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The latest movie theater news and updates
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November 18, 2009
New Chattanooga multiplex emphasizes eco-friendliness
CHATTANOOGA, TN — The new Carmike Majestic 12 near this city’s revitalized riverfront, boasts the amenties characteristic of a number new theaters – enhanced food selection, a VP viewing room, and plush seating. In addition, the theater used recycled materials in its construction, and uses electricity from solar panels, and collected rainwater in its plumbing and in landscaping maintenance. This theater is a replacement for the Carmike’s Bijou Cinema 7 which has closed.
Carmike Cinemas Inc. and the RiverCity Co. went beyond creature comforts and high-tech gadgetry to build and open a theater that they claim is an environmental first. The Columbus, Ga.-based theater company’s Majestic 12 opened last weekend, just a short walk from Chattanooga’s redeveloped riverfront and the Bijou 7 it is replacing.
U.S. Green Building Council spokeswoman Ashley Katz said Carmike has applied for LEED certification for the 70,000-square-foot building.
Read more in this item from the Associated Press.
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November 17, 2009
Triplex in Le Mars closed, for sale
LE MARS, IA — The family-owned Royal T III has been closed and is up for sale in this town, about 25 miles northeast of Sioux City. The theater has been operating for over 75 years. The owners want to focus on their other theaters and are working with a local historical preservation group to preserve the building’s character.
“There are potential investors looking at taking it over,” said Patrick Johnson, who manages the theater with his wife Sara.
His father Terry “T.J.” Johnson has owned it for the past three decades.
“Hopefully it won’t be too long,” Patrick said.
His family decided to sell the Le Mars movie theater a few months ago.
Read more in the Le Mars Daily Sentinel.
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Motion Picture Heritage liberates Hollywood Theater
DORMONT, PA — The Hollywood Theatre. was in danger of being mothballed when local councilman John Maggio had an idea. He reached out to Motion Picture Heritage who had just finished re-fitting a drive-in in Shelbyville, Indiana to come on board to bring the Hollywood back to life. MPH had just done the unthinkable, they had implemented a low cost digital projection system for use in a drive-in, total cost $10,000. The principals of MPH fell in love with the Hollywood, a 400 seat theatre in the green South Hills of Pittsburgh. August 1st, the theatre came to life again featuring over 6 new titles every week.
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Boulder to get new art house cinema
BOULDER, CO — Boulder has been without a dedicated theater specializing in art, foreign, and independent cinema since Landmark closed the Crossroads Cinema there in 2007. Now, thanks to a benefactor’s gift, a new art cinema will be created in a former TV studio space at the Dairy Center for the Arts.
Officials with the Dairy Center on Wednesday announced their plans to build a state-of-the-art, single-screen movie theater dedicated to independent and art film in the space that used to house Boulder’s cable access studio.
They hope to break ground on the project this spring and open in time for the holidays in 2010.
Read more in the California Chronicle.
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November 16, 2009
Moore Family Theaters provide alternative to impersonal theater management
EAST GRAND FORKS, MN — In “Citizen Kane,” the protagonist thinks it would be fun to run a newspaper; over 25 years ago, driving by a for sale theater in Blackduck, Bob and Jan Moore decided it would be fun to bring a cinema back to life and run it. Since then, they have rehabilitated theaters in Fosston and Crookston, and have converted a former crafts store East Grand Forks into a multiplex. But in spite of their successful growth, their approach to running their theaters is anything but corporate.
The movie theater has been so successful that owner Bob Moore plans to add an additional three to four screens within the mall and says he might eventually turn the entire mall into one giant theater after he purchases the mall from the city in the future.
“The theater is one of the better uses of that facility,” says Jim Richter, executive director of the East Grand Forks Economic Development and Housing Authority, which owns the mall. “These guys had a good background in theaters and entertainment. They did it right. It’s been a draw and it’s helped bring more focus to our redeveloped downtown.”
Read more at Prairie Biz Mag.
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Glenwood Mall 3 Theater will re-open
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO — About 18 months ago, Carmike closed its triplex at the Glenwood Mall and ever since, the center’s management has been looking for a new operator. Although some interest was expressed, possible takers wanted to expand the theater’s number of screens which would take time; the mall’s managers wanted the theater open for the holiday shopping season. They have decided to run it themselves calling it now the Movies at the Mall.
Like Hollywood movie heroes, owners of the Glenwood Springs Mall are bucking the national chains this time and running the theater themselves. If they remodel it, owners figure, they will come.
“It was an effort, and it will be an effort that really pays off,” said mall general manager Sonia Davis, who headed up the effort to reopen the theater.
Read the whole story in the Aspen Daily.
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Memories of the Forest Theater
WEST HAVEN, CT — Closed and virtually abandoned for several years, the Forest Theater will probably soon be demolished as the property has been sold to a developer. In a recent article, writer Randall Beach reminisces with the former operator.
I recall the warm presence of Irene and Tony Terrazano, Richard Mallette Jr.’s grandparents, who worked alongside him when he came aboard full-time in the Forest’s final decades. In 1990, Tony Terrazano told me he had begun working there in 1942, three years after it screened its first film, “Honeymoon in Bali.”
In 1945, Terrazano got a chance to buy the theater. He went for it and spent the rest of his working life there. He died in 1999; Irene died in 2002.
Mallette kept the marquee glowing for a time after their deaths. He was assisted by various relatives part-time but he worked seven days a week except for an occasional Wednesday: booking the films, overseeing the projector, selling candy and soda pop and taking the ticket money as well as handling maintenance and repairs. He even opened an ice cream shop next door.
Read more in the New Haven Register.
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November 13, 2009
Cinebarre opens in Salem
SALEM, OR — The former Regal Movieland 7 has been reborn as the Cinebarre. In addition to cocktail service and expanded menu offerings, the theater has a rentable VIP viewing space.
Nearly 400 people attended the theater’s grand opening event Thursday night, Karol said.
The theater is the former Regal Cinemas' Movieland 7. Cinebarre offers first-run movies and caters to adults — minors younger than 18 will be seated in the theater only if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Children younger than 6 are only allowed into the theater on its designated “scream day,” which is the first showing every Tuesday.
Read more in the Statesman Journal.
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New theater opening in Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, MA — The new Beacon Cinema opening on November 20 combines elements of the old and new. Housed within the 91-year-old Kinnell-Kresge building, designers have restored original ceilings and woodwork. The six-screen theater itself is technologically up-to-date with stadium seating and automated digital projection. The theater will serve beer and wine, in addition to typical movie concession fare.
The Eagle got a sneak peak of the state-of-the-art movie theater on Friday afternoon, however, and from the building’s original tin ceilings and woodwork to its state-of-the-art Dolby digital sound system, the public is in for an architectural and theatrical experience that’s sure to stimulate the senses.
The behind-the-scenes look included a tour of the six-screen, 850-seat cinema, which evokes memories of an old neighborhood picture house — albeit with modern upgrades such as stadium seating, which is designed give moviegoers a comfortable viewing experience, and a bar serving wine and beer.
Read more in the Berkshire Eagle.
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GreenTree Theaters update
CLARKSVILLE, IN — The GreenTree Mall in Clarksville Indiana has lost both of its movie theaters to newer stadium facilities in the area. My company FrightNight Productions currently leases the 4 as Psychomania http://www.TheaterofTerror.com, a large haunted house that loosely follows the history of the theater and grounds.
As a subsidiary of FNP, I am working on a lease agreement for the 25,000 square ft. GreenTree 10. I plan on using the theater as live performance, studio, independent cinema and audio recording space. I will be putting back in a full concession stand and redoing the lobby. Wish me luck and I will post as soon as I have word