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The latest movie theater news and updates
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October 21, 2009
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.
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Northcote Plaza Theatre set to be demolished?
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — The 1934 art deco Plaza Cinema on High Street in Melbournes' northern suburbs — Northcote has been sold to a developer for $4 mil and is set for demolition with permits for commercial and residential development. It will be a sad day to see this theatre’s iconic tower and landmark pink exterior disappear from Northcote’s street-scape.
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October 20, 2009
Cinema North’s theaters abruptly close
RUTLAND, VT — All ten of Cinema North’s current theaters were shut down as of October 13. The theaters operate under the Movieplex name and include one theater in both Vermont and Massachusetts, and eight in New York state.
Some news reports indicated that the closings were temporary, but at least one claimed that the chain was filing for bankruptcy.
A sign on the front of the cinema’s doors in North Adams also says it’s “temporarily closed.” All information was wiped from the corporation’s Web site late Tuesday morning. Calls to its headquarters Tuesday have gone unanswered. The Rutland Herald reported that an employee in the corporation’s headquarters said the owners would be not be releasing any information on Tuesday.
North Adams theater manager Scott Ingalls told the Berkshire News Network on Tuesday morning that the closure means the loss of 15 to 20 full- and part-time jobs, including his and a full-time projectionist.
Read more in iBerkshires and in the Rutland Herald.
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Hoboken, NJ greets new theater
HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken has been without a movie theater for five years, so the red carpet is out for the opening of Clearview’s new five-screen Hoboken Cinemas which opens on October 23. Built on two levels, three of the auditoriums will have stadium seating.
Clearview Cinemas, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation, today announced that its new, five-screen movie theatre in Hoboken, New Jersey, will be open to the public starting on Friday, October 23. This state-of-the-art theatre, which is located on 14th Street between Adams and Grand Streets, will showcase the best in Hollywood, art and independent films as a premiere entertainment venue for members of the local community.
“If ever there was a community that would welcome a new state-of-the-art theatre, it’s Hoboken. This is a wonderful city with a rich history of embracing the arts and we are thrilled to be able to expand the city’s cultural scene by building a much needed movie house for Hoboken and its surrounding communities,” said Tom Rutledge, chief operating officer, Cablevision Systems Corporation.
More details in the Hudson Reporter.
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Former San Francisco theatre, now Church meeting the wrecking ball
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — After a lengthy battle, the former theater, Blue Church, in Noe Valley has recently been torn down.
On June 19, an appeals panel of three judges in San Francisco Superior Court tossed out a jury verdict that had favored the church and its homeless tenants. In August, the church lost two more appeals related to its effort to stay in the building, located at 1596 Church Street at the corner of 28th Street.
James Branch, head of Oakland-based J. Branch Developments, Inc., said he expected a Superior Court judge in September to authorize an eviction and that he planned to soon start demolition of the one-time movie theater.
Read more in the Noe Valley Voice and see demolition photos here.
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October 19, 2009
Cobb Theaters to open CineBistro in Tampa
TAMPA, FL — The former 7-screen Sunrise Cinemas at Old Hyde Park has been been completed gutted and will be re-opening as the the latest in the Cobb Theaters' group of CineBistro multiplexes. Previously the theater was operated by AMC and Madstone. It will operate six screens, as one auditorium space will now be occupied by the kitchen for the upscale food offerings.
Cobb Theatres gutted an existing 28,000-square-foot movie house on Swann Avenue which, during its operation under three chains through the years, was a drawing card for the open-air shopping area now in the midst of redevelopment.
Jeremy P. Welman, chief operating officer of Birmingham, Ala.-based Cobb Theatres, said the upscale concept will provide an intimate experience and is an ideal fit for Hyde Park.
Read more at Tampa Bay Online.
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Lakewood Theater may get revitalization study
LAKEWOOD, WA — Closed for over twenty years, the 1937 colonial-style Lakewood Theater may at least be the subject of a feasability study if a provision in the city’s proposed budget passes. Some citizens would like to see it restored as a multi-purpose performing arts and banquet facility.
Included in the city’s 2010 proposed budget is $20,000 for a feasibility study of Lakewood Theatre, which has sat empty for almost two decades. Lakewood proposes using lodging tax revenue, which it can spend only on tourism-related projects.
For the building’s owner and local historians, the study would remove the biggest obstacle to restoring and preserving one of the city’s prominent historical venues. It’s local lore for residents of a city that officially incorporated in 1996.
Read more details in the News Tribune.
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A Look at Baltimore’s Historic Theaters
Baltimore’s nearly 150 theaters spanned a wide range of sizes, architectural styles, and audiences. Many are no longer standing, some have been renovated and adaptively reused, and a few are still operating as theaters. Please join us for a talk by Mr. Wally Coberg, an award winning designer and filmmaker by trade and an avid Baltimore theater researcher by inclination, as he discusses the city’s historic theaters, their history and their future.
Date: October 22, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Baltimore School for the Arts, 712 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Please Use the Cathedral Street entrance under the marquee.
Cost: Free
RSVP: 410-332-9992 -
Automatick Machine
I am looking for an Automatic Machine that stamps the tickets with the Name of the movie, etc. I am restoring an old movie theater and would like to get older machines – that work. Thanks
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October 16, 2009
Complete Set of 500 vintage marquee letters Pre-1900????
We are in possession of a complete set of approximately 500 very old marquee letters that were rescued from the basement of the Victoria Theater in Dayton Ohio in 1967.
Unlike newer letters (e.g. Adler) that were produced in the 1940’s, these letters are reverse-type cut outs, hand soldered with raised edges around each letter. Each letter has a grooved slot in the back to hold a piece of milk glass to allow for illumination from behind.