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The latest movie theater news and updates
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May 20, 2009
It’s Official: Regal to go all 4k by Sony
According to an article in today’s Hollywood Reporter, Sony has inked a deal with the no. 1 cinema chain in America, Regal Entertainment, to outfit all of its existing theaters with the same 4k technology that will be used in AMC’s theaters.
The deal represents Sony’s second big d-cinema hardware coup in the past few months. In March, it struck an agreement with AMC Entertainment — which operates the second-biggest U.S. circuit — to supply its theaters with digital projectors.
Both rollouts will begin once Digital Cinema Implementation Partners locks into a bank deal to facilitate digital installations for Regal, AMC and Cinemark, the nation’s three biggest exhibitors.
Read more in the Hollywood Reporter.
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May 19, 2009
State senator proposes movie theater tax
Another great sign for the health of the film exhibition industry!
A bill introduced by Republican Jeff Piccola would take away a sales tax exemption that prevents movie theaters from having to pay tax on the movies they rent to show to the public.
How much you wanna bet this guy had a bad theater experience lately and he’s taking it out on the owners with this.
The full story is available at WGAL.
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Baltimore’s Rotunda Cinematheque Reopens
BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore’s Rotunda Cinematheque reopens under new ownership, the Horizons Group. The twin theater will again show first run movies starting today.
New Jersey-based Horizon Group, the Rotunda’s new owner, will bring first-run films back to the Hampden neighborhood.
The Rotunda theater, which seats 300, has been closed since late March. Horizon Group purchased the theater May 1, said Ira Miller, managing partner of the theater.
For information, the news link can be found at Baltimore Business Journals.
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Ford pushes its charitable efforts at the movies
A sign that the theater advertising medium is getting more powerful with rising numbers in the seats, Ford is doing a major campaign.
Ford Motor Co. has launched a nationwide advertising blitz touting its charitable giving as a way of further distinguishing itself from its cross-town rivals.
The two-minute video is being shown before “G” and “PG” rated films in 1,700 movie theaters across America. It highlights the philanthropic work of the Ford Motor Co. Fund — both its financial contributions and the thousands of hours of volunteer work performed by Ford employees on company time.
Read more in the Detroit News.
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May 18, 2009
Senator calls for meeting at the Senator
BALTIMORE, MD — The media has reported in error that Baltimore City now owns the Senator Theatre.
It has also been miss-reported that The Baltimore Development Corporation [bDC] will soon choose the new owner or operator of The Senator Theatre and determine its future entertainment programming through the RFP process.
It is our understanding that the ownership of the landmark Senator Theatre will be determined by the outcome of an upcoming public auction, expected to take place later this summer. The successful bidder at the public auction will own The Senator. In an effort to separate fact from fiction regarding The Senator Theatre and its uncertain future, Maryland State Senator Joan Carter Conway, who represents the 43rd third legislative district, has called for a public meeting at the theatre in response to constituent concerns. The public information session will take place at The Senator Theatre on This Wednesday Evening, May 20th at 6pm
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Remembering Cinerama (Part 31: Long Island)
REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part 31: Long IslandThe following is Part Thirty-One 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, film-by-film, historical record of when and where Cinerama and its multi-panel clones were exhibited. The easy-to-reference articles also 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 events 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: BaltimoreAnd now… Part 31: Cinerama Presentations on Long Island, New York!
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Adaptive reuse and Odeon
They may not be gone, but these theaters are only shells of their former selvers. Here’s a sad look at what’s become of some former palaces of the Odeon chain.
They began as futuristic constructions – with immense pillars triumphantly reaching skywards, and smooth curves inspired by ocean-going liners stretching to the horizon.
And the unmistakeable excitement of what they contained was always declared proudly in huge lettering outside: ODEON.
Now, sadly, as these photographs show, the buildings of the legendary cinema chain have become uninspiring shopping blocks, bingo halls and stationary superstores.
Read more and see pics at the Daily Mail.
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Mother duck makes nest in NCG Trillium Cinemas parking lot
GRAND BLANC, MI — A mother duck has made a nest in the parking lot of the NCG Trillium Cinemas. Because it’s a federal offense to interfere with wild ducks, staff surrounded the nest with fencing and yellow caution tape. They named the duck Lulu.
Additional details from the Flint Journal.
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May 15, 2009
All About the Mayan and Belasco
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation www.lahtf.org
Invites You & Your Friends to Attend
All About the Mayan and Belasco
Saturday, May 16, 10:30 am —– Doors open at 10:00 am
Club Mayan (www.clubmayan.com ) 1038 S. Hill St. (btwn Olympic and 11th)
The Belasco (www.thebelasco.com ) 1050 S. Hill St.
FREE ADMISSIONThe Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (LAHTF) takes its popular All About… series to two theatres near the intersection of Hill and 11th St., the Mayan (1927) and Belasco (1926) on Saturday, May 16, 10:30 am. The event begins at the Mayan. The public is invited to attend.
Theatre historian Ed Kelsey will present a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation on the storied past of these theatres, which were built to expand the Broadway district Southward. The Belasco was built for drama and the Mayan for musical theatre. A restoration/renovation is currently underway at the Belasco to convert the theatre to a night club and special event venue. The Mayan was converted into a very successful night club almost 20 years ago. Working with club owner Sammy Chao, the LAHTF interceded to ensure the renovations to the Mayan were reversible.
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Roxian Theater one step closer to being reopened as a community theater
MCKEES ROCKS, PA — The McKees Rocks, PA borough council has approved an application be submitted to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development for $500,000.
This funding would be used towards reopening the Roxian Theater on lower Chartiers Avenue.
The Roxian was a beloved movie theater which in recent years had been used as a rock venue.
Read the full story in the Post-Gazette.