Have a news tip for us?
Just email . Ideas for stories, links to interesting articles, and press releases are welcome.
The latest movie theater news and updates
-
July 8, 2009
Regency Cinema demolished
RACINE, WI — Demolition began on Monday, July 6th, 2009 of theRegency Value Cinemas.
The movie screen had been torn down, the seats were empty and the ruins were real — the handiwork of a yellow Caterpillar 235C there on Monday to begin demolishing the theater at 5230 Durand Ave., which closed in mid-April. Azarian Wrecking is in charge of the demolition, and is expected to be there until the end of next week.
Randy Jansen, 44, looked on with a camera around his neck.
“If I’d have known the seats were in there I’d have said "I’ll buy a row,”‘ said Jansen, there to take pictures for his wife Melissa, who worked at the theater for 15 years.
Read the full story in the Journal Times.
0 comments -
Happy 20th anniversary, Batman!!!
On June 23, 1989, Warner Bros released Tim Burton’s version of one of the most famous comic book characters in American history, Batman. I was about six when it first came out, so I was too young to see it before it came out on video. The movie broke box office records and made money for the director, who would go on to direct a sequel that was as good as the first one.
-
July 7, 2009
July 8 Appear to support the Boyd Theatre
PHILADELPHIA, PA — At this sidewalk gathering tomorrow, show support for the restoration and reopening of the Boyd Theatre, hear a short report by Friends of the Boyd president Howard B. Haas on the status of Philadelphia’s sole surviving premiere movie palace, and “meet and greet” Theatre Historical Society of America (THSA) members in Philadelphia.
THSA is the only organization in the U.S. which exclusively records, preserves and celebrates the rich architectural, cultural and social history of America’s theatres. The prestigious organization selected Philadelphia for their annual pilgrimage to historic theaters.
FREE event, no registration needed.
4:15 PM on the sidewalk in front of the Boyd Theatre, 1908 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
(Thanks to Friends of the Boyd for providing the photo.)
-
State Theatre up for sale
SOUTH BEND, IN — The Blackstone/State Theatre is on the bidding block!
Listed on the National Historic Registry in 1985, the theater has had an interesting past, hosting presidents, celebrities and more throughout its 88-year history.
To learn more about this historic theatre, visit www.PublicEnemies.us or call 1-800-876-5503 and register to bid. The auction runs July 16th-30th, 2009.
Blackstone-State Theater
National Historic Register Building #85001204Address: 212 S. Michigan, South Bend
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Harry Newhouse
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Period of Significance: 1900-1924 -
The 400 Theater is back
CHICAGO, IL — The Rogers Park institution last known as the Village North reopened as the 400 Theater.
That old movie theater staple of North Sheridan Road and the Loyola area — renamed for years the Village North before closing in January — reopened Wednesday night as the New 400 Theater.
It’s still configured with its four subdivided auditoriums, but administrator Jennifer Chan said a $700,000 renovation added some (though not all) new seats, new carpeting, new screens, new audio-visual equipment, new curtains, a new concessions area and — this is a biggie for patrons of the theater’s previous incarnation — a new air-conditioning/heating system.
Read more in the Chicago Tribune.
-
July 6, 2009
Smaller theaters struggle to keep pace in recession
CHAPEL HILL,NC — With the closing of the smaller independently operated and owned art house cinemas recently, this may not be a unique case among art houses and independent movie theatres across the country. With the case of the now closed Varsity Theatre in Downtown Chapel Hill, other independently owned and operated moviehouses such as the Chelsea Theatre (a three screen cinema located off Weaver Dairy Road in North Chapel Hill), and the Carolina Theatre (located in Downtown Durham), and the owned and operated theatres in the area such as the Galaxy Cinemas in Cary, the Colony Theatres in Raleigh, and the Rialto Theatre in Raleigh, theaters that showcase independent and foreign films have faced a lot of difficulty recently.
Read more in the Daily Tarheel.
-
The Wollaston Theater has been sold
QUINCY, MA — A nonprofit organization is trying to save the Wollaston Theater. The 83-year-old theater has been closed since 2003 and is in need of major repairs.
The single-screen movie theater, known to locals as “The Wolly,” has been closed since 2003, and is in need of major repairs.
Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch requested that Street-Works purchase the aging building so it could be preserved, according to the mayor’s office. Koch said the deal will give some time for a nonprofit organization to raise money and secure grants to restore the theater.
Here’s the full story in The Boston Globe.
-
Local moviegoer’s views on movies
In this article from Baristanet, a local NJ moviegoer has posted 10-minute reviews of movies he’s seen at local North Jersey cinemas.
Since Vinnie Travisano is a local movie critic, we thought it was relevant to ask where he likes to watch the pictures. “I’ve been going to the Garden State Plaza lately,” he said “Best screens and the best sound and the best seats.” Otherwise, it’s either Clifton Commons or Essex Green.
What about the Clairidge? “It’s everything a movie experience shouldn’t be,” he said, complaining of inadequate leg room and a screen size just slightly bigger than his home TV. “I saw ‘Milk’ there and it was literally on a 45 degree angle. That theater is atrocious. So is the Bellevue.”
Read the link here…
-
July 3, 2009
Preservationists win partial victory in battle to save Metro Theater
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — According to this article, the developer who wants to repurpose the Metro Theater on Union Street has agreed to preserve at least some of the historic interior:
The deadlock between historic preservationists and developers who want to renovate the old Metro movie theater on Union Street loosened Monday when both sides agreed to compromise.
The Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee supported landmark status for the exterior of the 1924 theater, and the developer extended a commitment to preserve some of the historic features inside, including a series of Heinsbergen murals, Ionic columns, grills and urns on the stage.
Read the full story in the San Francisco Chronicle.
-
Laie Theater reopening as Palms Cinemas
LAIE, HI — A much loved local cinema is reopening as the Palms Cinemas under new ownership.
The Laie community and BYUH students have shown great enthusiasm about the reopening of the Laie movie theater. Since the theater closed in early 2008, Don and Alicen Nielsen, who recently moved to Laie from the Central Coast of California, have decided to reopen the theater as an independent theater called Laie Palms Cinemas.
The Nielsens arrived for the Fall 2008 semester. Alicen was accepted to BYUH to complete her IDS degree in Art and Anthropology. Don had been looking for a job. Despite his previous experience in finance business and having worked at a bank in California, he was not successful in finding a job. Alicen saw a letter from a community member posted on campus that said that if the community had known Laie Cinemas was going to go out of business they would have gladly paid more. Alicen felt like something should be done and talked with her husband about starting a family business. Alicen believed they were lucky and blessed with the timing of everything.
Read the full story in Ke Alaka'i.
UDPATE 7/20: Star Bulletin story.
