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The latest movie theater news and updates
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December 23, 2009
Non-profit group forms to assist Drexel Theater
BEXLEY, OH — The financially troubled Drexel Theatre in Bexley is being boosted by the newly formed Friends of the Drexel. Although closure of the art house’s three screens does not appear to be likely anytime soon, the group will explore making the theater a not-for-profit, renovation, and other options to ensure its viability.
Friends of the Drexel Inc. is being headed by Bexley resident Richard Stoff, president of the Ohio Business Roundtable.
“It opens all sorts of possibilities,” said Stoff, citing tax- exempt contributions and grants.
In May, the Franks met with supporters to discuss the theater’s difficulties — a result of the economy and a light slate of “good, solid art films,” Jeff Frank said at the time.
There’s more in this article from the Columbus Dispatch.
(Thanks to GManviz for providing the photo.)
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Casper greets new 10-screen multiplex
CASPER, WY — The new Studio City cinema is the sixth theater to be operated by Movie Palace Inc. The ten screens have all digital projection, and the theater’s design has a retro Art Deco feel. In addition to typical movie snack bar fare, the theater also offers White Castle “sliders.”
For now, Studio City at 5020 E. Second St. sits at the far corner of a big parking lot pretty much alone on a wind-swept plain. The new Olive Garden Restaurant, which will open in January, is just a bit farther east. New traffic signals are almost ready to handle the flow of traffic that will come to the new 10-screen theater, the restaurant and the other businesses that will fill the space.
The new east side location is the latest venture of Movie Palace Inc., a partnership of Randy Pryde, Mike Ito and Craig Hosey. The group’s first venture, the Rialto Movie Palace, was supposed to be the group’s only venture and the basis for the company name.
“We thought we’d only be doing one,” Pryde said. With the addition of Studio City, the group now has all six of Casper’s movie houses, with 30 screens showing a variety of first and second-run movies.
Read more in the Casper Journal.
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Ritz Theater gets grants for repairs
BRUNSWICK, GA — The Fox Theater Institute of Atlanta has awarded a $30,000 grant to this town’s historic Ritz Theater, and the city has matched it with an additional grant of the same amount. The funds will be used to replace badly deteriorated windows and other improvements. The Institute provides consultative services to theater restoration projects and funds two grant projects in Georgia each year.
During heavy storms last year, water ran from the Ritz Theatre’s top floor all the way to the ground floors. A third floor window frame disintegrated, letting its big glass pane crash to the floor.
It was clear. Repairs to the Ritz Theatre’s windows could not be delayed any longer.
Read more at Jacksonville.com.
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December 22, 2009
Landis Theater becoming performing arts center
VINELAND, NJ — The 1937 Landis Theatre is undergoing a $60 million transformation into a performing arts center. The theater closed in 1987 and was saved from demolition for a drug store. A recent article spotlights the construction work; the accompanying pictures suggest that while the exterior is being restored, the interior has been more or less gutted out for the new use.
“There isn’t a bad seat here,” Landis Theater Foundation President Lori DiMatteo-Fiocchi said, as she walked across the new stage. “It’s really wide.”
The orchestra pit is now apparent, the wooden stage is set, and the whole structure — complete with fly and wing space — provides a frame to the vision project developer Hans Lampart had when he first took on the revitalization project.
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Historic NC theater exhibits at Wilmington’s Cape Fear Museum and online
WILMINGTON, NC — The Cape Fear Museum is currently featuring a special exhibition entitled “Going to the Movies” through November 7, 2010. On display are photographs, a map of he theaters of Wilmington, movie handbills, and other artifacts. More information in the Star News.
Complementing the museum’s show, the library at the University of North Carolina has created an online presentation called “Going to the Show” which looks at movie-going through the years in North Carolina, including an interactive map showing theater locations, and a wealth of additional material. Clicking on locations marked by theater ticket stubs will bring up information about the theaters. The online exhibit can be seen here.
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First run movie theatre for sale in vibrant Vermont college town
3 screen, 298 seat, Vaudeville era stage. Vibrant college town in Vermont. Great cash flow, potential for more….. Financials provided to anyone serious. Please call (802)999-9077.
Thanks
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December 21, 2009
Historical group “shows some skin” in theater restoration effort
ST. ELMO, IL — Taking a cue from the recent British film “Calendar Girls,” mature members of the St. Elmo Historical Society recently posed for a “naughty” 2010 calendar. The proceeds from the calendar sales will benefit the Society’s efforts to preserve and restore the Elmo Theater which has been closed for many years.
It reads like a movie: A group of middle-aged — and older — small town residents decide to bare it all — almost — for a good cause. But for a St. Elmo group trying to get an old theater up and running again, its a real way for them to raise money and have some fun.
The St. Elmo Historical Society put together a calendar, featuring some of its members and others in the community seminude. The 2010 “Naughty but Nice!” calendar features women and men ranging in age from 40s to 70s, posing with strategically placed objects so as not to reveal too much. While the photos lack clothing, they are tastefully done, according to historical society member Jennieann Heischmidt, who is Ms. January.
Read more in the Effingham Daily News.
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Possible closure of Whitgift Film Theater by the end of January 2010
GRIMSBY, EAST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND — The Whitgift Film Theatre may have to close for good if they cannot find a sponsorship/financial backer very soon, by the New Year at the latest. This is due to falling numbers and a sad lack of interest by local business et al.
The running cost is at least £10,000 a year. If no backers come to hand quickly then the local little theatre will be no more on the 31st January, 2010. This shall end a 14-year run for the fully equipped cinema, which seats only 200. Calling the school asap on (UK number) (01472) 887 117 with offers would be beneficial. The best of luck to one and all…
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Apartments approved for University Cinemas site in Normal
NORMAL, IL — The days of the University Cinemas in Normal appear to be numbered. Currently operated by Carmike as a discount house, the construction of student apartments on the site has been approved by the planning commission.
A revised plan for student apartments at the University Cinemas site won the planning commission’s recommendation Thursday while a proposal for a Family Video and accompanying commercial building in north Normal was rejected.
A development group, 1010 S. Main LLC, wants to build six 2½-story, townhouse-style apartment buildings with a total of 220 bedrooms at the cinema site. The original plan called for one four-story, 350-bedroom building.
Read more in the Pantagraph.
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December 18, 2009
Ebert’s take on Avatar
Read the review here….Sun-Times Link
Notice near the end that Ebert went to see it in Digital 3D and not Liemax 3-D and says he wants to see it in true IMAX.
Cameron promised he’d unveil the next generation of 3-D in “Avatar.” I’m a notorious skeptic about this process, a needless distraction from the perfect realism of movies in 2-D. Cameron’s iteration is the best I’ve seen — and more importantly, one of the most carefully-employed. The film never uses 3-D simply because it has it, and doesn’t promiscuously violate the fourth wall. He also seems quite aware of 3-D’s weakness for dimming the picture, and even with a film set largely in interiors and a rain forest, there’s sufficient light. I saw the film in 3-D on a good screen at the AMC River East and was impressed. I might be awesome in True IMAX. Good luck in getting a ticket before February.