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The latest movie theater news and updates
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October 13, 2009
Silent Film and Organ Concert Memorial Series
MARION, OH — Sunday, October 25 at 3 p.m. the Palace’s mighty Wurlitzer organ fills the theatre as world renowned organist Dennis James accompanies the classic silent film “The Cat and the Canary.”
Patrons have the opportunity to step back in time and be entertained just as many were when the Palace Theatre first opened its doors in 1928.
Just in time for Halloween, this spooky film takes place at the old mansion of deceased millionaire Cyrus West. Exactly twenty years after his death, West’s will is being read and relatives from across the nation have been invited.
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October 12, 2009
Boise Towne Square Reel Theater bites the dust
BOISE, ID — The 21-year-old Boise Towne Square Reel Theater has been demolished. With six screens, it was once the largest multiplex in the area.
The six screen complex sat vacant in recent years – after struggling under two separate owners. At one time, the theater hosted the most screens in Boise. It opened under the ownership of Cineplex Odeon in 1988 and featured nearly 1200 seats in all. The theater remained popular until the opening of Edwards Cinemas on Overland Rd. at the Boise Spectrum in 1998.
Read more at KTVB.
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In Baltimore, Bengie’s Drive-In keeps its reels turning
BALTIMORE, MD — The projector beams are still hitting the giant screen at Bengie’s Drive-In as they have since 1956. Owner D. Edward Vogel has had to cut costs and worry about the challenges faced by any small business owner as well as some particular ones, such as the interference caused bright lights from surrounding businesses during the film presentations at this, the last surviving drive-in in the Baltimore area.
t Bengies, each night is a double feature, so guests can see at least two movies for $8 a person. Vogel estimates that Bengies makes 60 percent of its revenue from ticket sales, and the rest comes from concession purchases. There’s a strict “no outside food” policy, and he’s open about the fact that the food sales help keep the business open.
The waterfront property would be more profitable as condos, he says, and his father planned to build them before Vogel took over the theater in the 1980s. He was only able to avoid closing by cutting costs and staff.
Read more at CNN.
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Beaver Valley Cinemas closes
BEAVERCREEK, OH — The second-run Beaver Valley Cinemas has closed.
The announcement came from the Dayton Daily News.
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October 9, 2009
Remembering Cinerama (Part 42: Albany)
REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part 42: AlbanyThe following is Part Forty-Two 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: HartfordAnd now…Part 42: Cinerama Presentations in Albany, New York!
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Cinemark Theaters launching big screen installations to vie with IMAX
Cinemark Theaters has announced that it will install its own proprietary big screen system called Cinemark XD in markets where Regal and AMC do not have exclusive licensing arrangments with IMAX. The screens will be 72 feet wide and Cinemark claims they can be used to show any film, 2-D or 3-D, in digital format.
As with Imax, audiences pay $3 or so more per ticket to see 2-D or 3-D movies using state-of-the-art sound as well as the 72-foot-wide screens.
The plan could boost Cinemark’s prospects in cities where rival chains have exclusive deals with Imax.
“Regal (RGC) and AMC have locked up the majority of available markets in the U.S.,” says Merriman Curhan Ford analyst Eric Wold.
Read the whole article in USA Today.
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Cove Theater in Texas for sale
COPPERAS COVE, TX — The nearly 60-year-old, 250 seat, single-screen Cove Theater in this small town about 55 miles SW of Waco is for sale, as its owner wishes to pursue an acting career. The theater has a rather, shall we say, polychromatic, facade.
Sanders said he is asking $400,000 for the theater. He said he has had an interested buyer since June, but the buyer was unable to come up with the capital because of the recession. Sanders decided to see if he could get other offers.
Of the calls and inquiries Sanders has received, he said the serious ones have been from people who likely would keep the movie theater open.
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Read more at kdhnews.com.
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14-screen multiplex opens in Lynchburg, VA
LYNCHBURG, VA — It has been nearly two decades since a new theater opened in Lynchburg, but the River Ridge Stadium 14 has opened its doors, taking over a space previously occupied by a Value City department store.
“It’s a type of theater that’s not available on the market right now, so that’s really exciting,” she said.
The 57,000-square-foot theater has stadium seating, with each row elevated on risers, in order to give viewers an unobstructed view.
The most recent theater to come to Lynchburg previously was the Carmike location at the Plaza, which opened in 1991.
Further details at News 2.
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Equipment for sale
The St. Elmo Historical Society has six 35 mm projectors for sale. Including the base, lamp, rectifiers, etc. We also have six film platters for sale and some tables. Some of this equipment is still in it’s original shipping containers. The rest is lightly used, with a little dust. Pictures of the Equipment can be found on our website at http://theelmo.org/html/equiptment_for_sale.html
We are a nonprofit group restoring small town 1941 theater, so the money from these items will go to good use.
To learn more about us visit our website at www.theelmo.org We’re always glad to hear from like minded people who have completed similar projects and always welcome tips, advice and encouragement.
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October 8, 2009
New multiplex slated for Upper Pottsgrove
UPPER POTTSGROVE, PA – -Carmike Theaters has announced its intention to build a 14-screen theater as part of a retail development in Pottsgrove Township, about forty miles northwest of Philadelphia. It is scheduled to open by the end of 2010.
The all-digital entertainment complex will be part of the 34-acre Commerce Corner development planned by King of Prussia developer Sapphire Development Companies at Route 100 and North State Street.
Carmike’s 2,300-seat state-of-the-art multiplex will be the anchor tenant in the shopping center, which will also include retail space, a bank and free-standing restaurants, according to Dale Hurst, Carmike’s director of marketing.
Read more in thePottstown Mercury.