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The latest movie theater news and updates
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November 29, 2009
LAHTF: “Insider’s Peek #1 - Fox Theatre, Inglewood, CA”
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November 25, 2009
Amigo Theater in Bemidji gets additional screen, new name
BEMIDJI, MN — The former Amigo nine-screen multiplex has become the the Bemidji Theater with ten. New amenities include a larger concession area, new seating throughout, and other renovations.
“People will really like the theater,” said manager Duane Black. “It’s a well-deserved update. It was a long time coming,”
Black said lobby area is considerably larger and the 72-foot concession area will help streamline congestion-three times larger. A time saver will be the self-serve pop machines, he said.
The full story can be read in theBemidji Pioneer.
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Historic Ridgewood Theatre Received Landmark Hearing, But No Vote Taken - Call LPC!
RIDGEWOOD, NY — In March 2009, the shuttered Ridgewood Theatre (55-27 Myrtle Ave) was granted a public hearing by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, to determine its eligibility as a NYC Individual Landmak (facade): http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/press/09-03_lpc_to_hear_5_designation_proposals.pdf Patrons, preservation & cultural groups, and residents citywide were delighted. Testimony was diverse and positive, and also included written testimony from the Thomas A. Lamb, the great-grandson of America’s foremost theater architect, Thomas W. Lamb, who designed the Ridgewood Theatre in 1916 in the Classical Revival style. The Ridgewood Theatre was boasted as “America’s longest continuously operating first-run theater” when it closed suddenly in March 2008. Shortly after, Michael Perlman, Queens VP of the Four Borough Preservation Alliance Corp, organized the Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre group, serving as Chairman.
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Branson Meadows Cinemas reopen
BRANSON, MO — Closed since late September, the 11-screen Branson Meadows Cinemas have re-opened, now operated by IMAX Entertainment Complex, which owns the IMAX Elite Cinema III, also in Branson.
The 11-screen multiplex has been closed since Sept. 25 when previous operator, Novacinetech, closed the doors after a decade in business at the shopping center on Gretna Road. While the IMAX Elite Cinema III kept movie buffs entertained in the months that have passed, representatives knew they were missing out on a very large market.
“Though we’ve always maintained that the Elite Cinema III offers customers the best movie-going experience in southwest Missouri, having only three movie screens for thousands of locals and millions of visitors simply wasn’t enough,” said Becky Blair, director of advertising, marketing and sales. “The loss was felt immediately by our entire community.”
Read the story in the Branson Daily News.
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Casino Theater for Sale
WARE, MA — The Casino Theater in downtown Ware in central Massachusetts is for sale. Built about 1909 and divided into two screens, it operated sucessfully in recent years until the manager/projectionist retired. It needs some work, but could be returned to operating condition relatively quickly.
Contact Fred at – Ron Salters
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Fox Cineplex in Banning, CA gets $1.3 million makeover
BANNING, CA — Built as the Banning Theater in 1928 and later named the Fox Banning, the Fox Cineplex has a a very thorough renovation, increasing handicapped access, improving the concessions area, and replacing the screens and sound system.
Frydrych said he believes the renovated movie theater will bring more people and new businesses to downtown.
“This is the jewel of Banning,” he said.
Work on the movie theater began in late August. Frydrych said workers might need to touch up the paint or do some additional grouting in the immediate future, but “nothing that will distract from the show.”
The full story is in thePE News.
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November 24, 2009
Moving seats at Emagine
Already rolled out in other markets of the country, Emagine is about to get D-Box motion seats.
Movie-goers who catch a flick at any of the four Emagine movie theaters (in Canton, Novi, Woodhaven and Birch Run) will soon be able to move with the movie while sitting in their seats.
According to MetroMode, the Metro Detroit-based theater company is installing seating from the company D-Box, which provides seats that move along with whatever is happening on screen.
Read more at MLive.
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New triplex opens in Nephi
NEPHI, UT — There hasn’t been an operating movie theater in this town about 75 miles south of Salt Lake City since the Venice Theater closed in 1983. The new Salt Creek Cinemas opened last month.
Ground was broken for the new theater in February of 2009. At the time, owners were worried about starting a new business in such a bad economy, especially an expensive business like a movie theater.
Steve Robison, another of the owners of Salt Creek Cinemas, said movie theaters typically do well in tough times. But he was still a little nervous.
Now, after being open for about five weeks, Robison said they’re breaking about even. He thinks “New Moon” will put them over the top for a while.
The full story can be read at KSL.
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Big Flicks at Paramount
RUTLAND, VT — In an area starving for a movie theater, citizens are getting the best of both worlds with a new lease on life at the Paramount with the Big Flicks film series.
When the area lost its only movie theater a month ago, a concerned group offered a solution: Instead of going to a new theater to watch new movies, why not go to an old theater to watch old movies?
And so, Big Flicks at the Paramount was born.
While the timing may be fortuitous, the planning has been ongoing for months. Fitted with a gigantic new screen and state-of-the-art projection and sound equipment, the Paramount Theatre is ready to display motion pictures for the first time in nearly 35 years.
Read the full story in the Rutland Herald.
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November 23, 2009
Cinemajestic to redo LaPorte’s movie house
LA PORTE, IN — Some new life is coming to the former La Porte Cinema.
Cinemajestic will invest more than $100,000 into the former LaPorte Cinema building, which hadn’t undergone a major upgrade since opening in 1979, said Neil O'Connor, owner of the building.
O'Connor said the outdated four screen facility should be just as modern as the new movie houses that feature stadium seating and larger screens with the latest in visual effects.
Read more in the South Bend Tribune.