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October 23, 2009
Remembering Cinerama (Part 43: New Haven)
REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part 43: New HavenThe following is Part Forty-Three in a series of retrospectives on Cinerama, the legendary motion picture process that kicked off the widescreen revolution. The series focuses on providing a market-by-market historical record of when and where Cinerama and its multi-panel clones were exhibited. The easy-to-reference articles serve to provide nostalgia to those who experienced the Cinerama presentations when they were new and to highlight the movie palaces in which the memorable screenings took place.
Part 1: New York City
Part 2: Chicago
Part 3: San Francisco
Part 4: Houston
Part 5: Washington, DC
Part 6: Los Angeles
Part 7: Atlanta
Part 8: San Diego
Part 9: Dallas
Part 10: Oklahoma City
Part 11: Syracuse
Part 12: Toronto
Part 13: Columbus
Part 14: Montreal
Part 15: Northern New Jersey
Part 16: Charlotte
Part 17: Vancouver
Part 18: Salt Lake City
Part 19: Boston
Part 20: Philadelphia
Part 21: Fresno
Part 22: Detroit
Part 23: Minneapolis
Part 24: Albuquerque
Part 25: El Paso
Part 26: Des Moines
Part 27: Miami
Part 28: Orange County
Part 29: Pittsburgh
Part 30: Baltimore
Part 31: Long Island
Part 32: Kansas City
Part 33: Milwaukee
Part 34: Nanuet/Rockland County
Part 35: Denver
Part 36: Worcester
Part 37: Toledo
Part 38: St. Louis
Part 39: Tampa
Part 40: Calgary
Part 41: Hartford
Part 42: AlbanyAnd now…Part 43: Cinerama Presentations in New Haven, Connecticut!
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New theater planned for the Kingsbridge Armory
BRONX, NY — The local NYC is reporting that a new theater is planned as part of the just approved retail mall to be located in the former Kingsbridge Armory on Jerome Avenue @ Kingsbridge Road. The developer, The Related Companies, has not yet identified the theater operator, however, in documents filed with NYC, the word “multiplex” is used. This may indicate that National Amusements is the theater operator or maybe the word multiplex is just being used in a generic sense as people say “Xerox” instead of the word photocopy.
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Danbury’s Palace Theater to get architectural/management study
DANBURY, CT – The city of Danbury, CT has awarded a contract to JCJ Architecture to determine the cost of renovations to the Palace Theater which opened in 1926 and closed as a twin in 1995. The study will also provide a determination as to how best to operate the theater after renovations have been completed. JCJ and its associate, AMS Planning & Research Corp., have been involved in a number of theater renovation projects, including the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center and the New Amsterdam Theater in NYC.
And part of the firm’s larger team — AMS Planning & Research Corp. of Fairfield — has worked with many theaters in Connecticut and around the United States on theater management.
“We recognized from the beginning of this that no one firm could do everything,‘’ Elpern said of the combination of the two companies. "AMS has a wealth of experience on what’s needed to successfully operate a theater.‘’
Read more in the News Times.
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“Funny Girl” to play in Charleston
CHARLESON, SC — Rare 35 mm print of “Funny Girl” to play at Charleston’s Luxury theater!
The Terrace Hippodrome is proud to announce a special 5 day showing of the 1968 classic “Funny Girl”. Barbra Streisand stars in one of the last great musicals of its time. “Funny Girl” will open this Friday October 23rd and play till Tuesday October 27th.
The Terrace Hippodrome Wide screen is Charleston premiere movie venue with 450 BMW leather seats and true digital sound. The Hippodrome boasts South Carolina’s largest movie screen. Tickets may be purchased at the Hippodrome box office or by phone 724-9132. The Hippodrome is located in downtown Charleston next to the South Carolina Aquarium.
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Kentucky and DC each lose a multiplex
According to their respective chains' websites, both the Phoenix Theaters' Union Station 9 and the Nova Cinemas' Theatres of Georgetown at the Factory Stores of America center in Georgetown, KY have both closed. The Union Station 9 was opened in 1988 by AMC as part of the rejuvenation project at the station and was spun of to the Phoenix circuit after the AMC/Loew’s merger. The closing had appeared imminent over the last several months.
The 7-screen Theatres of Georgetown only operated for a few years and is apparently a victim of the recession, according to this brief item at Kentucky.com.
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October 22, 2009
New multiplexes open in Hope Mills, NC and Secaucus, NJ
Citizens of Hope Mills, NC near Fayettville, recently hailed the opening of the new Millstone 14 cinema, the latest unit in the Charlotte-based Stone Theaters circuit. The town had not had a theater in many years. In Secaucus, NJ, Chicago-based Kerasotes has opened its first location on the East Coast, the Showplace 14.
Read more in the Fayette Observer and at nj.com.
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Arkansas students lead effort to restore, re-open theater
HELENA-WEST HELENA, AK — A group of students at Central High School have decided to put their energies towards restoring and re-opening the town’s former twin cinema, including doing at least some of the actual renovation work themselves with local business support. Their teacher made the proposal to the area Quorum Court (the county government board) recently, which agreed to study
the extent to which the county could lend its backing.Fox reported that the first seven months rent on the building would be waived.
“These kids are ready to begin work on the theater and have had several businesses say they will help with donations or materials,” stated Fox.According to Fox, most of the building’s wiring would have to be replaced, as would many seats and restroom facilities. The project would include a lot of other major renovations since the building has been vacant for the past 15 years.
More details in the Daily World.
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St. George Theatre to host Halloween Extravaganza
STATEN ISLAND, NY — For one night only, the historic St. George Theatre will be letting its ghosts loose as it hosts its first ever halloween Extravaganza on October 30th!
The 1929 Spanish-Italian baroque theatre will be turning back the clock to Halloween night 1930 and the spirits of the guests and employees that were present that fateful night will be returning. Zombies and ghosts will be roaming the grand staircases and the dimly lit, cobweb filled lobby. Also making an appearance will be members of the VonTiderman family who resided in the Gothic mansion that once occupied the property where the theatre now stands.
This is your one chance to see this architectural wonder as you never have before; will you dare to join us? Appearing on the great stage will be the award winning Broadway-style magic show “SPOOKTACULAR”, starring Wacky Dracky.
St. George Theatre
35 Hyatt Street
Staten Island, New York 10301
(718)442-2900
Official Website -
October 21, 2009
Talbot’s New Yorker Theatres and distributor
NEW YORK, NY — A new book has been published about the Talbot Theatres arthouse legacy in Manhattan’s upper west side. These theatres, the New Yorker, Cinema Studio, Metro and the still open Lincoln Plaza, helped a new generation discover many rare classics and changed the way specialty films were perceived. The Talbot’s cinemas influenced many new filmmakers, among them Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen.
In addition to the contribution made by their theatres, their distribution arm, New Yorker, made celebrities out of many talented new foreign directors previously unknown in the US. They released previously unseen works by rising star directors as well as helped make media darlings out of Fassbinder and Saura, eventually providing a wealth of arthouse hits for their screens as well as copycat operations all over the US.
A good solid read for movie theatre fans and foreign film fans alike.
UPDATE 12/14: Publisher Link
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Liberty Theater acquired for church expansion
KALISPELL, MT — The Fresh Life Church has bought the Liberty Theater which it will use to expand the availability of its services. The church already occupies the former Strand Theater which it purchased in 2007. Some citizens had hoped that the theater would become a venue for live music. Although the church is removing the concession stand, it is installing an espresso bar.
Expanding the church’s facilities became a necessity, with Lusko fearing that some people might be dissuaded from attending because of the crowds. Fresh Life closed on the deal, purchasing the Liberty from local developer and Signature Theatre owner Phil Harris, on Sept. 11. Lusko declined to reveal the deal’s details.
As of last week, a crew was hard at work on the Liberty, removing the old concession stand to install a new espresso bar, repairing the roof and deep-cleaning the 500 theater seats. Just one block from the Strand, Lusko said he likes the architecture of the old buildings, and finds the nontraditional facilities are a good fit for his nontraditional church, offering a more inviting venue than standard sanctuaries.
Read more in the Flathead Beacon.