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The latest movie theater news and updates
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December 10, 2009
The past decade was SUPER, SUPER, SUPER (but not all of it was good!).
The decade is almost over! Reflecting on it, it would seem that we were bombarded with more sequels, remakes and CGI effects-driven-who-cares-about-a-good-story films than ever before. But I think if someone were to ask me what I’ll remember most about the movies between the years 2000 through 2009, I’d have to definitely say it was the decade of the SUPER COMIC BOOK HERO!
Not to say, of course, that the screen has not graced generations of moviegoers with legendary superheroes before – the 1930s and 1940s provided the weekly serial cliffhangers of Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and Batman. Max Fleisher gave us the best short Superman cartoons ever made.
For my generation (35+), the screen superhero had a fresh new beginning when Warner Brothers brought “Superman”(1978) to the big screen, and it was larger than life. Between 1978 and 1982, it seemed the screen super comic heroes were back in action, and it also included films like “Flash Gordon” (1980), “The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1980), "Superman II” (1981) and “Conan The Barbarian”(1982). The rest of the decade, unfortunately, brought super-disasterous results with turkeys like “Superman III & IV”, “Supergril” and “Conan the Destroyer”.
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Need about 500-600 decent, clean, gently used seats
Thanks for taking a moment to read this and comment if you have any direction here.
I’m reopening a three screen theater in the Midwest and am very much in need of 500-600 used seats. I am having plenty of luck finding used seats, but nothing that isn’t antiquated looking or just, not right. I’m being very particular about them because the theatre just closed and when it reopens it needs seats that don’t look anything like the seats that used to be in there. (which we installed in 1979 and never updated, reupholstered, or cleaner)
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Sony to broadcast World Cup matches in 3D next year
According to Engadget, Sony is teaming up with FIFA to broadcast 25 matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in 3D in theaters around the world, excluding North America.
Thankfully Sony will release a Bluray of highlights of the cup in 3D for 3d Bluray players later that year.
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December 9, 2009
Dallas Theatre closes
DALLASTOWN, PA — The current owners gave it a go, but low attendance and other factors have forced the Dallas Theater to close. The theater opened in 1927.
Dallastown didn’t know it was without a movie theater once again.
On Tuesday afternoon, film titles still lined the Dallas Theatre’s Main Street marquee. Last weekend’s showtimes hung out front. The only hint of a goodbye was a handwritten thank-you sign in the lobby beyond the locked doors.
Some residents knew things weren’t going well.
Read the whole story in the York Daily Record.
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Rave buying 35 theaters from National Amusements
DALLAS, TX – Thirty-five theaters currently operated by Sumner Redstone’s heavily indebted National Amusements will be acquired by Rave Motion Pictures, Inc. While the theaters involved in the deal have not yet been announced, they are believed to be all located out of National’s main markets of New York and New England.
Media mogul Sumner Redstone’s family movie theater chain National Amusements Inc. has reached an agreement to sell 35 theaters to Dallas-based exhibitor Rave Motion Pictures, people close to the matter confirmed.
Details of the deal, which is believed to include Los Angeles' Bridge: Cinema de Lux multiplex, are still being worked out, but the transaction is expected to be finalized in the next two weeks.
Redstone would probably use the proceeds from the sale to retire a portion of National’s debt, which was an onerous $1.46 billion until he announced plans in mid-October to sell nearly $1 billion in stock in the two media companies he controls, Viacom Inc. and CBS Corp.
Read more in the L.A. Times.
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Lebowsky Center owner gets break from the state
OWOSSO, MI — At the November 30 meeting of the Owosso City Council, city officials announced that the Michigan State Housing Development Authority has approved the extension of the Vibrant Small Cities grant to the Owosso Community Players giving them more time to use the grant money to help rebuild the fire-gutted Lebowsky Center.
During Monday’s City Council meeting, officials announced the Michigan State Housing Development Authority approved the city’s request to amend a Vibrant Small Cities grant to allow additional time for the reconstruction of the facility, which City Manager Joe Fivas said gives the city “the ability to move forward.”
According to the letter from MSHDA, the city must have an environmental review and execute a construction contract prior to April 30, 2010, and the expenditure and reimbursement of funds must occur prior to Sept. 30.
The full details can be found in the Argus-Press.
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Seats / Chairs needed at Globe Theatre
We are restoring the single screen Globe Theatre in Bertram, TX, and would like to find some discounted new or used seating. The count would be 200-250 seats. Any offers, contacts, or help would be appreciated.
Also, we have some old 35mm Kaplan arc projectors that we would be willing to sell or trade if anyone is interested.
Contact: Lance Regier
Phone: 512-627-3962
Email: -
December 8, 2009
Christie’s DLP Cinema notches another customer win
CYPRESS, CA — Christie, the world leader in digital cinema projection, was selected by Movie Palace, Inc., as the exclusive digital cinema provider for its new all-digital Studio City Stadium 10, a 10-screen classic multiplex theatre in Casper, Wyoming. It is the second Movie Palace theatre in Casper to use Christie digital projectors. The company has also installed the Christie CP2000 series projectors — the world’s most popular digital cinema projector — in its other locations in Cheyenne and Rock Springs, Wyoming.
“We chose Christie based on three key criteria: reliability, brightness and customer service. Since we built our reputation on presenting high quality images on the screen and providing the best service in the community, we depend on the flawless performance and customer care that Christie products and their staff provide us,” remarked Randy Pryde, president of Movie Palace.
Pryde noted that Movie Palace plans to equip all their locations with Christie DLP Cinema projectors. “Offering the brightest and most reliable products in the industry, Christie greatly enhances our customers' movie viewing experience,” he observed.
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State Theater in Woodland, CA may be ripe for revitalization
WOODLAND, CA — Passed over in recent years as a target for regeneration, prospects for a revitalized State Theater, a 1937 S. Charles Lee design, may be brightening. A recent article looks at some recent events the may be pointing toward the city’s taking a fresh look at the State, and notes how other theaters in some other California have been restored when vision, planning, civic determination, and the right mix of public and private funding are in place.
The State, situated on Main Street between Walnut and Elm, has – up until just recently —– been ignored by the City of Woodland as “closed session” discussions focused on locating Main Street theater complexes between Third and Fourth (north of Main) and between Fifth and Sixth (south of Main). Both the Third Street plan and the Fifth Street plan were connected to the New Woodland Courthouse (to be built by the State of California) and the associated ill-fated downtown garage (that the city was gung-ho to build for the courthouse).
But now that the Golden State seems settled to build their new courts at the Fifth Street site and now that the city’s downtown garage project has died on the vine, there seems to be a shift in redevelopment prioritization – possibly giving our neglected State Theatre a chance to glow once again in the historic downtown.
Read the full story in the Woodland Record.
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For Sale: Strong-Ballantyne AP3 Platter System
Strong-Ballantyne AP3, 3-deck Platter System.
Platter system tested and just pulled from working condition. We have tested this platter in the warehouse and is already packed and ready for shipping. The system comes with center rings and feed plates (brains). We guarantee satisfaction!
Prices:
Non-Profits: $900.00 + Shipping (must send 990)
For-Profits: $1,200.00 + Shipping