after years of deterioration.
Barring a last-minute miracle, the entire Century Theatre will come down as early as Monday, the city’s chief building official says.
John Spolnik, who is also director of building services for the city, said he spoke with the engineer hired by the historic buildings' owner after the engineer’s inspection yesterday.
To save the facade, which was the owners' development plan, would require an extensive design and stabilization process, he said. This would take too much time — time the city does not have because of safety concerns.
Read more in the Spectator.
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2010 America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places Nominations
Nominations are due by this Friday, January 15th, for the annual most endangered historic places list. Go to the National Trust site for more info.
America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has identified more than 200 threatened one-of-a-kind historic treasures since 1988. Whether these sites are urban districts or rural landscapes, Native American landmarks or 20th-century sports arenas, entire communities or single buildings, the list spotlights historic places across America that are threatened by neglect, insufficient funds, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy. The designation has been a powerful tool for raising awareness and rallying resources to save endangered sites from every region of the country. At times, that attention has garnered public support to quickly rescue a treasured landmark; while in other instances, it has been the impetus of a long battle to save an important piece of our history.
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Final call for entries - 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival
The 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival will screen over 350 feature length and short films. The 2010 NBFF will also host red carpet Opening and Closing Night Gala Celebrations, International Spotlight events, an Action Sports Film Series, an Environmental Film Series, a Family Film Series, a Collegiate Showcase, a Youth Film Showcase and a free Seminar Series. Come be a part of the 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival.
The FINAL deadline for film submissions to the 11th Annual Newport Beach
Film Festival is JANUARY 25, 2010.Submit your film at
*www.NewportBeachFilmFest.comhttp://www.newportbeachfilmfest.com/
*The Newport Beach Film Festival runs April 22-April 29, 2010!!